Improving torque and milage

I have a 2009 Ford F250 2wd gasoline 5.4 truck as a tow vehicle and wonder if anyone has found any after market goodies that would improve torque and mileage.

I have looked at the high flow air boxes but the improvement in power seems to come on at higher rpms rather than improve low end torque. I have not seen any charts on dual exhaust. I am not interested in a load exhaust but a little better sounding than the stock single exhaust.

Thanks.

What's the topogrophy in Ohio, and the places you'll tow?

If in major hill or mountain country, I think you'll always find a 5.4 slightly underpowered for towing a car and trailer. It also depends on the car and trailer you're towing of course. An open trailer with a Model T, probably not a problem. A 1932 Packard in an enclosed trailer, you need to start looking for a vehicle with a bigger engine.

I had a Ford van in the 1980's, with the 350 or so engine, living in Louisiana, and towing a closed trailer with a Pierce in it. Our routes to tours were in the nice, flat, southern country, sometimes in the gently rolling hills of northern Louisiana or Mississippi. Not a big problem.

Moved to Virginia, and the Ford was worthless. Immediately started looking for, and found, a Suburban with the 454. That's the way to tow.

As the racing guys say, there's no replacement for displacement.

Hope you can find an answer that works for you!

Back in the mid-1980s I upgraded from a 350 Suburban to a Suburban 3/4 ton (now called 2500 Series) with the 454 engine and 400 turbo-hydromatic. Then a similar '86 Suburban with the same engine/tranny comb0; then the 2002 Suburban 2500 with the 8.1 L Big-Block. We still use this one on easier hauls, but on big pulls, we use the 2000 Ford Excursion with the 7.3 L Turbo-Diesel and 4-wheel drive.

As David agrees, there is no replacement for displacement

Thanks Dave and Marty.

I us the F250 to tow an enclosed trailer and car with a total weight of 7,000 lbs. short distances (about 200 miles in the Ohio area) and not very often ( 3 to 4 times a year).

I was wondering about ways to improve the performance of the 5.4L V8 in the truck that I have.

I've got a 2007 6.0 Chevrolet 2500 Suburban. It tows relatively good, but sucks gas like there is no tomorrow. Towing a Buick in an enclosed trailer I can get 7.9-8.0 and as high as 8.4 mpg, while the '99 GMC with the 454 would get around 7.4 regularly. It's getting to the point I dread going anywhere with the trailer. After the upcoming Sentimental Tour, we probably won't use the truck or the trailer until the 2014 Sentimental Tour. I had wondered if a Ford 5.4 would tow the trailer....it sounds from above that it won't.

Dynaflash,

The F250 5.4 2WD does a good job of towing with around 10 to 11 MPG towing.

Highway mileage with no tow is high 16's and around town is low 14's.

The transmission has a tow mode that actually provides a different shift pattern which holds gears a little long on up shifts and quicker downshifts to assist braking

I an please with it towing performance towing a combined 7000 lbs enclosed trailer and car.

Pulling south out of Cincinnati up the hill into KY at 60 mph has the engine working hard but does the job.

I was wondering if aftermarket items like dual exhaust and high flow air box really make a difference.

I am a piston head from the late 60's and love cubic inches and torque but still have an 1951 MG TD!!!!! The STuTZ OHV 6 on the other hand has the torque to rip out a tree at idle with 289 CI 3 1/2" bore and 5" stroke.