van mpg
Cargo Master
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From: Living under the bosses d
I have the 4.9 with 240K and I barely get 13.7 to 14.2
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From: NY, NY
You might get 16-17 with a 302 and a lot of work into it. Not with the 351.
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it really depends on a lot of factors: engine, transmission, weight, axle gears, tire size, driving conditions (highway vs city, hills, wind), driving style (aggressive vs grandpa).
all that said, my 87 with 6.9 and c6, scale weight of 8000lbs, 3.5 gears, 235/85 tires, mixed driving but mostly highway, moderately agressive, gets 14-15 consistently.
i know i would gain a good bit of economy by upgrading to an overdrive, turbo, etc, or (for somebody else) having less weight in the vehicle.
real numbers depend on more than engine, so post #2 is as accurate as we can get until we know more about the exact vehicle you're looking at
all that said, my 87 with 6.9 and c6, scale weight of 8000lbs, 3.5 gears, 235/85 tires, mixed driving but mostly highway, moderately agressive, gets 14-15 consistently.
i know i would gain a good bit of economy by upgrading to an overdrive, turbo, etc, or (for somebody else) having less weight in the vehicle.
real numbers depend on more than engine, so post #2 is as accurate as we can get until we know more about the exact vehicle you're looking at
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Josh Quick
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There's some range between E150, E250, E350, city, highway, combined, regular length, or extended vans.
Despite debate EPA estimated MPG data is very useful.
My '92 E150 Club Wagon w/302 rarely exceeded 15 MPG under the best conditions, also rarely below 12 MPG.
Despite debate EPA estimated MPG data is very useful.
My '92 E150 Club Wagon w/302 rarely exceeded 15 MPG under the best conditions, also rarely below 12 MPG.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Still makes my laugh that my stock 2wd '89 F150 300 straight 6, gets usually around 14-16mpg highway. (i've hit 17mpg on a highway trip doing 55 the whole way and back).
And my 11-12k lbs '87 Class C motorhome (6.9 non turbo Diesel, 3 speed C6) got me 14.2mpg doing 55 in Florida last summer! But it usually hits on average 12 and 13.... in a motorhome!
And people still ask me why won't I sell it, and trust an old thing like that to go on long journeys! Cause it would cost an arm and leg in anything else
And my 11-12k lbs '87 Class C motorhome (6.9 non turbo Diesel, 3 speed C6) got me 14.2mpg doing 55 in Florida last summer! But it usually hits on average 12 and 13.... in a motorhome!
And people still ask me why won't I sell it, and trust an old thing like that to go on long journeys! Cause it would cost an arm and leg in anything else
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Not that this was one of the options in the question, but IMO the best possible mileage for any big van is a Ford with the 4.6 V8 engine if you are relatively lightly loaded. I have had my '02 E150 since new, and have averaged over 16 mpg for 103k miles. This includes winters with crappy winter gas, city driving, etc...I have been pretty neurotic about tracking this one. On the freeway, it can get 17+ mpg if I hold it around 70 mph, and if I hold it 60-65 mph, it will crack 18 mpg. I honestly believe that for light loads, the 4.6 in an E150 is the best mpg combo ever in a big van. This is with Michelin LTX M/S tires, which were OEM on the van and which I replaced with a set of the same--and I am guessing that these are part of the equation.
I have had a '73 E200 flatnose with a 302 that would get maybe 13 mpg, an '86 GMC with a 305 (carbureted) that would only get 13 or so as well--city or highway. A '96 Savana with a 350 and an overdrive that could get 15 to even 16 on the freeway.
I am quite certain that the 4.6 is a better mileage motor than the 300 inch six was in a big van, and also better than the 4.2 V6 which is simply overworked even with an empty van. The EPA ratings bear this out. The 4.6 goes back to 1997, and a 1997 is not gonna cost much more than the years you are looking at...
George
I have had a '73 E200 flatnose with a 302 that would get maybe 13 mpg, an '86 GMC with a 305 (carbureted) that would only get 13 or so as well--city or highway. A '96 Savana with a 350 and an overdrive that could get 15 to even 16 on the freeway.
I am quite certain that the 4.6 is a better mileage motor than the 300 inch six was in a big van, and also better than the 4.2 V6 which is simply overworked even with an empty van. The EPA ratings bear this out. The 4.6 goes back to 1997, and a 1997 is not gonna cost much more than the years you are looking at...
George
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I am quite certain that the 4.6 is a better mileage motor than the 300 inch six was in a big van, and also better than the 4.2 V6 which is simply overworked even with an empty van. The EPA ratings bear this out. The 4.6 goes back to 1997, and a 1997 is not gonna cost much more than the years you are looking at...
George[/quote]
True but the 4.6's and the 5.4's out weigh the maintenance fees then the 302-460 and the older ones are easier and cheaper for me to work on...lol
George[/quote]
True but the 4.6's and the 5.4's out weigh the maintenance fees then the 302-460 and the older ones are easier and cheaper for me to work on...lol