My wife and I returned a few days ago from a three-week driving vacation all around the western US. 4x2 3.15 SCREW that turned 10,000 miles during the 4,400 mile trip. Driving was mixed highway, backroads, mountains, and slow crawling through national parks. 70-75 highway speeds, AC the entire time through the mega-heatwave of the high desert in late June. A large part of the travel included mountain passes, canyon and mountain climbs and descents, and start/stopping in places like Rocky Mountain NP, Black Canyon, and Yellowstone.

The truck has a tonneau cover and we were filled with about 500 lbs of camping and other gear in the bed.

The trip calculator showed 201.0 gallons used w/ 103 hours of running time, 4403 total miles for an average of 21.9 MPG.

Gas pump and manual calculation shows 206.6 gallons used for an average of 21.3 MPG. The lowest tanks were 19.3 mpg following climbs into Flagstaff and Rocky Mountain NP. Highest tanks were 23.2 and 26.2 on descents out of Yellowstone/Tetons and out of the Sierras back to San Jose respectively.

I paid attention to driving habits and speed on the first few tanks, then just enjoyed the rest of the driving vacation. I was more than satisfied with the mileage, and was ok with the trip computer being within a couple percent of hand-calculated mileage overall. Thought folks might be interested.

Bill.

 

I'm having a problem with this fuel mileage & the EcoBoost. Ford came out with this big campaign on mileage with EcoBoost.
Yet I have a friend with a 08 1500 4x4 Dodge with a Hemi & stock he got 20 mpg right off the show room floor. He is a member & team owner with VORRA out of Sacramento. He chipped it & gets 23+mpg on a regular basis. I know several others with Dodge 4x4 Hemi's getting 20-21 mpg regularly. Now this is empty of course this goes back 4 years with this mileage. You can buy a 2012 Dodge 4x4 with a Hemi for $26,000 nicely loaded. So what is the big deal with the EcoBoost & fuel mileage.
Yes, It beat the Hemi & Chevy up Union Pass in Arizona, but when was the last time racing up a mountain pass with a trailer in tow award prize money?
I'm not bad mouthing the EcoBoost or the F150 I like the looks of the new F150, For several years the interiors of the F150 was really nice.
I'm just curious.
Craig

Craig

 

Most V-8 trucks will not achieve the numbers that Bill did on his drive with his ecoboost. I'm not saying that it won't happen.

Ford did do a comparo against GM and Ram but the numbers that the EB are putting out are also besting Ford's V-8's.

The world expects the Hemi and the other V-8's to be able to perform as they do, but the EB is a 3.5L V-6 engine outperforming most V-8's and achieving the MPG's of a V-6.

The EB is going to prevent Ford from having to bring to market a baby diesel to stay in the game like Ram is reportedly doing.

 

Seeing is believing. You need to get behind the wheel of a Ecoboost with a decent size trailer in tow then you will know what all the hype is about!! I also don't have anything against the new dodge 1500 Hemi and think they are real sharp looking. I do find it hard to believe your buddy is averaging 23+ mpg with that truck?? I'm not sure what you have to push a Hemi to for rpm's to reach max torque but the Ecoboost reaches it at 2700 rpm. That's what made me a loyal customer!!! I tow my 33' 7500lb trailer with absolutely no problems. It cruises along on most roads at 1600rpm and has never seen over 2600rpm's on the steepest hills here in the North East with the cruise set at 62mph. A Hemi would pull it too with no problem but not as easily as the Ecoboost and not without screaming at a much higher rpm making less torque.

 

Even without towing, you sort of have to drive one to appreciate it. I got mine after 15 years driving a Toyota T100 V6, and the difference in ride and comfort, along with better mileage, is amazing. We tooled along consistently at around 1600 RPMs, never saw 2,000, and the interior of the cabin was absolutely whisper quiet. My wife's car is a Lexus we've had for years, and we both agreed that the ride in the XLT F150 was both quieter and more comfortable than her car.

