Here I am

A Ford F-150 Diesel???

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Fluidfilm for mower deck corrosion?

freightliner columbia A/C losing freon out relief valve

It’s been a full week with the F150. Still learning about it. I’ll say this first tank 19.5 gal 510 miles on the clock that is a real world 26.1 mpg. Aside from the ride, I know apples and Grapefruit to compare a 2500 to a 150. The one thong that blows me away every morning is having heat coming out of the vents within 2 miles of my house. This truck has, like the Ram 1500 active radiator shutters. No need for a winter cover here. I’ve froze my but off in every Dodge/Ram/ Cummins truck I’ve owned. The only time they really made good fast heat was when towing. I’m not knocking them. It takes energy to warm 800lbs of engine block and 7 gal of coolant. But it’s nice to have heat way sooner. My uncles old Ford was always cold it never got warm in winter. What I will knock in RAM’s defroster. On my 12 and 13 any time the Windows got fogged/ iced over the passenger side would clear but there was always on both trucks this upside down triangle dead center in front of the driver that would be the last to clear. Last real snow storm we had three weeks ago I couldn’t get the ice frost inside to clear on my whole drive into work. Had to drive from tge passenger side.. lol.
So far I’ve yet to find an annoying thing with this new truck. Wait… There is one. Lock the door go into the house. See the at the garbage needs to go out. Open he garage door go to walk past the truck to where my trash cans are and the truck lights up! Headlamps mirrors tail lamps and the cargo lights. It’s crazy. It still locked up but something wakes up. Anti theft? I need to do more reading…
 
It’s been a full week with the F150. Still learning about it. I’ll say this first tank 19.5 gal 510 miles on the clock that is a real world 26.1 mpg. Aside from the ride, I know apples and Grapefruit to compare a 2500 to a 150. The one thong that blows me away every morning is having heat coming out of the vents within 2 miles of my house. This truck has, like the Ram 1500 active radiator shutters. No need for a winter cover here. I’ve froze my but off in every Dodge/Ram/ Cummins truck I’ve owned. The only time they really made good fast heat was when towing. I’m not knocking them. It takes energy to warm 800lbs of engine block and 7 gal of coolant. But it’s nice to have heat way sooner. My uncles old Ford was always cold it never got warm in winter. What I will knock in RAM’s defroster. On my 12 and 13 any time the Windows got fogged/ iced over the passenger side would clear but there was always on both trucks this upside down triangle dead center in front of the driver that would be the last to clear. Last real snow storm we had three weeks ago I couldn’t get the ice frost inside to clear on my whole drive into work. Had to drive from tge passenger side.. lol.
So far I’ve yet to find an annoying thing with this new truck. Wait… There is one. Lock the door go into the house. See the at the garbage needs to go out. Open he garage door go to walk past the truck to where my trash cans are and the truck lights up! Headlamps mirrors tail lamps and the cargo lights. It’s crazy. It still locked up but something wakes up. Anti theft? I need to do more reading…
The new diesels of all makes and models have ceramic electric heaters in the hvac boxes. 10 miles til heat is a thing of the past.
 
With a winter front my 2018 is up to operating temp in 5-7 miles depending on ambient temp on back roads headed to work, but I get adequate heat in 2-4 miles. The 05 sometimes took 14-16 miles to get to operating temp. That without the supplemental cab heat all the 19+ trucks have.

2019+ Ram HD trucks have active shutters, thou I don’t know how they operate. I do know that people report that winter fronts are still effective.
 
