Expected fuel mileage
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
I drove a 1992 E150 with a 351w(5.8), E4OD transmission, and 3.55:1 rear gears for many years (I put over 100k miles on it in four years). I consistently got 16~17mpg depending on where I got fuel. My dad had a 1993 E350 club wagon that he installed shelving in for his handyman business. With all of his tools he averaged 16mpg. I find it hard to believe that the trucks can only achieve 10 to 12mpg with the 351w as a lot people are stating. The lowest we ever saw on either was 10mpg and that was towing heavy loads out of overdrive. I would think you should be able to easily achieve between 16 and 18mpg with a 5spd. The 351w is a great truck engine, and will happily run 60 to 65mph all day long at 1500 to 1700 rpm (right in the middle of it's power band) and that should yield good mileage. The 3.55 rear end is adequate for towing and hauling the occasional load of scrap. If it's going to be a tow rig look at 3.73:1 your mpg won't suffer too much but you'll have better take off with a trailer.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
There is no 3.73 option with these fullsize trucks so it's all the way to 4.10s if you don't get the much more suitable 3.55 ratio, look for axle code H9 on the drivers door calibration decal to get a 3.55 limited slip, 19 for open diff.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 121
From: Oregon
Mine will do 14-15 highway, and 10-12 city if I drive it long enough for it to warm up. In the morning when I go to school and on the way home, my drive is so short that the truck never gets up to temperature. If I'm not mistaken these trucks run rich till they are warmed up which is where my 8-9 mpg comes from while commuting to school. That coupled with over-sized tires, 3.55 gears and a possible exhaust leak(starting to think that is the cause of the occasional weird noise I get when its cold) and my mileage is not great commuting to school and back. Any tips for things to look at to increase my mileage though overall? They would be greatly appreciated...
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Have you recalibrated the speedo for those tires? Start saving up for 4.10 gears.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,360
Likes: 821
From: Mi'kma'ki
sure i could say my DRW diesel gets 17-18 hwy.id bet $ on it. if i took her out in the summer, drove down the hwy at 50-55mph for a complete tank straight ahead.but realistic lifetime average i get is a little over 14 because i don't run empty out on the hwy.i haul and tow weight around in stop and go traffic.
just because someone can "get" an mpg number,doesn't mean that's what the guy asking wants to base his purchase on.he wants to know the "real" mpg more than likely.
it's like all the guys claiming 20 mpg with their diesels.real world says if they actually track a srw pickup long enough,to be around 14-15 mpg.
hop on fuelly.com or the like, and start tracking.see if you can match or best the diesels recorded there with your windsor after 30 consecutive tanks.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 121
From: Oregon
Yes the speedo has been re-calibrated, and 4.10's are on the top of the list for the next upgrade. Thinking of just buying a donor 4WD truck with 4.10's and swapping axle's in the rear and third members in the front. Seems like the most cost effective and easiest way to do it.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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I don't know about the 351 but I have a 96 f250 2wd with the 460 and I get a consistent 14 mpg highway unloaded, 10 loaded with 12k.
City: generally 10 unloaded and 8 loaded
I have 4.10 gears so that makes the mileage horrible on the highway at any speed over 55 so I don't go over 55
slow lane baby
The best I have EVER seen out of it which isn't ever really going to happen in real world conditions was 16 mpg on one tank. This was going 35 mph with overdrive on (1k rpm) and driving on a flat back road for a couple hours while unloaded.
Anyway the point of all this is I assume the 351 will at least be better than the 460.
City: generally 10 unloaded and 8 loaded
I have 4.10 gears so that makes the mileage horrible on the highway at any speed over 55 so I don't go over 55
slow lane babyThe best I have EVER seen out of it which isn't ever really going to happen in real world conditions was 16 mpg on one tank. This was going 35 mph with overdrive on (1k rpm) and driving on a flat back road for a couple hours while unloaded.
Anyway the point of all this is I assume the 351 will at least be better than the 460.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 121
From: Oregon
Did Ford put 4.10's in the 8.8 for these trucks other than the Lightning?
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Jun 13, 2009 02:15 PM