On a related note, a few months back, a neighbor who tows for a living stopped by to talk about my EB, because he was seriously considering one to replace his Dodge 3500 diesel dually hauler. We hooked up his trailer, loaded at about its max 7500 GVWR, and took roughly an hour test drive. He was amazed that it pulled easier than his big dually, had less sway and more steering control, and most importantly was so quiet we could have a normal conversation. His then-current truck was a constant low roar, at a minimum. After our test drive, he went out the next day and pulled the trigger on trading in his 3500 for essentially the same setup as mine, except for a 3.55 axle. This was the test drive hookup sitting by my driveway.



Bill.

 

Had to go down to Franklin Mass yesterday to pick up a new bed, this was the first time I drove my EB on the highway that was not going north through the mountains. Computer was reading 22.7 mpg when I pulled into the facility. I had the cruise set on 76 mph 87 miles each way. That's good enough for me.

 

I guess I'm going to have to go drive an EB. I personally don't know anyone with one. So may have to go into Las Vegas & see if I can test drive one. Then maybe I will see what the its all about.
My question mainly was the hipe on gas mileage. Both 1/2 ton Dodge & Chevy get 18-20 mpg. Isn't the EB about a $7000 option?
Even on here this is about the best anyone has reported. I have owned Fords since my first one a 1955 Mercury Monterey up to 1995 Mustang GT including 5 Rangers & Explorers so I'm not on here promoting Dodge or Chevy. I truly interested in this new motor & will it hold up. Because it seems that every time Ford gets a good engine they screw it up some how.
Craig

 

The EB is about $1500 - $2000 over the base 3.7L engine. They're selling so fast that Ford figured out that there is big money to be made here.

You really do need to drive one. It's an exhilarating experience.

 

If you're comparing to the Hemi and small block GM, the 5.0 would be a better comparison. The EB is around $1000 higher than the 5.0 in the F150.

 

Bringing back this old thread, as it's as good as any for this summer's long trip report. My wife and I drove back and forth from Northern California to East Tennessee for the bulk of June to visit relatives and others. 2500 miles each direction, almost all freeway on I-40 and I-5, with a few notable climbs in SoCal, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and middle Tennessee. There's generally a tailwind through AZ, NM and TX eastbound, headwind on the return. Windows up and AC on all the time.

Eastbound, we towed a double axle utility trailer, a bit over 5,000 lbs total weight plus 500 in the bed. Cruise control was set right at 65 for hours on end, deactivated on major up or down grades, and Tow/Haul On setting. 2720 total miles (including a one-day detour into LA), 166 gallons (pump measure), 16.4 MPG calculated mileage. Individual tanks ranged from 14.4 (up through Flagstaff) to 17.0 (down to Tucumcari NM) calculated mileage. While the dash trip computer had variances on individual tanks, the overall dashboard computer also measured 16.4 upon arrival.

After arrival, we dropped the trailer and used three tanks for local travel and sightseeing around the hills, highways and backroads of east TN. Around 1100 miles and 63 gallons, 17.0 mpg pump/mileage calculations.

We left the trailer there, and the westbound return home was pretty much a straight shot, running 75-80 mph for several days on end. 2626 miles, 124.6 miles, 21.1 MPG calculated... 21.0 dash trip computer.

So, long story short, 2500+ miles each way, 16.4 mph towing a 5K trailer at 65 mph with a tailwind, 21.0 mph at 75 mph with lighter bed and no trailer into a headwind return. The trip computer was close to identical to calculated mileage over cumulative tanks. With only 46K total miles at this point, I don't put all that many miles on the truck day-to-day. But the numbers are still consistent with sticker ratings and with mileage obtained over the entire time I've owned it since buying new.

Bill.

 

^^^^^^^^

Great report Bill and thanks for keeping it up to date.

 

Meanwhile I can't pull 20 out of a 4 cylinder 5 speed Tacoma.....