Real world MPG
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Real world MPG
I'm hoping for some people to give real world gas mileage (not exaggerating like some people like to do for whatever reason), mostly highway driving.
I recently bought a 1991 Ford F250 with a 460, E4OD, and 4.10 rear gear. Needless to say, this thing is a GAS HOG. I was hoping for a few more MPG. If I drive over 55, the thing sucks gas down. If I drive on the freeway, at 70 or so, I get like 8 MPG. Driving 55, I get about 10 MPG. Is this normal? I was hoping for a little more, and I bought this thing to haul cars, but I'm finding I drive it more than I anticipated, and am thinking I should get an inline 6 manual instead. Anyone know what those things get? Or a 351? It sounds like a 302 is best left avoided (big bore/short stroke not ideal for a truck, I've been down that path before).
I've tried chasing down a very slight miss at idle to no avail, it practically goes away after warmed up, so not sure if I have a problem or am being unrealistic in thinking it should idle as smooth as a new car.
I recently bought a 1991 Ford F250 with a 460, E4OD, and 4.10 rear gear. Needless to say, this thing is a GAS HOG. I was hoping for a few more MPG. If I drive over 55, the thing sucks gas down. If I drive on the freeway, at 70 or so, I get like 8 MPG. Driving 55, I get about 10 MPG. Is this normal? I was hoping for a little more, and I bought this thing to haul cars, but I'm finding I drive it more than I anticipated, and am thinking I should get an inline 6 manual instead. Anyone know what those things get? Or a 351? It sounds like a 302 is best left avoided (big bore/short stroke not ideal for a truck, I've been down that path before).
I've tried chasing down a very slight miss at idle to no avail, it practically goes away after warmed up, so not sure if I have a problem or am being unrealistic in thinking it should idle as smooth as a new car.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,935
Likes: 34
From: Arcadia, Fla
For a 460 engine, the MPG are correct. My 95 E350 460 bus max MPG is 8 at any speed! My 89 F250 with 302 is 14mpg avg. I will be replacing it with a rebuilt 300 I6 and hopefully get 17 to 19 mpg after the swap. My 89 is geared for the 300 I6 torque range at highway speeds but is way below the 302's power range.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, Fl
I get roughly every 2 gas stations in my 92 F250 with a 460 E4OD.
Mileage is about right, but as always, if you haven't already, tune up my help a bit, tire pressures. But yea, the 460 is a thirsty beast.
Mileage is about right, but as always, if you haven't already, tune up my help a bit, tire pressures. But yea, the 460 is a thirsty beast.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I'm hoping for some people to give real world gas mileage (not exaggerating like some people like to do for whatever reason), mostly highway driving.
I recently bought a 1991 Ford F250 with a 460, E4OD, and 4.10 rear gear. Needless to say, this thing is a GAS HOG. I was hoping for a few more MPG. If I drive over 55, the thing sucks gas down. If I drive on the freeway, at 70 or so, I get like 8 MPG. Driving 55, I get about 10 MPG. Is this normal? I was hoping for a little more, and I bought this thing to haul cars, but I'm finding I drive it more than I anticipated, and am thinking I should get an inline 6 manual instead. Anyone know what those things get? Or a 351? It sounds like a 302 is best left avoided (big bore/short stroke not ideal for a truck, I've been down that path before).
I've tried chasing down a very slight miss at idle to no avail, it practically goes away after warmed up, so not sure if I have a problem or am being unrealistic in thinking it should idle as smooth as a new car.
I recently bought a 1991 Ford F250 with a 460, E4OD, and 4.10 rear gear. Needless to say, this thing is a GAS HOG. I was hoping for a few more MPG. If I drive over 55, the thing sucks gas down. If I drive on the freeway, at 70 or so, I get like 8 MPG. Driving 55, I get about 10 MPG. Is this normal? I was hoping for a little more, and I bought this thing to haul cars, but I'm finding I drive it more than I anticipated, and am thinking I should get an inline 6 manual instead. Anyone know what those things get? Or a 351? It sounds like a 302 is best left avoided (big bore/short stroke not ideal for a truck, I've been down that path before).
I've tried chasing down a very slight miss at idle to no avail, it practically goes away after warmed up, so not sure if I have a problem or am being unrealistic in thinking it should idle as smooth as a new car.
As for the milage, it seems a bit low. i would think at 55 you should see 13+ and a 70 around 10. But also the type of terrain you are driving in can make a BIG difference and also how fast you get up to speed.
We should have a approximate MPG sticky at the top of this forum. MPG questions are every day, and there are no set MPG. EVERY truck is different.
But rule of thumb
f150 w I6 around town 12-15
and highway is 14-19
F150 w 302 around town is 12-15
highway is 13-17
F250 w 351 around town 10-13
highway is 11-14
F250 w a 450 around town is 8-10
highway is 10-13
These are NOT carved in stone numbers but REALISTIC obtainable numbers by actually driving the speed limit and keeping up with traffic
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 278
Likes: 6
The rules of thumb offered up by Diesel_Brad are real world accurate going by my own experience with Ford trucks of various configurations. My current truck gets 11 mpg at a steady 70mph on the freeway, and drops to 7-8 mpg around town. It is not a daily driver, and I only use it when I need to tow or haul something heavy. The 460 is a reliable old dinosaur, but you have to pay to play.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 533
Likes: 2
From: Lindenwold, NJ
Figured I would chime in on my experience with this subject. First off my 96 F150 swb with a 302/e4od/3.55 got 15mpg all the time and 17mpg on a long trip. Stock motor with an e303 cam K&N and a Magnaflow muffler. It now has a 351w with World windsor jr heads, TFS cam, longtubes and dual 2.5" with exhaust but I haven't driven it enough to get a reading.
