I agree with you. I think its quite amazing how trucks have become so much heavier yet more economical. I use to own a 1990 F-150 with a 5.0L V8 and an AOD 4-speed auto. On the highway even with 4 gears I was lucky to get 14 or 15mpg out of it. I once pulled a 5K trailer with it and was barely getting 10mpg at 70mph. Not to say it wasn't a great truck! I love it, and babied it like no tommorw. Sadly I was only working part time when gas shot up to 4$ a gallon and I found that with the often maintence it required plus 130$ fill ups I simply couldn't afford it.

But I'm getting a 2011 F-150 5.0L this comming summer and even though the 2011 ext cab probably weighs 1,500lbs more or so than my old 1990, I've no doubt it will achive noticebly better mpg and have 10 times the power. It just seems like people will never be happy. Fact is if you drive a 1/2 ton truck your not going to get 30mpg like alot of people think they should.We should just be happy that we have such a capable truck that gets 20mpg.

 

hsfbfan, you can throw the bs flag if you want, but that's what that truck would get towing. Without the trailer on the back, it would get 16-16.5 mpg highway. Back and forth to work and my normal weekly running around it would get 14.5 to 15. That was 75% highway and 25% city driving. It had 3.55 gears and E4OD tranny. When I traded it for my 05 PSD SD it had 150K miles on the clock. But don't forget, the 94-96 351 F150engines were roller cam engines. That made a big difference on mileage and power. But they were still underpowered. My 06 EC F150 5.4L 4x4 will run circles around the 95 towing or empty and get as good towing and better mileage empty than the 95 could ever get. And it also has 3.55 gears. I know it would do a little better with 3.73 gears.

 

Ok did a little highway driving today, about 100 miles and the computer said I was getting 18.8. 70 mph on cruise. My overall average so far is 15.7 again by the computer. I tell you guys this engine is awesome! It feels like theres so much reserve that you never have to punch it to get it moving. The 5.4 always felt like it was struggling to get the truck moving. All I can say is Ford has a winner with this motor! Also the tranny is much improved, no more lag, and it downshifts instantly. No more 4,3,2 downshifts. It goes straight to the gear and pulls hard when you punch it. Guys if you aren't in the market for a new truck, whatever you do don't test drive it. You will be leaving with a new truck!

 

...still cannot stand (getting to the point of hate) the tranny on my '09 Supercrew. I may have to go test drive a 5.0 soon because of your post.

 

I know! I test drove a SCAB 4x4 5.0L A few days ago and it was amazing! It had SO much power, even under light throttle I found myself jumping ahead of traffic at red lights. I can't wait to get my 5.0L FX4 SCAB next summer. Truelly amazing trucks.

 

Dudes, I'm chomping at the bit here wicked!!!!!!! I have one, JUST ONE payment left on my wife's Expy and then it's game on. I'll likely restrain myself till spring but she'll have to make me a straight jacket to keep me from jumping on the first thing I find!

 

eh not quiet they were "roller cam ready" engines, still had a Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam, just it had roller lifters and the lifter brackets already in place. you could swap in a Roller cam without any mods, unlike earlier blocks you had to machine the block to get the brackets to fit. Was next to no difference in power.. 5 horsepower and i believe 10 Ft. lbs of Torque....

 

So after the 1st tank of gas my 5.0 supercrew 2wd 3.55 is getting 15.7 average mpg (all around combo driving) On the hwy theres noway this thing is gonna get 21mpg doing 65-70. The best I could get was about 18 at those speeds and I got 20.1 running at 55-60 mph. With what feels like 100 more hp than the 5.4 3v I'm very happy with these numbers and hope they improve with some mobil 1 and break-in.. I'm telling you guys, you have to go drive one of these things, you will be blown away at how much more power they have! Oh one more thing, my truck is used as a service truck and I probably haul 1000 lbs extra weight all the time with my tools and parts.. One last thing my 2006 5.4 was getting 14mpg average and about 17 hwy..

 

So, are those fuel economy numbers with 1000 lbs. in the bed, or unloaded?


JKG

 

So it appears to get approximately 1 mpg better on the highway than the 5.4L? I'm still waiting for towing numbers with an enclosed car hauler.

 

My '09 5.4 4x4 screw averaged 16. I'm averaging 18.5 with a little over 500 mi. on '11 5.0 4x4 screw. It got 20 @ 70 on highway. No comparison in power. This thing runs. Do a 20 mph stomp & hang on! Ready to put flows on & really hear it. FYI for you guys that have manual shift mode button, if you click it down without being in manual on gear shift it will display all six gear #s on dash display screen & show it moving gear to gear w/shifts.

 

Are those numbers hand calculated, or via the on-board computer?


JKG

 

FUZZYDP, what gears are you running?

 

Mine are both hand and truck computed. The overall was done by hand and the hwy was by the comp. which was dead on btw.. It now shows fuel used on the info screen too..and the weight is about 500lbs in the toolbox and 500 in the cab..My hwy miles were driving like I had an egg under the pedal and grandpa behind the wheel..

 

Carrying an extra 1000 lbs. anywhere will likely have a negative impact on fuel economy, but that is true in any vehicle.


JKG