ford truck question

[andy j]

I bought a 98 Ford F-150 XLT extended cab, 4x4, 4.6 V8 about a month ago, I thought it would get better gas milage. It gets about 16 mpg on the interstate at 70 mph running at 2,000 rpms, It gets about 10-11 mpg when I use the towing button when I tow my boat and runs at about 2,700 rpms at 65 mph. Is this typical? anyone else out there have this truck and what do you get for gas milage? Thanks AJ

[Benny]

It is a little low for that motor with out a load.
My 2000 5.4 gets 18mpg on the hwy with or with out the boat in O.D.If I use Drive it cut down to 16mpg.
Around town with out a load and driven conservitively it gets 14 or 15mpg.
BUT,if I drive like I usualy do it gets more like 10mpg.It also get's a little less on the hwy at any thing above 69 mph.

I would try a fresh tune up, a clean air filter, check for correct air presure in the tires.If that won't work, try looking into a chip or an on board tuner from SuperChips.I recamend them because they make the best chip for a Ford truck.
Hyperchips were designed for Chevys, and don't like to work well with Fords complicated computer set up.

A free breathing air filter will help but be care full about the K&N filters.
My brother is a Ford wrench in Grand Rapids, he showed me a truck with a deseal that had dust and oil in the air tract with the K&N filter.
I still use mine but I plased a filter charger over it as well.

I have my truck chiped and the filter on it, I did notice a 2 mpg better on the hwy going to the Dakota's last fall to scout.No load, 75 mph in OD for 200 miles and got 19mpg.

Benny

[MN Mike]

AJ, that is pretty much what I got with mine, best I ever seen was 18, pretty much averaged 14 - 15 driving around and much worse than that hooking up a load behind it.

Mike

[ChuckN]

These trucks are not for gas mileage.

I've just about everything possible to improve mileage, but it doesn't happen.

5.4L empty about 14mpg, towing my big boat maybe 10-11mpg if there's not a head wind.

[Johnsonator]

Your truck sounds the same as mine I have a '97 4x4 Supercab with the same 4.6. I average right around 15 to 16 mpg. My advice to you is not to waste your money with all the things that people say will raise your mileage because you will spend hundreds of $$ and see very little increase. This is my second Ford with the Triton motor and I have put alot of money on both of them trying to get a little better mileage. The best way to get better mileage is to pretend you have a egg between your foot and the pettle. They are great trucks but a truck is not built for mileage.

[Grabs]

Buy a new Duramax, I am already pushing 23MPG commuting each day!

[Fisher Dave]

I'm not going to comment to much on Fords.. not very happy with the one I own right now BUT..

The 96 Suburban (5.7 Vortec) gets 19-21 mpg on the highway and about 16 pulling a heavy trailer, better than that with a lighter(normal size boat).

As stated above .. the best way to increase your mileage is to pretend an egg is under that pedal.. never put enough pressure on it to break it... and use moderation while accelerating... it will give better results.

If anyone is curious of the latest problems of my current Ford.. its actually very scary, and will detour me from buying any Ford of the future...

The Brake light switch and the headlight switch both have gone out in the last couple weeks .. No big deal right??? ... IT WOULDNT BE IF in the process of failing the wiring didnt get so hot the insulation didnt completely melt off and destroy the plugs on the harness, and damage other wires in the main harness under the dash.. it did this on both switch's ans showed me no warning.. my indicater was the dash lights acting up... there have been no aftermarket add on's to this truck, it is dangerous as a stock truck. The fuse is only 5 amp.

To make things worse, I ran to a junk yard to get a headlight switch(auto parts stores were all closed) and every truck of the same year class had the exact same problem.. wires were burnt up and the harness damaged.. I found one with an aftermarket(replaced switch) and took it, replaced all the burnt and damged wiring.. problem solved, but how many miles before it fails? Will I have a serious fire next time? These are not normal vehicle issues one should have to worry about.

There will be a Ford for sale this summer sometime.. I will replace it with a Chevy or Jeep.

Fix Or Repair Daily*
F'd Over, Rebuilt Dodge*
Found On Road Dead*

I guess there comes a time in every Fords life where on should carry a good fire extinguisher.

[This message has been edited by Fisher Dave (edited 05-17-2004).]

[smokercraft]

My F150 get roughly the same mpg's as yours, but with well over 100k miles it's by far the best truck I've ever owned.

[Guest]

I have had absolutely no problems with the three Fords I've owned ('97, 98, '01). Mileage in town is around 13, be it pulling a trailer of any type or not. Air conditioning on/off - it doesn't really matter. Mashing the gas will really cut down on the mileage however.

I've installed K&N filters. They helped none in the mileage department but helped the power a little.

I have many friends that drive Chevys. They all chided me when I bought a Ford. I'd like to compare repair bills with them, because mine are zero to who knows what their's would total up to.

Also, I've driven my Fords through hail storms with no damage. You should see some of the Chevys and the foreign trucks that have done the same. Ford uses the best metal, with the best body design in the business. I can put my hand through some of the seems on new Chevys.

Dodge is out of the picture. Third ain't good enough.

[This message has been edited by workinman (edited 05-18-2004).]

[hawkeye43]

i get 22 mpg every day with my duramax, will never go back to a gas job again. the power will blow you away.

[CMWINTER]

I had the same truck and got 12-16 mpg and after $3500 worth of repairs traded it in.

[Valv]

Get a Diesel !!! $ 0.30 cheaper than gas, 19mpg pulling a 26ft flatbed loaded with skidsteer loader and other stuff, 24mpg empty. 264,000 miles and just 1 clutch replaced. I love my Powerstroke

------------------
Val Vignati

www.kvesurplus.com
[email protected]

[Ronsay]

I was a chevy man all my life till I bought a 97 f-150 5.4 lariot with the off road package last year to pull my ice-house.

It gets about 15 mpg without pulling anything, and about 10 mpg pulling the 16' house and fully loaded, I do not use overdrive while hooked to the house.

I tested many chevy's before test driving the ford, the ford had more power and drove and out handled the chevy's like night and day.

When I pulled my 16' house off the roads on red lake this winter, I would drive past the chevy's getting stuck just pulling trailers.

One of my son-in-laws is a chevy lover, after driving my ford and comparing the money he is spending on the chevy all the time, he stated that the next truck will be a ford for him.

Ron

[engr693]

I know all about that Ford gas mileage. I had a 96 XLT with a 300-6. Worst gas mileage (14-15 at best) and to boot...no power for passing. I might get 16 with a good tailwind going downhill.

I traded it in for a '99 Silverado with a Vortec V-8. No comparison! Mileage up to about 18 and enough power to pass even when pulling the boat. Will never go back to a Ford!

Fish On!
The Fishin' Engineer

[say_der]

I get 17.5 to 18.5 mpg with my '01 F-150 for normal running around. It's a regular cab, 4x4, short box, 4.6 L. On a long trip (not towing a boat) I got 21 mpg.

I suppose if I had the extended cab the extra weight could lower the mpg to around 16.

I could probably get around 20 mpg all the time if I drove like there was an egg between the pedal and my foot.

[This message has been edited by say_der (edited 05-18-2004).]