Oil changes are about 45 bucks or depending on the brand could be more. Fuel here is at a whopping 3.89 where as gas at 87 oct here is at 3.87 at most stations.
So if we get avg 18-19 mpg combined hwy/city it's not too bad even as a daily driver. My truck is in the sig.

 

I don't blame you for staying with what you have for now. Like you said, its working good, and 13.5 isn't terrible. If you don't need the bigger truck, you probably made the right decision. It's still a ford at least

 

Gas here is 4.19 while diesel is around 4.12.

My drivings kind of hard to explain. Its not rly city or highway. Its just wv driving. Most of the back roads i cruise around 40-50. And the corridir where i drive to school is 65 for about 2 miles then it drops to 55 with about 4 stop lights. Then its back up to 60.

Ive been doing btr about not idling for long times and instead of rolling around 70-75 keeping it between 60-67 or so. That along with cruisecontrol seems to be helping a bit.

Maybe later on after i graduate ill look into another truck

 

that motor is the reason i traded up for a 7.3 diesel! most i got is 10 mpg out of it diesel with 4.10 4x4 20 mpg this week hit 21 mpg would not trade it for anything!

 

IMO if you dont need the additional hauling capabilities the additional maintenance costs of 3/4 or 1 ton running a F150 balances out. I had a 92 F150 4.9 5spd 2wd regular cab long bed that would get 13-15 Mpg in town and about 20 on the highway. I currently have a 97 F350 PS CC LB 4x4 with a utility bed and big bumpers and it gets about the same mileage. They both had air intake systems and not cats or mufflers. Tires, oil, brakes, etc were way cheaper for the F150. My kids, wife and dog wouldnt fit in the F150 though, and I couldnt stack 4000lbs of fire wood in the bed of it either....