Recently bought an E-350 box truck for my construction company. Getting 8 MPG. Is that common? what can I do to fix this fuel mileage? The 2007 econoline van has a unicell fiberglass box on it with a 5.4L V8. Only 20K miles. Weighed it at the dump fully loaded with tools (no trash) at just over 10,000 pounds. Is it just loaded down and therefore getting terrible mileage? Air filter is clean, oil just changed. Help.

 

Could be the big square box acting like a sail.

 

gears and tire size? I get 10mpg with my 6500lb single cab truck haha..

 

factory tires and gears

 

More like drag parachute
I can haul 7000 lb flat load and don't notice different fuel consumption, but 2500 lb generator in 7 foot tall enclosure drops mpg like crazy.

 

Is it a dually or single rear wheel? Its that little engine trying to move a lot of weight that's hurting you. Also if you are in an area that uses ethanol gas, that would kill fuel economy. My '08 V10 gets similar mileage with about 300lbs less weight. It is what it is.

 

Moved to the 1968 - Present Full Size Van forum.

 

8 mpg is low ...but 5.4's do not do well loaded up in stop and go conditions...
You could try changing the MAF sensor and maybe upgrading the Air filter....

 

8mpg is typical on a 5.4L box. I had an 05 E350 with an 18 foot box, and it was EXTREMELY sensitive to speed. Loaded it would clock in at 12,500. If I kept it at 55mph it got 11mpg, and it was enough of a difference that I ordered my farmhands to keep it at 55mph no matter what, and simply plan ahead. If you even tried 60 it would drop to 9mpg.

 

Well, you rvan is subject to the laws of physics like everyone else unfortunately. There are four main factors when dealing with gas mileage... weight, motor, aerodynamics and gearing.

Obviously, the more weight one has to move, the more fuel it takes. Stopping it and getting it moving again hurts the fuel consumption the most. The more one can keep the load rolling along, the better. It takes less fuel to keep it moving thaan to accelerate it back up to the desired speed. That's why "stop and go" driving is so harsh on mileage.

And, unfortunately, you are not driving the most aerodynamic vehicle on the road. Not much you can do about it either. Sucks....

Your motor should always be kept well tuned. I went with a knock-off K&N filter which helps when driving on the higheway because it allows the engine to breather more easily. I also went with a little bit larger exhaust for the same reason (at highway speeds the engine doesn't have to work as hard to push exhaust gas out). However, around town those things don't help gas mileage that much, but it's more fun to drive.

Of course, always keep the tires properly inflated to minimize unnecessary rolling resistance.

And then, there's gearing which depends on your typical driving speeds and terrain.

I apologize if I'm sounding like I'm trying to school anyone.... I'm not. Just throwing out the obvious because sometimes we forget some of it when it really does help to be mindful of each component.

Good luck. I wish all of us could get like 50 mpg.....