I've been looking for a tuner or chip for a 2007 E-150 with the 4.6

I am not to familiar with these, but have had a few on some diesels I've driven, and they wake them up. I see that they don't do much on a gas, but I need something!

This thing runs good, but I carry a lot of tools, so it has a fair amount of extra weight all the time. It gets 11.6 MPG on highway with AC on, roughly the same in city.

I am looking for extra mileage, and some power wouldn't hurt my feelings as it's a dog when I'm pulling much.

I called Edge and Superchips, the two that I'm somewhat familiar with, and they don't make anything for the E series.

I see a lot of other cheaper alternatives, but I'm not sure they really work. Does anybody have experience with this?

 

No experience with chips and I don't think I recall any van applications, but how heavy are the loads you're carrying?

I have an '02 E150 with a 4.6 and can routinely get 17+ mpg on the freeway with a relatively light load, and have had a couple tanks over 18 mpg keeping speeds down below 70 (which I rarely do). My fuel economy average over 95k miles is over 16 mpg. Every tank since new. Again, light loads, stock 3.55 axle, Michelin LTX M/S tires.

Your 11.6 mpg sounds really dismal.

George

 

I think all the tools, toolboxes, bulkhead, shelving, etc, added over 2,000 pounds to the weight of the van.
I'm running the exact same tires as you.
I've been putting 89 octane in it for a slight increase.
A significant part of the reason behind upgrading from the old 96 with the 300-6 was to increase the mileage, as well as air conditioning. I'm not getting the payback here that I was hoping for.
I don't know what the gearing is, but at 75 mph it's taching around 2200.

 

Hi again:
That is a fair amount of additional weight but 11.6 mpg is really poor.

Axle code charts are here (look on the driver door jamb sticker for your code):
Ford Axle Code Chart .: Articles

One question is whether you have the "new" 8-lug E150 or the "old" 5-lug wheel E150. I am unclear if Ford changed over in 2007 or 2008. If you have the newer 8-lug version, the GVW will be over 8500 lbs (also on the door jamb sticker) whereas the old 5-lug version was a max of 7200 lbs GVW.

My '02 is the 5 lug version, which as an empty box was about 4800 lbs, and with my conversion and factory glass is about 5300-5400 lbs. I have recorded 17 mpg with 6 passengers and their cargo, which would be nearly a 2000 lb load over the empty van. If you have the 8 lug version, starting weight will be more and I would expect gas mileage to be a bit less, but not as low as 11.6.

Again, I don't think tuners for the vans are very commonly available. It is possible that someone will make one up for you, but I would not expect much gas mileage improvement. Best suggestion I can make is to drive it like a little old lady, make sure your tire pressures are correct, keep a clean air filter in it, etc. And if you are getting any black smoke out the exhaust, check the tune, injectors, etc.

Good luck with the van. With gas prices as they are, 11.6 mpg would stink. In the old days, all vans would get 12-13 mpg, but my 4.6 E150 is way better than that.

George

 

The axle code is 24, 3.73 ratio. It is the 8 lug, which was the only reason I didn't hold out for a 3/4 ton, I got a great deal on this one. The air filter only has a few thousand on it. I run all tires at 80, I think the sticker says to run the fronts lower so maybe I should do that, but I'm not thinking it will make that much difference. I don't think I can shed much weight either...

 

The "new" 8-lug E150 like yours really is an E250 with a LOT more payload capacity than the traditional 5-lug vans like mine, and weighs probably 500+ lbs more than my old 5-lug E150, so between that, the axle ratio, and the weight you are carrying, that would explain a part of the gas mileage difference. And even though the 4.6 is a fine engine for my lighter van (and in cars like the Crown Vic), it's possibly a bit small for your van and your loads, but there's not much you can do about it at this point. Lowering front tire pressures won't help anything except maybe to even out front tire wear.

Because your van is over 8500 lbs, the EPA did not require gas mileage numbers to be put on it. (My van was rated at 15 city, 20 highway.)

I still think your mileage is low, however. The million mile van guy, who had a 5.4 engine, said he'd get 15+ mpg on the freeway. Good luck,
George