The 2008 Ford Super Duty came in a variety of models with multiple options including the F250, F350, and F450 available in a gasoline or diesel engine. With gas prices increasing, it's important to increase your gas mileage as much as possible. Basics of increasing mileage are to increase air intake, lower the friction and drag of the vehicle, and increase spark performance. You have several options to accomplish this.
Increasing the air intake reduces the amount of fuel needed to power the truck. K&N air filters use oil-lubricated air filters that reduce the amount of material between the intake and the engine allowing for a stronger and cleaner air flow. Dry variations by other manufacturers operate similarly. This type of filter also allows for a cold air intake. Cold air intake removes the intake tubing and housing and basically puts the air filter directly into the flow of air as you drive, increasing the amount of air the vehicle receives.
A six-cylinder or eight-cylinder operating on standard spark plugs suffers more misfires than does a four-cylinder. Platinum plugs decrease the occurrence of misfires in the engine. For a six-cylinder, use a split- or dual-head platinum plug and for an eight-cylinder, use a quad-head platinum plug. The dual- and quad-head plugs offer a more stable and powerful arc which decreases misfire and improves on fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Unfortunately, diesel engines use heat instead of spark to ignite the fuel. In the case of diesel, using small amounts of bio-diesel increases engine performance.
Keeping up with your maintenance schedule keeps your vehicle running at optimum conditions. In a tune-up, checking your air pressure and tread wear on the tires, suspension, fluid levels and cleanliness, and wiring harnesses keeps you apprised of anything that needs attention. When the suspension, tires, and fluids are in top shape, your vehicle runs smoother and with less drag, which allows for higher mileage. Using a synthetic or synthetic blend oil maintains better lubrication, and you gain mileage when the pistons run smoothly.