So coming up on 2000 miles and I’m really liking this truck. Took a long trip, 540 miles. Hand calculations I got 29.1 mpg!
My wife’s Honda CRV can achieve that kind of mpg but I really don’t fit in it. My plan is to do the first oil change at 2000 miles. I normally do it at 1000 miles to get all the break in metals out of the pan. But the lube is still looking clean and it took a while to get a filter. Like my RAM I plan on running OEM filters. Ford was back ordered for the lube filter. Supply shortages are starting to effect everything. Local Walmart is out of most lube oils.
And the adventure continues…
 
It tows! Spent last weekend servicing my trailer hubs. Found my tires had dry rotted. So many choices but only a few load range “D” tires are available for 14” rims. When I bought this trailer the manufacturer had put load range C tires on it. They lasted one trip to Fla before they came apart. I don’t take chances anymore. So off to the local Mr. Tire store. My first chance to see what this Baby Power Stroke can do. My trailer tips the scales around 7250 lbs. it’s got torsion axles. I had everything set up for my old Ram. The Ram never knew the trailer was behind it. 345 Hp and 800 ft/lbs of torque. The Ford has 250 Hp and they say 410 ft/lbs of torque. So how did it do? It’s not a rocket ship but kit did really well. Granted roads here are mostly flat. 0 to 50 while not as fast as the Ram was it wasn’t slow. I had no trouble getting up to 70 mph. And in tow haul mode it found 9th gear and at one point it even found 10th. I’m very impressed with this little engine. Ford really got this package right.
I’m now at 2500 miles. Day to day it’s settled in around 25.6 mpg. Mostly back roads on my commute. One long trip it delivered 29.1 for the tank. I normally do the first oil change around 1000 miles. I let this one slide to 2500. Was strange draining only 6.5 quarts and the filter is a cartridge. A lot easier than the Ram was to do. But it requires special oil. So price almost the same. Ok I used Ford oil and filters.

I’d like to say that I miss my Ram but after this weekend it’s getting had to miss it.
On the calendar a road trip with trailer to Fla. until then Keep trucking.
 
Can’t beat the GY ENDURANCE line. 5 years on the market with no non road hazard issues.

oh yea USMade.
4C278B3A-53E1-445C-A419-7FD83FBBE3E8.png
 
Vacation finally! Vacation this year we ended up in the Fla Keys. What better way to prove if this baby power stroke has the nuts than to towing my boat down here. I was concerned that the 3 ltr engine was going to spend the trip winding out at max rpm to make up for it lack of displacement. The first 100 miles took away any doubt this truck is up to the task. While my boat and trailer only tip the scales around 7650 lbs. well under the F150’s 11,000 tow rating. A rating I feel is a bit overstated. After all my 89 W250 was rated at 12,500 lbs towing. That 89 was very understated as I towed in excess of 19,000 lbs many times.
This F150 while not a rocket had no problem getting itself and the boat up to a safe speed even on up hill entrance ramps found on I95. The ten speed transmission seems to find the right gear and keep the engine in its torque zone between 1600-1900 rpm. It does down shift on hills it’s not annoying like the Dakota I had many years ago. And while this truck does not have an engine brake like the Ram did the transmission does provide some engine braking.
I kept my speed down most of the trip, 63-65 mph. I did push it up to 72 on I75 for about 40 miles. My fuel mpg average for the trip down is right at 14.6 mpg. My 2013 Ram did this trip 4 years ago delivered 13.4 mpg. Same boat same trailer same route. . The Ram as you all know never knew there was a trailer behind it. The Ford you know it’s there but mostly due to the sport utility tires Ford installed. There is a fair amount of tire squirm. I’ll be installing truck tires when these ware out.
One last item… my 2013 Ram made this trip a total of 6 times over the years. Only twice did it make it to Fla with out the Check Engine lamp coming on. On one trip it went into limp mode in Georgia. Maybe I got a bad truck? But the 2012 I had was a disaster to the point I had to lemon law it. I lost a lot of sleep having been a very loyal Chrysler owner/ supporter since 1990 over jumping ship and going Ford this time. But so far I’m very happy with the truck and this engine package. All I can say is it just works. And has for the last 5000 miles. One other observation this truck drinks DEF! It uses way more when towing than my Ram ever did. Not a bad thing just need to keep a jug on hand on long distance trips in case the fueling station doesn’t have any.
Keep trucking!
2EBA13B9-258C-4DF4-8520-67C9A13241DB.jpeg
2EBA13B9-258C-4DF4-8520-67C9A13241DB.jpeg

Stuck in traffic on I75, there was a car fire that shut down the highway for almost an hour.
 
