I recently obtained a 1990 F150 302 V8 2WD pickup in real nice shape.
It gets about 15 mpg at 65 mph on the highway.

Is this as good as I can expect? What are some modifications that can be done to improve the mileage?

 

I would say that is pretty much what you are going to get. I have a 95 F150 5.0 2WD automatic with 32 inch tires 3.55 gears Flowmaster exhaust and a K&N airfilter. The best I can get out of my truck is just under 16 mpg highway only miles it avg's about 15 maybe a little lower. I do also have a ranch hand grill guard and rear bumper and a loaded down tool box... so my weight could be better. Just keep yours tuned up good and do most of the maintanance it requires otherwise you gas mileage could wind up being terrible. Hope this helps.

 

My 1991 F-150 4x4 gets 15 on the highway, 13 around town. 5.0 V8. 5 speed manual.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have just installed a K&N air filter, so I'll see if that helps. Does anyone know if those 1' thick aluminum spacers that go under the carburator help? One brand I have see i Helix Power Tower.

 

tom, i have read nothing but bad things about those helix things and throttle body spacers. i haven't tried them personally though. do a search on this site by helix and you'll see.

cheers,

 

 

The spacer may help your midrange punch significantly, but it depends on your engine, and there is no way to reliably predict what a spacer will do. In general it can be proven that a 1" divided plenenum spacer will boost low RPM torque, it may just as well cut it by 15%, the only way to know is by trail and error.

 

Thanks for the replies about the spacer. I think I will not try one, because talking to people I have found such mixed results. A local mechanic said that they can put a strain on the throttle connections and the transmission shift rod that kick the tranny down a gear under hard acceleration. Sounds like more trouble that it is worth.