thor class C

[turbodan17]

Hi We have a 2017 thor Outlaw toy hauler with a Ford F-450 V-10 engine.
We have put about 2000 miles driving 65-70 mph. The millage is about 6 MPG.
Anyone know of anyway to improve millage other then driving 50 MPH?
We had a Bever Motorhome with a 3116 Cat diesel and got around 10-12 mpg.

The transmission in our Thor is a 6 speed so I don't know if a GearVender
would help much.
HELP!
Dan & Patty

[JamieGeek]

First of all: Congratulations and welcome to the site.

Second: Are you sure its an F-450 and not an E-450? The Super C's use an F-450 with a diesel engine, but all the rest use E-450 (van) chassis with the V-10.

Third: Given your mpg report of 6mpg I'm going with its an E-450.

Sadly you are going to get what you are going to get. 6mpg is a little bit on the low side but not outrageous. After a few more thousand miles you'll probably pick up another mpg as the engine wears in--a common thing with the V-10.

There really isn't much you can do with a V-10 to improve its thirst. Sure you can add Banks and tunes, etc. but you'll approach diminishing returns with more and more $$ added to get that extra .2 mpg...

[The Gritz Carlton]

Super C's use the F-550 chassis and average around 12 MPG.

[16ACE27]

Try 63 Mph.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Still learning the makes and models of Thor. Does the Outlaw have the instant MPG readout on the dash cluster? Mine does and I've found 64-65 on cruise control is the magic number for me. Test it out over 10-20 mile ranges on pretty level highway. It's pretty amazing how just a few MPH over this makes such a big difference. At 69 it drops almost one MPG.

[Beau388]

Gross weight and speed are the only thing you can control to change your gas mileage. The Ford V-10 engine was designed in the early 1990s and put in full production in 1998. Even a modern gas engine of this size would only get another 6-10% better fuel economy. With my 18,000lb Hurricane, I get 8 mph @ 55 to 58 mph on level roads. Driving 65-70 mph and towing, I get about 6.5 mpg. Remember aero drag goes up at the cube of the speed, so driving 70 increases you aero drag 40% over driving 55 mph. Diesel engines have no throttling loss so are up 50% more efficient at part throttle as compared with a similar size gasoline engine. However, the fixed cost of a diesel are about 8 times that of a gasoline engine per year.

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the party!
We average almost 9 mpg.
But I drive at 60 to 65 mph...

What are you keeping in the back of the Outlaw?

[The Gritz Carlton]

Nice comments Beau but where do you get your numbers on the fixed cost of a diesel being 8 times the cost of a gas engine per year? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Thomas M]

I have the F550 also my average is 11 mpg I only have 4,000 mile on mine. The cost of diesel avg cost gallon 2:83 gas 2:53

[Beau388]

Based on 10,000 miles a year for oil change, fuel filter(s), and oil filter,. For me an oil and filter change is $38 (full synthetic and Motorcraft filter) in my RV parking space, fuel filter is $10, air lifter is $14, no def, so $62 per year. The left over oil from the change goes in the generator. ISB takes 5 gallons of oil $110 (Shell Rotella T6 & Cummins oil filter) air filer $100, etc. A lot more people do the own service, as I do, but only a few of the owners of the newer diesels do. The 4 diesel coach owners that park near me average $350 for their yearly service all have ISB. So, I suppose I embellished a bit.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Possibly you did but...I do my own as do most people I know. Been running diesels for years...Ford PowerJoke (years past when it was built by International) Dodge Cummins, GMC Duramax, multiple Kubota tractors, now the MH. The oil changes are a bit more but the increased mileage more than makes up for it. You forgot to mention ignition parts, plugs, wires, coils, etc. It's probably close to an even trade off in the end but the power of the diesel sets it apart. Love my diesels!!

[Beau388]

All the engine parts are warranted by Ford for 100,000 miles and 10 years thanks to the EPA as they are part of the emission system. The drive train is only warranted by Ford for 5 years and 60,000 miles. A few more miles before that expense. Expected life of you Ford diesel is 1,000,000 miles but the V-10 expected life is just 200,000 miles. I doubt either of us will drive our coaches enough reach our engines expected life.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Drive em like you stole em. You're right...these coached will bury us. Gonna use mine as my hearse.