Better MPG
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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Better MPG
I have a 98 E250 5.4 cargo standard size. I'd be lucky to get 275 miles from F to E in mixed city/hwy driving. Its well serviced, only has 67k miles, clean filters, ect and no heavy loads.
What can I do to increase MPG for not much money? Its terrible right now.
What can I do to increase MPG for not much money? Its terrible right now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 8
Did you check for OBD2 fault codes? Many parts sotre will chgeck for free.
How about checking for brake drag? Run for awhile to warm things up then coast to stop on level in neutral & feel for drag.
Or stuff like vacuum leaks & clogged converters?
Considering you can easily use 30 gallons "from F to E" getting only "275 miles" is very bad MPG. Suggests FI is over rich, a condition that can over heat & destroy converters.
How about checking for brake drag? Run for awhile to warm things up then coast to stop on level in neutral & feel for drag.
Or stuff like vacuum leaks & clogged converters?
Considering you can easily use 30 gallons "from F to E" getting only "275 miles" is very bad MPG. Suggests FI is over rich, a condition that can over heat & destroy converters.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
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Did you check for OBD2 fault codes? Many parts sotre will chgeck for free.
How about checking for brake drag? Run for awhile to warm things up then coast to stop on level in neutral & feel for drag.
Or stuff like vacuum leaks & clogged converters?
Considering you can easily use 30 gallons "from F to E" getting only "275 miles" is very bad MPG. Suggests FI is over rich, a condition that can over heat & destroy converters.
How about checking for brake drag? Run for awhile to warm things up then coast to stop on level in neutral & feel for drag.
Or stuff like vacuum leaks & clogged converters?
Considering you can easily use 30 gallons "from F to E" getting only "275 miles" is very bad MPG. Suggests FI is over rich, a condition that can over heat & destroy converters.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
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some DTCs don't turn on the CEL, so check it anyway. usually, any DTC that effects emissions (fuel consumption, power, etc) will trigger the CEL, but those what don't won't.
such poor economy would be typical of any of the following: heavy loads, agressive/stop-and-go driving, bad sensor related to fuel injection (o2, MAF, TPS, etc)...but any such problems would show up and you should be aware of them by now... other things could be brake drag (as mentioned earlier), transmission failing to shift into high gear (you'd probably notice), plugged cat (should trigger CEL), fuel theft (wouldn't be so consistent), etc.
such poor economy would be typical of any of the following: heavy loads, agressive/stop-and-go driving, bad sensor related to fuel injection (o2, MAF, TPS, etc)...but any such problems would show up and you should be aware of them by now... other things could be brake drag (as mentioned earlier), transmission failing to shift into high gear (you'd probably notice), plugged cat (should trigger CEL), fuel theft (wouldn't be so consistent), etc.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Mini FWIW my '00 E250 weighs in at 7800 pounds as a daily driver, LT245/75R16, regular body and a raised roof plus 255K miles I'm getting just about 13-14 MPG mostly highway driving. Rough calculations say you're getting about 9.5 MPG so something is certainly amiss.
Is this the same mileage you've been getting since first buying the truck?
Is this the same mileage you've been getting since first buying the truck?
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Posting Guru
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OBD2 stands for On Board Diagnostics 2nd generation & is a complex & powerful system. Parts stores will usually read OBD2 codes for free. IMO it's a No Brainer to access this system to "check for OBD2 fault codes" if only to conclusively eliminate the obvious.
When "rotors are warped" they usually drive pads/pistons further away than normal. Symptoms are pulsing pedal & excess travel. Why rotors warped is of more interest.
However confirming or ruling out "Brake drag" is the primary concern. You can attempt to quantify if it's "a slight issue" & diagnose its cause later. If you can't detect brake drag coasting to stop in neutral w/warm brakes, try jacking each wheel a check for drag by hand.
Not your cup of tea? Try driving a little used road awhile to allow brakes to cool, roll to stop w/o using brakes, get out & feel around each wheel/brake to see if any are hot.
