Help!!!! I have recently purchased a '96 F-150 300 I-6. I am only getting 11-12 MPG. I really need to improve that. The truck has fiberglass running boards and a front air dam as well. I was thinking of taking those pieces off but they really look great. Currently the truck has 31" tires which kind of reduce MPG. I was wondering if anyone has some ideas to improve the MPG. What should I do? Also does anyone know about venturi tubes and if my engine has them. A friend of mine to me to cut them out. HELLLPPPP!!

 

>Help!!!! I have recently purchased a
>'96 F-150 300 I-6. I
>am only getting 11-12 MPG.
>I really need to improve that.
> The truck has fiberglass running
>boards and a front air dam
>as well. I was thinking
>of taking those pieces off but
>they really look great. Currently
>the truck has 31" tires which
>kind of reduce MPG. I
>was wondering if anyone has some
>ideas to improve the MPG.
>What should I do? Also
>does anyone know about venturi tubes
>and if my engine has them.
> A friend of mine to
>me to cut them out.
> HELLLPPPP!!


I hope that I can be of some help to you! I'll try to answer in the best way I can. Your looking for mpg: I would recommend a K&N FIPK, it guareentees 19% increase in mpg and hp. I would recommend a cat-back muffler system. how about a performance chip? It really comes down to how much $$$ you are willing to spend.

As for the airdam and steps, Its mainly for looks, I seriosly doubt youll notice any mpg difference.

Venturi effect tubes are only on big blocks, but the latter engines, had a baffle that comes from the bottom of the air box to the top of the radiator support. You CAN remove it, I know of a guy who did it to his 302, but he didn't notice a gain in mpg. I wouldn't suggest removing it, because the cooler air that is brought in with the baffle, tends to have more oxygen in it, thus creating more air to be spent with fuel, creating more mpg.

I hope this helped, and reply back if you have any questions

 

I doubt seriously if the front air dam is doing anything except good, and the side cladding shouldn't hurt either. These engines seem to be picky about the basics--plugs, wires, rotor, distributor cap. They also respond well to a cleanout of the intake air manifold.
What transmission, rear axle ratio, and tire combination are you runnning?
Ed

 

I also have a 96' F-150. Mine has the 302 and I can sometimes get 18-19 MPG on the highway. Mine is a 5sp, however. As far as performance mods go I can tell you what I have done and the gains I got. I'll try to be brief. The first mod I did was on the exhaust side. I removed the muffler and exhaust pipe and added a cat-back system. I used no muffler and the pipes split at the back into duals. This helped horsepower, but I lost low end torque. I later added a Flowmaster (Muffler) to regain some low end torque. I added a drop-in K&N filter...I didn't notice and difference in power or mileage. I then added a Jet Performance chip. This made a BIG difference in throttle response and pulling power. Just a few days ago I also added a K&N FIPK (Relpaces entire airbox and snorkle). Dollar for dollar this made the biggest difference in power. It does not feel like the same truck...I mean it will fly!! It gave me gobs more of low-end torque, throttle response and horsepower. It also eliminated a problem I had with slight hesitation.(Plus it has a cool intake sound.) However, this WAS after all the other mods so my airbox was probably the limiting factor. Overall in power increases I would rate mods:
1.K&N FIPK
2.Jet Chip
3.exhaust
Hope this helps.

 

I'd say you might want to try some other things before you get an FIPK. They are expensive, and much more suited to a 302 or 351, than the lower revving 300. That said, I'd love to see an FIPK-type system that also had a huge snorkel to feed it cool air. Sort of a modern-day RAM-AIR system...

Try:

- synthetics in motor, tranny and diffs.
- cat-back exhaust
- Tune regularly with the best components you can find.


I get a consistent 16MPG with my '93 F150 4x4, with 300/5-Speed, 31" BFG's. I've got 3.08 gears and no front air dam. Acceleration is not great, but remember, the 300 is not exactly a hot-rod engine. On the other hand, it will last forever if you don't beat on it.

 

Do you know where I can purchase a jet chip for my engine? Also how much do the run in price and how easy are they to install? I was defintely looking into the K&N Air Box Assembly. I think I will spend the $200. for this and see if it works.

Thanks for the help.....it is greatly appreciated.

 

You can buy them a alot of different places, but I would check with Autozone first. They would (i think) be the cheapest of anyone. Jett, Hypertech, and Superchip make versions, maybe even more companies?

 

My Dad has a 95 F150 w/ 300 5sp and he gets around 20 mpg. Have your catalytic converters checked out. When they fail they can really plug the pipes.

 

I have the same truck. 350 rear gears. I just put on a full flow cat and duals. I get 16 around town and 19 on the highway. I put in a K/N air filter. The problem I am experiencing is the check engine light is on. The folks I have been talking to say the o2 sensor which is located after the cat is not getting hot enough to keep the loop closed and my highway gas milage has dropped to 16. My truck is a 5 sp. If you have any thoughts about my 02 sensor problem please write. Fred_Kester@Yavapai.cc.az.us. Thanks

 

Are you sure you're getting 11-12 mpg? Did you ever adjust the odometer for the larger tires? You could easily be 10-20 percent off on the mileage and you could actually be getting almost 15 mpg.

'82 F150 w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

 

i wish my i6 would get 16/19 mpgs. im only averaging maybe 14.5

 

My 300 loves my new 3.55 gears the 3.08 gears that were in it had me at 15.6 mpg now im at 19.2 mpg

 

yep.. check your cat converter. Do spark plugs and other tune up stuff. Sometimes the little things make a big difference. Just did plugs on a friends car which increased mileage by 2mpg. With the 4.9 I6 motor, keep it below 2000rpms. No need to rev it, it makes tons of torque in low RPMs. Shift before 2k and keep it below 65mph on the freeway. If you are driving it fast with revs over 3k, you will get poor mileage. I get 18 mpg when I drive my 4.9 kindly, and 14 when I hot rod it. Do a tune up first, then check air filter (don't buy the expensive K&N setup.) the Factory box is great on those trucks and is cold air. Buy the K&N drop in filter for your truck only, then put the rest of the money you would have spent on the k&n kit on plugs wires etc.
you have a great truck, let us know what you do on it and what mpg results are!

 

This thread is from 1999.