6500 Mile mountain trip towing 3200lb camper

[Mavster Mechanic]

i know the owners' manual says not to go more than 10k between oil changes (and i think typically says half this when towing or in severe conditions), though i'm curious what the intelligent oil life monitor indicates in various towing conditions.

some of my trips could easily be over 5000 miles and i don't want to be changing oil in the middle of them. the trailer i would tow would be much smaller than the trailers pictured in this thread, and i'd be towing at no more than 50-55 mph for more range between fuel stops, so i'm hoping i can get closer to the normal 10k interval if i'm averaging 25+ mpg in my usage, though i could make the longer trips work with at least 7000-7500 miles between oil changes.

i haven't done a search for oil usage on awd hybrid's when towing, though if these would be more likely to go longer between oil changes (or fuel stops) i may go with the hybrid 4k instead.

On my hybrid the oil life monitor deducts % remaining twice as fast while towing. I would think the EcoBoost would too.

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[MavStangVa]

On my hybrid the oil life monitor deducts % remaining twice as fast while towing. I would think the EcoBoost would too.

Welcome back.

 

[awd]

On my hybrid the oil life monitor deducts % remaining twice as fast while towing. I would think the EcoBoost would too.

how large is your trailer? do you typically tow around speed limit or slower?

what kind of mpg have you seen towing? i'm also wondering if the hybrid would be noticeably more efficient than the ecoboost when towing long distances (and which engine would typically get more range towing since the hybrid has a smaller gas tank).

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

how large is your trailer? do you typically tow around speed limit or slower?

what kind of mpg have you seen towing? i'm also wondering if the hybrid would be noticeably more efficient than the ecoboost when towing long distances (and which engine would typically get more range towing since the hybrid has a smaller gas tank).

Trailer is 3200 lbs as outfitted. (2750 dry)

MPG when towing is about the same with either an EcoBoost or a Hybrid.

Ecoboost with higher horsepower will accelerate better. But cruising at a steady 60 to 65 mph the trucks would be indistinguishable.

EB could probably exceed 65 MPH without sweating. But should you?

Hybrid will go up to 65 MPH with this:
I usually set Cruise to 62-63 MPH and just sit back and relax.
Slower uphill.
Slower in wind.

 

[awd]

Trailer is 3200 lbs as outfitted. (2750 dry)

MPG when towing is about the same with either an EcoBoost or a Hybrid.

Ecoboost with higher horsepower will accelerate better. But cruising at a steady 60 to 65 mph the trucks would be indistinguishable.

EB could probably exceed 65 MPH without sweating. But should you?

Hybrid will go up to 65 MPH with this:
I usually set Cruise to 62-63 MPH and just sit back and relax.
Slower uphill.
Slower in wind.

thank you for the details. is your trailer 7' or 8' wide? what range of mpg have you gotten towing it?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

thank you for the details. is your trailer 7' or 8' wide? what range of mpg have you gotten towing it?

8 feet wide.

19-20 MPG at 55 MPH.

15-16 MPG at 65 MPH.

Don't hardly touch the brakes. That thing is like a drag chute.

(But I have trailer brakes and a properly set up brake controller. Need the trailer brakes at low speeds when wind drag isn't much help.)

 

[awd]

8 feet wide.

19-20 MPG at 55 MPH.

15-16 MPG at 65 MPH.

Don't hardly touch the brakes. That thing is like a drag chute.

(But I have trailer brakes and a properly set up brake controller. Need the trailer brakes at low speeds when wind drag isn't much help.)

thank you, i can imagine it slows down quickly on its own.

based on your mpg towing and other posts i've seen on here, i'm estimating that towing a small 5' wide 5' tall enclosed cargo trailer at 50-55 mph would result in mpg in the 30's (or certainly at least 25 mpg), and with less strain on the engine from the small trailer, hopefully the oil life monitor would indicate significantly less frequent oil changes than you've seen.

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