My other truck is a 79 F100 swb with a 466/c6/3.70 gears and I got 8.5mpg driving on the hwy and 7.5mpg around town. But it has an Holley 850dp, big solid flat tappet cam, victor intake, Trick Flow aluminum heads, and a 3500 stall converter. That being said the efi 460s must be extremely under powered and unefficient if im puling similar numbers with a 550ish hp 460 with a big converter and no overdrive. Im thinking a cam, free flowing headers and exhaust, and a mild port job to the heads and intake as well as a bigger throttle body and air intake should help a lot in both power and mpg.
My other truck is a 79 F100 swb with a 466/c6/3.70 gears and I got 8.5mpg driving on the hwy and 7.5mpg around town. But it has an Holley 850dp, big solid flat tappet cam, victor intake, Trick Flow aluminum heads, and a 3500 stall converter. That being said the efi 460s must be extremely under powered and unefficient if im puling similar numbers with a 550ish hp 460 with a big converter and no overdrive. Im thinking a cam, free flowing headers and exhaust, and a mild port job to the heads and intake as well as a bigger throttle body and air intake should help a lot in both power and mpg.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
88 F250
I can pull 11.8 at 60-65 mph in the summer on the freeway, 11 in the winter. I run an 1988 F250 XLT extended cab 460 5 speed 4X4 with a utility bed. I was down to 6.5 mpg pulling a 10,000 lb 5th wheel and have seen as good as 12.5 with it empty. I can run at 75 and still get over 10.5 and will only see under 10 when I idle it a lot with the a/c on (it's already been 110f here this spring). The gas you have avalible can make a differance as they use different blends for different seasons, and areas. Also mods will help, I have opened the intake and exhaust, and took off the coolant hose off the throttle body.
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: texas
Is Mileage Down with Ethanol
Before reformulated gasoline came out, I was pulling 12 + miles to gallon with 1976 f250 camper special in 1995 with fresh overhaul on 460 motor. If I drove with an egg foot, and stuck to 55 MPH, it pulled 14 MPG. When MTBE was mandated in Dallas, I noticed drop in milegage. It went back up again when I reached Oklahoma, and filled up on "pure" gasoline.
17 years later, 2012, I have a fresh 1976 390 and barely clear 10 MPG. Could it be the "10 percent" ethanol content of Dallas gasoline.?
17 years later, 2012, I have a fresh 1976 390 and barely clear 10 MPG. Could it be the "10 percent" ethanol content of Dallas gasoline.?
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: texas
Real World Mileage before Unleaded?
Leaded gasoline may have added a mile or two per gallon, but spark plugs had to be changed every 7 or 8 thousand miles to enjoy that better mileage.
In typical stop and go driving, 1970s gas mileage was below 10 MPG with full size cars and pickups.
By way of comparison, shortly before leaded gasoline was phased out in the early 1980s, I drove freshly overhauled f-600 for light deliveries for a construction company. It was a 1961 flatbed truck with 292, four speed, two-speed rear axle, what we called a 2-ton truck. With no wind resistance, it cleared 10 mpg at 55 MPH on straight highway driving.
My personal truck was a low mileage 1972 f-100 with 360. Sans headwind, it cleared 15 mpg at 55 mph. That was about the same mileage as a 1960s Ford Galaxie with automatic. Or a 1977 LTD with a 351. They all at 3.70 rear ends.
I also had a 63 Galaxie with 3 speed manual and over drive. It delivered 18 miles per gallon at 55 when the overdrive was engaged, creating an effective final drive ratio was 3.00 to 1. I
In typical stop and go driving, 1970s gas mileage was below 10 MPG with full size cars and pickups.
By way of comparison, shortly before leaded gasoline was phased out in the early 1980s, I drove freshly overhauled f-600 for light deliveries for a construction company. It was a 1961 flatbed truck with 292, four speed, two-speed rear axle, what we called a 2-ton truck. With no wind resistance, it cleared 10 mpg at 55 MPH on straight highway driving.
My personal truck was a low mileage 1972 f-100 with 360. Sans headwind, it cleared 15 mpg at 55 mph. That was about the same mileage as a 1960s Ford Galaxie with automatic. Or a 1977 LTD with a 351. They all at 3.70 rear ends.
I also had a 63 Galaxie with 3 speed manual and over drive. It delivered 18 miles per gallon at 55 when the overdrive was engaged, creating an effective final drive ratio was 3.00 to 1. I
New User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I have had a lot of fords over the years, I started driving in 1988, the first car '67 LTD 315 hp 390 2.75 gears 21 mpg highway 12 city. A 1969 F100 with a 351w from a '72 comet and 2.75 gears 19 mpg highway. 1977 LTD 351m 23 mpg highway, 1971 F250 360 11 mpg all the time, 1987 F250 460 9 mpg untill I changed the carb to a Carter AFB 625 cfm than it got 9.75. I look at my wife's minivan and am discusted that it is a 2005 and gets 20 on the freeway at 65 and 14 in town.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: north carolina
my 88 f150 with the i6 doesn't get great mpgs but it is very consistent 4x4 and still getting 14.. when i first bought it i was getting horrid mpgs but i did a little timing advance and it helped.. just make sure its running right.. if its for hauling don't go with the m50d.. some people will say otherwise but that isn't a heavy hauler tranny in my opinion..
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
As for milage my 5.0 F150 gets 13-14mpg mixed, it might do a little better strictly highway but I haven't done any long trips with it for years as it's now my work vehicle. That's a 5000lb truck with 30" tires, 3.55 gears, 30" tires, and an AOD, and the motor has a cam and longtubes. I just did some work on it to fix a coolant problem(changed the heads) and put a new O2 sensor in it so maybe milage will improve further.