Last edited:
It’s been a full week with the F150. Still learning about it. I’ll say this first tank 19.5 gal 510 miles on the clock that is a real world 26.1 mpg. Aside from the ride, I know apples and Grapefruit to compare a 2500 to a 150. The one thong that blows me away every morning is having heat coming out of the vents within 2 miles of my house. This truck has, like the Ram 1500 active radiator shutters. No need for a winter cover here. I’ve froze my but off in every Dodge/Ram/ Cummins truck I’ve owned. The only time they really made good fast heat was when towing. I’m not knocking them. It takes energy to warm 800lbs of engine block and 7 gal of coolant. But it’s nice to have heat way sooner. My uncles old Ford was always cold it never got warm in winter. What I will knock in RAM’s defroster. On my 12 and 13 any time the Windows got fogged/ iced over the passenger side would clear but there was always on both trucks this upside down triangle dead center in front of the driver that would be the last to clear. Last real snow storm we had three weeks ago I couldn’t get the ice frost inside to clear on my whole drive into work. Had to drive from tge passenger side.. lol.
So far I’ve yet to find an annoying thing with this new truck. Wait… There is one. Lock the door go into the house. See the at the garbage needs to go out. Open he garage door go to walk past the truck to where my trash cans are and the truck lights up! Headlamps mirrors tail lamps and the cargo lights. It’s crazy. It still locked up but something wakes up. Anti theft? I need to do more reading…
Does it have the stall/start nonsense that the Ecoboosts have? Hopefully with the diesel Ford didn't install it.
 
My super Green neighbor bought a new Subaru Outback going by the glowing reviews out there. He didn't bother even test driving it. It's had nagging electrical issues which the dealer finally fixed after multiple trips. It died in Death Valley overnight at Furnace Creek no less. Subaru hires everyday citizens to come out in their personal vehicle with one of those portable chargers. The 1st person's little charge box wouldn't start it so she called another one. He shows up and piggybacks the two chargers and it fires up. He drove all the way home dealing with the start/ stop crap. The dealer can't touch the feature. Out of curiosity he did a test with and without the feature disabling it manually. The difference in fuel economy was negligible. This is a guy who wanted it to work. He's 6'6" and struggles to get in this thing. i suggested a Toyota Highlander of something. He smiled and I believe he'll show up with one. It'll still have the feature I imagine.
 
Vacation is over. 3620 miles later. Average MPG’s towing works out to be 14.8. I had one tank not towing in the keys that it delivered 32.6! It’s an hour drive from the condo we rented to Key West about 47 miles each way. Few stops mostly 45-50 mph. Trip home I kept my speed at 64 mph. Stopped in Jupiter and Charleston Sc. I know this is a Ram forum. I was Dodge Ram for over 32 years. My last two left a bad taste an I jumped ship. At this point I’m really glad I did. This truck has been great. Only issue I had yesterday the GPS lost where it was. Very strange it though I was in Va when we were almost home in Jersey. As soon as I re started it every thing was back to normal. Oh the radio never missed a beat! Lol.
To answer regcabguy’s question this truck does have the stupid auto start stop Bs. Every time I have to hit the cancel button or it shuts down at stops. There is a defeat module I can get I just don’t feel like spending $100.
Keep on trucking
 
Would not surprise me in this Nanny Country we live.

Sure I could turn it off every start but it's easier just to disconnect at battery.

Story to that topic.
We had a rental Impala in Canada in 2016, it had a switch for the S/S to disable it.
In 2017 I rented the same car in California - there was no switch to disable the S/S function.
That why I think I could be laws and regulations.
 
Back
Top