I have a '93 F-250 w/ a 460 engine. Any tips for improving fuel economy?
It's fuel injected.

 

what kind of mpg's are you getting right now 10-12 is normal

 

Buy an inexpensive car that gets good gas milage. I paid $1,300 for my 95 Escort 5sp and it gets 30-33mpg.

 

the absolute worst i have seen with my 95 was 8mpg fully loaded coming from west virginia to north jersey.

unloaded, with my heavy foot shows 10-11 mpg average.

hope u didnt get the 460 thinking it would be good on gas....

 

No, I didn't expect to get great mileage; I just want to maximize what is there.

 

I have a 94 suburban with a 454 that gets 10 mpg no matter what. Uphill, downhill, headwind, tailwind, towing, or not. I read an article that described this great upgrade I could make to my intake and exhaust for $1500 that would improve my mileage by 10 percent. That meant that I would now be getting 11 mpg. I didn't do it. I think these engines are meant to tow and will get you that 10 mpg all the time.

 

I bought an 85 f250 4x4 sc new, carburated. Always got 11 city, 13 hwy. (highway milage increased 1 mpg for every 5 mph over speed limit till 90, 3:54 (?) gear ratio) never started as good as my 76 lincon towncar, which got 15 city,and 17 hwy. It also accellerated better, and I put my foot in the carb on a regular basis, while getting the 15 city. Was real disappointed with the truck. But it never cared if it was empty or towing.

Replaced ignition with one of those multispark things and picked up 2 mpg. Still running good at 200,000+ (just oil changes), burn less oil then when new. The body is another story.

How are fords newer ignitions???????????
If I get a new truck in 2005, would I benifit from aftermarket ignition.?????

 

Best thing you can do for your gas mileage is: Drive slower. Also, drive smoother, leaving a long distance between you and the guy in front of you in traffic and don't go from gas to brake to gas to brake.

 

It has already been established that 460's are gas hogs compared to everthing else out there. However, I'm sure your not looking at everything else out there. Comparing apple to apples, here's my $0.02 worth for optimizing your 460.

Make sure your EFI stuff is happy. Check for codes. If your vacuum system is compromised, egr valve is stuck or otherwise inoperative, gas mileage can suffer. I did these things on my '88 f-250 and picked up 3 MPG. You may be able to clean your egr; I did. Make sure your catylitic converter is not clogged; these things are real performance killers. Bottom line is that maintenance is the key. Dual exhaust won't hurt either.

Good luck.

 

Well I have done a couple of things that made my gas milleage go from 9 to 13 mpg and 15 hwy. First thing I did was Installed a New Dual Exhaust and then I also installed a Pro series Intake. Ran a couple of Fuel injection cleaners through the gas ( 1 bottle for every 35 gallons). I started getting quick results.


I do find if I get on it a little bit up in the mountains I go from 9 miles per gallon to 5 or 6.

 

Ya gotta understand how the fuel system on these big engines really works, Ford or Chebby. Before electronics there was a gear pump in the tranny tail piece. The mfrs did not want to admit how they did it so they told everyone the lines to the trans were for oil cooling. They were really fuel lines. This gear pump was set up to pump 1/10 gallon per mile into the engine. No ifs ands or buts. Tire size could influence it a bit, but not much.

With the new computer controled engines the mfr and to change things a bit. Now instead of the gear pump there is an electric metering pump but the idea is the same. For every mile the system shoves 1/10 gallon into the engine. Thats the way it is, deal with it.

This is in the same catagory as the reason for larger engines in the first place. It is for weight reduction. Don't think so, just do the math. 460-351=109 ci of iron. Bore bigger holes have 109 cu in less iron to haul around.

GRIN (last night of 7 12hr night shifts in a row, can ya tell)

 

My 1991 460 with 4.10 gears gets 11.5 to 13.5 mpg empty. I don't run it hard but I do like to get away from a stop. I have noticed that it really likes to run over about 2200rpm, while pulling I try to use that. Peak torque is 2800rpm. Running in that range it seems to take less pedal to make it go uphill and in my imagination I am using less fuel. I kick it out of OD when the cruise starting pouring on the gas and bump it off the CC. I use the pedal to help the cruise control start up hills while I am towing also. If the speed drops below the cruise setting it will really open up the throttle.

I would recommend adapting your driving style for economy before you spend money on better mileage.

 

 

don't they have an overdrive for these trucks as well as the 4 spd automatic?

 

No such a thing from Ford that I ever heard of - what is this?