Yes. Going 5 over doesn't really get you there much faster. The golden range is usually 1800-2200 rpms.

 

Okay I turned off the trailer sway control. My trip was only 11 miles each way so really not a good test. But, and this is a big but, I think it did make a difference!! Tomorrow I will be driving 150 miles each way on four lane highway so I will be able to tell positively whether or not this can make a difference. I can totally see how it could be if even though there is no trailer hooked up that the computer somehow thinks there is and adjusts accordingly. If this does make a large difference then there is definitely a software problem that needs to be addressed. I am very surely hoping so. I am one of the most conservative drivers that you will ever find. I always coast well in advance before stopping. I seldom drive over 65 even on the four lane. Not being able to even get 18 this way really bothers me. I read some of the posts that maybe we are not really driving all that conservative. Well I know that I have!!! If I could average 21 @ 70 with my 5.4 flex then I should at least be able to get 20 with this!! Both vehicles F150 platinum exactly the same equipped only 1 year difference. Like I said I will report back after 300 miles round trip tomorrow. It does look promising at this point in time.

 

With my 3.31's, I'm chugging along at 75 @1900-2000 rpm's.

 

I agree it might help and tried turning it off today. Didn't drive much so hard to tell yet. I'm thinking maybe traction control is doing something too? Gonna keep it off to for a few tanks.

 

I could see the sway control sucking a couple MPG's. But hey, it's a safer bet to have it default on for those people that might forget to turn it on when they really need it. I think I would get the 3.31's if they came with the electronic locker in a 4x4. I don't really ever tow anything anyways.

 

Maybe I am all wet, but I would think that the sway control could be linked into whether or not you have a trailer connected. The computer recognizes when you plug in the trailer so then it could default to on and not be on when you really don't want or need it. Just my opinion, but I would think it should be tied into recognizing the trailer being hooked up.

 

You'd expect ford to do that. But I guess we are wondering if the computer is mistaken and enabling it when not needed. Possibly affecting mileage.

 

Ok, so I drove about 175 miles each way today. Disabled the sway control both ways. Driving 65 except for maybe 5 miles altogether in the big city. Averaged 19.0 going up and coming back down averaged 18.7. No wind at all coming home. There might (I forgot to check) have been a small (less than 5 mph) tail wind going. Different gas station fill up for the return home. I don't know that disabling the sway control made much difference. I guess I should have enabled it half way there to see if there was a decline in mileage. Only gunned it once to go on one on ramp. No conclusive evidence. I still maintain that I should get 21 or better mpg. I am beginning to wonder if maybe I should just punch the hell out if it and see what happens................

 

LOL, I'm pretty sure sway control isn't limiting ur fuel economy...it's software! Software that can deploy brake force and limit throttle output to counteract a vehicle skid. It's the same software used in vehicle stability control. It requires the truck to detect yaw which was not first ordered up by steering wheel input. So, where's the connection with fuel economy?

 

Additionally, by deactivating sway control, are u also deactivating stability control and risking loss of control when u need the system to keep u from spinng a 360 in the snow rain or during evasive manuever?

 

Just wondering how you made out with this problem as I'm having the same one and the dealer service manager says they have no knowlege of any problems of this sort.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

Sway control would only be used when pulling a trailer. Read the whole thread to understand why we want to deactivate the sway control. Only trucks having tow pkg would have sway control !!!

 

I read the entire Post. I'm suggesting that ur wr

 

I don't know what wr means but I think you are a stupid smartass that does not have a clue what sway control is. It is used in conjunction with a towed vehicle which usually is a trailer of some type. You are a nimbwhit if you don't know this and should start paying attention so that you can learn if that is at all possible. If you had read the entire thread then you would have understood this. That is why I stated you should read the entire thread, not just the last couple of posts to the thread.

 

Trailer sway control and traction control are different. Traction control is activated or deactivated by a button on the dash. Sway control is activated/deactivated in the 4.2" display menu. Sway control does depends up the circuitry in traction control to function, however deactivating sway control thru the menu does NOT turn of the traction control.