Hey all, i posted a couple days ago about a possible purchase of a newer truck. My big question now is difference in mileage
I have a 88 f150 reg cab sb, m5od, 4.9. 3.08 w/ 30" tires. 4x4
Due to the positive response on a newer truck I think I may go for it. It is a 1995 f150, ext cab sb., e4od, 4x4, 5.8.

I know the 5.8 has more power, but how bad is this mileage going to hurt? I currently get 14-to-18 (that was my best ever) mpg. Usually right around 14.5-15 with lots of in town driving.
The 95 has 3.55 rearend, will have prob 31"s on it in the near future.
Thanks a ton!

 

Well, my 302 Bronco got 18 MPGs after I was done with it. My 351W Bronco gets 18 all day long, and my 2WD Straight Six M5OD F150, is a single cab shortbed truck that is always empty, never has a spare and no ac only gets 15 MPG normal driving and 17 MPG when I watch my tach. It has airplane gears though where as my Broncos have/had 3:55s.

 

The 5.8 truck should get 12-13 city when you're nice to it, if you use all the available power it'll suck it down into the single digits.

 

My 96 is a Mass Air 351W and it will hold 18 in the city with normal driving and occasional spirited driving. Pretty nice for a completely stock truck with the exception of some Warn Premium manual hubs.

 

I know with my 91' 302 running on 7 would get about 16 mpg on highway, and about 5 in city...just dropped in a 351W and have yet to find out what I'm going to get

 

My line 6 gets such bad MPG that I'm putting a lift kit with 35 inch M/Ts on it because it can't get much worse.

Only good thing about the inline 6 is it will never die. Bad thing is... Inline 6 never dies so you can never justify an engine swap.

I've been driving 350-450 miles a week for the past year in my F150 getting 9 city, 15 highway, and 12 interstate... At this point, I really don't give a crap what the MPG is. Gas for that truck is cheaper than a car payment and it never quits going. Maybe I'll get a geo metro soon so I don't spend $150+ a week in fuel.

 

In town my 96' F150 5.8/auto/3.55 4x4 gets maybe 11? Probably more like 9? I don't drive around town much, so I don't really know other than it takes a lot of fuel to stop and go. Maybe 150 miles on a tank in town. On the highway I very consistently get 17mpg, but sometimes 18 (I have even seen ~20mpg but that was glare ice for 400 miles, going 45-50mph with a strong tailwind. I went 300 miles on the rear tank, then switched to front tank and kept going), however down to 12-13 if I'm going 75mph+ or into heavy wind. Towing a trailer, 12 tops no matter the weight, seen as bad as 7mpg towing heavy in 100*F heat.
But I really like this truck, and highly recommend a 95' as they are nearly identical to the 96'.

 

I'd like to add, I don't have the factory gears. They're 4.10s or 4.11s.

 

not too sure about the math to back up the statement- $600 a month for just fuel is cheaper than a small car payment and 30 mpg?

On my '90 F250 ( 5.8, zf-5, D60, 3.55 and 265-75-16 General AT's) I'm doing really good if I pull 12mpg on the highway, I just completely try to avoid stop and go city driving all together, it's so bad it becomes depressing to watch $60 worth of fuel just disappear into the air. Now here is where I have my own 'creative' math- as bad as the fuel consumption is with my truck, I couldn't replace it with anything is as sound mechanical condition with the amount of $$ that I could sell it for, so for me it's cheaper to keep her...Just like the lyrics of the Buddy Guy song!

 

Problem is you gotta figure in the whole picture of buying an efficient beater.
1. Gas cost
2. Insurance/registration
3. Up keep
4. Car payment (if buying new or a loans taken out)

I can buy alot of fuel for the cost of having 2 cars.

 

This is the way I see it. I get between 10-12 city and 14.5-15 mpg highway. A little car would be cheaper, but I can't get enough for my truck to buy a reliable small car that's sound enough for me to trust. I know the issues with my truck.

 

I drive about that in my 89 F250 302/aod 3.55 stock tires in a week too. I get around 14mpg with mostly highway miles. Lately I seen 15.2mpg and 15.1 in the last two fillups!


I am going to replace the wore out 302 with a fresh 300. Hopefully the mpg's will be better as the RPM at highway speeds is around 1800 to 2000rpm. Right in line with the 300's torque curve(well below the 302's)

 

awesome to hear! you will love the 300 in there. They rock! I am so torn on this truck. I've had a few more days to make up my mind. A large snowstorm has slowed everything down for a few days around here. My 300 f150 started up this morning (covered in more than a foot of snow.. hadn't been driven in a week) just fine. The thing that is holding me up is that I know my truck and trust it with my life. I just want to make sure the 95 will be a bulletproof as mine. We'll have to see.. The worst part is that the wife said I could get it and the decision is mine to make.... ugg! I'll let you know what I decide.
Regardless, you will love the 300. If my truck had a 302 in it, it would be long sold for this new truck.

 

I'm kinda wondering on getting the 95, and maybe have it replace out yukon. We got an 01' gmc yukon that is cherry & has been great, but the local community credit union still owns a good chunk of it. The wife liked driving the extended cab-Big question is...
How much of a pita is it going to be with a car seat? The seats come waaay forward, but you all have any experience with it? Thanks!

 

Car seats for infant to 40lbs are larger and when forward facing the seat needs to be way up, especially if kids have boots or thick shoes. It was bearable. I'm 6 foot 2,. But when they get in booster seats there is more than enough room. MY truck has a split bench so when half the seat folds forward it is easy to get them in.