🏕️ F150 Tremor Camping Forum!

[Tremfire]

6 to 7. Geeze. How much does your trailer weigh, what octane are you running, and what's your typical highway speed?

using 87 octane. I think when fully loaded it's around 7500 lbs. try to keep it between 65 -70 mph but mountains......

 

[CMar]

I range from 63 to 73, but mostly around the 67 mark. I was originally doing that for the tires and for range, but my wife got tired of sitting for too long so dont have to worry about range as much

 

[GREYWOLF]

I was thinking about switching octane for the next trip to see if gas milage improves. I have heard of this before but didn't think to do it last year. I would love to get a few more mpg when going from michigan to Colorado or Utah.

The only thing I had heard about before re: octane with the 3.5L EcoBoost is that the advertised horsepower and torque numbers are with 91, but the engine can happily run on 87.

In truth, the greatest benefit is the engine not pulling timing when under load. When heading southbound just before Helena, Montana there’s a big hill. The ambient temp was 37˚C. The truck pulled timing about half way up the hill which then caused the engine coolant temps to start to rise despite having the Mishimoto radiator. I ended-up pulling over and letting the truck cool down. In hindsight that was not needed but it seemed like the safe and reasonable thing to do at the time.

Later on that trip once I had been running 91, there’s a big, long hill from Hope, B.C. up the Coquihalla Hwy. It was identical temps (+37˚C) and I only went into limp mode right as I crested the top. The nice thing about the oversized rad is how fast it can shed heat, so within 200m I was already back to full power.

So yeah, I’d say the fuel economy is somewhat of a bonus compared to the engine having more power and generating less heat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice ($) bonus. lol

 

[zach@granger]

Since we are sharing 2025 travel pics, Had some fun with the set up this year. did a ton of camping but the highlites are Yellowstone - Headwaters and the PA Wilds and Adirondacks. Moab earlier this year. The gas milage stinks but it gets us from A to B. Happy New Year!
View attachment 43047View attachment 43048View attachment 43049View attachment 43050

That looks peaceful and much needed! Nice ride!!

 

[Escape Hatch]

The only thing I had heard about before re: octane with the 3.5L EcoBoost is that the advertised horsepower and torque numbers are with 91, but the engine can happily run on 87.

In truth, the greatest benefit is the engine not pulling timing when under load. When heading southbound just before Helena, Montana there’s a big hill. The ambient temp was 37˚C. The truck pulled timing about half way up the hill which then caused the engine coolant temps to start to rise despite having the Mishimoto radiator. I ended-up pulling over and letting the truck cool down. In hindsight that was not needed but it seemed like the safe and reasonable thing to do at the time.

Later on that trip once I had been running 91, there’s a big, long hill from Hope, B.C. up the Coquihalla Hwy. It was identical temps (+37˚C) and I only went into limp mode right as I crested the top. The nice thing about the oversized rad is how fast it can shed heat, so within 200m I was already back to full power.

So yeah, I’d say the fuel economy is somewhat of a bonus compared to the engine having more power and generating less heat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice ($) bonus. lol

Sounds like you need a larger intercooler.

 

[GREYWOLF]

Sounds like you need a larger intercooler.

You’re 100% right. Please e-mail COBB Tuning with your support. Hahaha.

In all seriousness, I wrote them a proposal about a week ago asking for help with an intercooler that I can feature on my YouTube channel and talk about factory location front mount versus high mount features and benefits in the context of towing and hauling (think overland and camping).

With that said, I’m also in the research phase of thermostatically controlled auxiliary oil cooler systems, specifically how to size the cooler to prevent over-cooling in the winter but also large enough to manage pressure-drop and efficacy. I feel like for street cars, there’s a balance to be struck but there’s also a distinct lack of information for street applications. Most people adding them are sports cars for track use, but as we know, our turbos have oil feed and return lines and that heat is going to end-up in the coolant system.

 

[Escape Hatch]

You’re 100% right. Please e-mail COBB Tuning with your support. Hahaha.

In all seriousness, I wrote them a proposal about a week ago asking for help with an intercooler that I can feature on my YouTube channel and talk about factory location front mount versus high mount features and benefits in the context of towing and hauling (think overland and camping).

With that said, I’m also in the research phase of thermostatically controlled auxiliary oil cooler systems, specifically how to size the cooler to prevent over-cooling in the winter but also large enough to manage pressure-drop and efficacy. I feel like for street cars, there’s a balance to be struck but there’s also a distinct lack of information for street applications. Most people adding them are sports cars for track use, but as we know, our turbos have oil feed and return lines and that heat is going to end-up in the coolant system.

I am running the cVF high mount currently, no complaints. They also have a factory location upgrade.

 

[GREYWOLF]

I am running the cVF high mount currently, no complaints. They also have a factory location upgrade.

Oh, nice! Now, where did we land on you e-mailing COBB? Hahaha.

In all seriousness, do you do a lot of towing or drag racing?

 

[Escape Hatch]

Oh, nice! Now, where did we land on you e-mailing COBB? Hahaha.

In all seriousness, do you do a lot of towing or drag racing?

Neither. I just like to spend money, haha.