Keep in mind that brakes are much more powerful than drivetrains. It doesn't take much brake drag to kill MPG.
However confirming or ruling out "Brake drag" is the primary concern. You can attempt to quantify if it's "a slight issue" & diagnose its cause later. If you can't detect brake drag coasting to stop in neutral w/warm brakes, try jacking each wheel a check for drag by hand.
Not your cup of tea? Try driving a little used road awhile to allow brakes to cool, roll to stop w/o using brakes, get out & feel around each wheel/brake to see if any are hot.
Keep in mind that brakes are much more powerful than drivetrains. It doesn't take much brake drag to kill MPG.
Last edited by Club Wagon; Oct 4, 2011 at 10:31 AM. Reason: spelling
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Maryville
I got 117 miles and pumped in 20 gallons the other day, no the tank wasn't full, I realize that, but balancing that with the mileage from last time indicates 7 or 8 MPG, my plugs were replaced at 98,000 miles and I currently have 140,000 miles. These 5.4 engines get the poorest of the other engines, no better than the v-10, I've owned it 8 years so there's no sugar coating it, and you can't bs me, Ford doesn't even put an EPA mileage sticker on the new ones due to it being poor. You can pour all of your money into one replacing parts one at a time but you will be hard pressed to get it to 12 in the city, if you must, get a program to hook a laptop to your van to view it while it's running and learn the numbers, so you know what you're looking for to tune it up.
I honestly would rather get AC put in my 73, upgrade to an HO engine and overdrive transmission, either dual alternators of a high amp and quitting on todays vehicles, you can't work on them and mileage is no better, worse in most occasions.
I honestly would rather get AC put in my 73, upgrade to an HO engine and overdrive transmission, either dual alternators of a high amp and quitting on todays vehicles, you can't work on them and mileage is no better, worse in most occasions.
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The reason Ford doesn't publish a fuel economy number for these is because it isn't required to do so. The GVW is higher than 8500 (?).
Last week I drove into the city 4 times, about 100 miles round trip. 50/50 highway & city. I don't do this very often, that's why I noted it. 15 MPG. I really think that us reasonable for this vehicle. Better tires would have made it even better.
Last week I drove into the city 4 times, about 100 miles round trip. 50/50 highway & city. I don't do this very often, that's why I noted it. 15 MPG. I really think that us reasonable for this vehicle. Better tires would have made it even better.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Whatever "The reason Ford doesn't publish a fuel economy number for these" Full Size Vans, in this case mini1's "98 E250 5.4" & hasn't for decades, is an interesting question.
However the EPA did publish MPG estimates.
In this case, new estimate: 12 city/16 highway/13 combined
Old estimate: 13 city/17 highway/14 combined
They also added MPG from 4 vans, 10-14 averaging 11.5 MPG
In this case, new estimate: 12 city/16 highway/13 combined
Old estimate: 13 city/17 highway/14 combined
They also added MPG from 4 vans, 10-14 averaging 11.5 MPG
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Junior User
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I did a 560+/- mile highway road trip today with only very short stops, all at 70-85 MPH. I averaged 14.3 MPG for the entire trip. Not great. The upside is that nothing broke! Dependable 12 year old van for sure!
I have no idea if the plugs are original. There was no history. I didn't pay a lot for this van, so I took a risk on it needing maintenance.
What is the single biggest thing beyond the brakes I could improve? When I was on the highway today, I took my foot off the gas and the van would start to slow fairly quickly. I think the pistons may be sticking.
Are there aftermarket air intakes that help MPG?
I have no idea if the plugs are original. There was no history. I didn't pay a lot for this van, so I took a risk on it needing maintenance.
What is the single biggest thing beyond the brakes I could improve? When I was on the highway today, I took my foot off the gas and the van would start to slow fairly quickly. I think the pistons may be sticking.
Are there aftermarket air intakes that help MPG?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
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85 MPH @ over 14 MPG? There is nothing wrong with your van. Its your driving. Drive it like there is a raw egg between your foot and the gas peddal.