Ford Super Duty Job 2 Air Dam

I have a Job 1 2008 F350 Super Duty 4x4 with the short air dam up front. I just got the Job 2 4x4 air dam which is about 4 inches longer than the job 1. It's supposed to clean up the air flow going under the truck and get you a bit better mileage. I figure that for $115 even if it only improves my mileage 0.5, it'll pay for itself on the trip to Yellowstone.

I'm heading out camping this weekend, but I'll put it on next Saturday and post pictures of before and after and then update everyone on mileage to see if it improves.

WERE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!

Hi Mark,

Wasn't sure what a Job 2 4x4 air dam was. Ended up at thedieselstop to see what it was.

Let us know what you think, and have a GREAT TIME at Disneyland.

oldelmer1 wrote:Wasn't sure what a Job 2 4x4 air dam was.

The 2008 Super Duty was first built in December of 2006 for delivery in January 2007. The reason they stated selling a 2008 model year (MY) at the beginning of 2007 was that beginning in 2007 all diesel engines had to satisfy new EPA emission requirements regarding NOx and particulates. Since Ford was going to be building this truck for nearly two model years, they denoted which variation was built. Job 1 was the first off the line. I got mine in February 2007 with a build date the first week of January. Sometime in the summer, they started building job 2 trucks. Big differences were the addition of a wide-track front end for the F350 to give it the turning radius of the F450 (bummer, I would have liked that). They also started putting a longer front air dam on the 4x4s to increase the mileage (new diesel trucks from all three manufactures suffered a big MPG hit to comply with emissions.) Job 3 trucks I think stated building in the winter of 2007 - 2008 (I stopped paying attention to the particulars, so I don't really know what was changed with job 3 trucks.) They are no longer building the 2008 MY Super Duty and are switching over the factory to make the 2009 MY. But, from what I hear with the sales of trucks down big time, it may be an extended shut down to work off excess inventory.

Well, I just got back from a 180 mile road trip, empty and I got 14.3 MPG which is about 1 MPG higher than my last trip over similar conditions, so it does look like it gives better mileage, even if this is only the first tank and I don't have the exact MPG numbers I got last time.

Since I do track each tank, time will tell if this little $120 modification pays for itself.

mattebury wrote:Well, I just got back from a 180 mile road trip, empty and I got 14.3 MPG which is about 1 MPG higher than my last trip over similar conditions,

Pulling the cat? If so, I'm impressed.

Tell Goofy I said hi.

scottz wrote:Pulling the cat? If so, I'm impressed.

No towing, was bob tailin' it.

Ok, that's understandable.

Do you really only get 14.3 empty? I averaged 12.4 on my 4700 mile trip through the mountains pulling the cat. I would think that your truck would get at least 17 empty. I usually average between 18 and 21 while empty, depending on how I drive. Sorry, not trying to change the subject of the thread, just wondering.

moo2613 wrote:Do you really only get 14.3 empty? I averaged 12.4 on my 4700 mile trip through the mountains pulling the cat. I would think that your truck would get at least 17 empty. I usually average between 18 and 21 while empty, depending on how I drive. Sorry, not trying to change the subject of the thread, just wondering.

No problem, I get that question a lot from people with older, simpler diesels (no offense meant, it's just that pre 2007 diesels don't have all the emissions equipment).

Let's see:

1. Truck weighs almost 9,000 lbs (Fords are generally heavier, similar Chevy and Dodge trucks are about 1,000 lbs lighter)
   
2. It's a 1-ton dually, more tires = more rolling resistance.
   
3. 4x4 = more moving parts (same as yours).
   
4. And, most importantly, it's 2007 diesel emission compliant.

From what I hear (I don't know anyone with a DPF diesel), the new GM and Dodge mileage isn't too much different than Ford. It's new motors for everyone and everyone is complaining about poor mileage, but I'm sure that the big three will work on their fueling programs to suqeeze a bit more out and still maintain emissions. It's weird to look at the tailpipe and not see soot.

mattebury wrote:

moo2613 wrote:Do you really only get 14.3 empty? I averaged 12.4 on my 4700 mile trip through the mountains pulling the cat. I would think that your truck would get at least 17 empty. I usually average between 18 and 21 while empty, depending on how I drive. Sorry, not trying to change the subject of the thread, just wondering.

No problem, I get that question a lot from people with older, simpler diesels (no offense meant, it's just that pre 2007 diesels don't have all the emissions equipment).

Let's see:

1. Truck weighs almost 9,000 lbs (Fords are generally heavier, similar Chevy and Dodge trucks are about 1,000 lbs lighter)
   
2. It's a 1-ton dually, more tires = more rolling resistance.
   
3. 4x4 = more moving parts (same as yours).
   
4. And, most importantly, it's 2007 diesel emission compliant.

From what I hear (I don't know anyone with a DPF diesel), the new GM and Dodge mileage isn't too much different than Ford. It's new motors for everyone and everyone is complaining about poor mileage, but I'm sure that the big three will work on their fueling programs to suqeeze a bit more out and still maintain emissions. It's weird to look at the tailpipe and not see soot.

Well stated Mark;

Another thing is that the new 2008 PSD has more power than our older (2006) trucks, even with all the smog equipment. We averaged 13.3 pulling our 29rlbs on our trip, which is not as good as some of the Cummins engines, but when we hit hills, both of the Dodges that had about the same size 5th wheels as we did, could not keep up, so with more power you get less mpg.

Maxtor wrote:Well stated Mark;

Another thing is that the new 2008 PSD has more power than our older (2006) trucks, even with all the smog equipment. We averaged 13.3 pulling our 29rlbs on our trip, which is not as good as some of the Cummins engines, but when we hit hills, both of the Dodges that had about the same size 5th wheels as we did, could not keep up, so with more power you get less mpg.

True, I forgot that I'm putting out 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of twist as well as having 4.10 gears.

The 4:10's will do it!! But you will always have plenty of torque. I haven't looked into the new engines yet, mine only has 160k on it, so the way I see it, it is just now getting broken in!! From the sounds of it, this truck will need to last a few more years so that I can avoid the emission issues. Thanks for the reply, it explains alot

moo2613 wrote:The 4:10's will do it!! But you will always have plenty of torque. I haven't looked into the new engines yet, mine only has 160k on it, so the way I see it, it is just now getting broken in!! From the sounds of it, this truck will need to last a few more years so that I can avoid the emission issues. Thanks for the reply, it explains alot

Well, you'll probably want to wait a little longer. Diesel emissions get even tougher in 2010. But, from what I understand, the Cummins 6.7 is already 2010 compliant, it's GM and Ford that are scrambling to be able to sell diesels in 2010.