The 351 will get 12-14 mpg at BEST lightly loaded...
The 460 will get 10-12 mpg at best lightly loaded...

Put the 351w truck under a big cab-over camper and pulling a boat/gear up high mtn. passes, it will get 7-8 mpg and struggle..........The 460 truck with the same load will still get 10mpg and not break a sweat.

Just a old guys experience.

 

I can drive at 60 down the highway, cruise on, turning 1900 rpm and get 13 14 pretty reg with my current 460. We own some property that's 65 miles from where I live & drive up and back almost every week. Check the mileage when I get home and its pretty constant. It'll go down to 10 when loaded with firewood on the way home. I live in a small town & don't do much city driving.

 

96 f350 crewcab 4wd 460 5speed 3.55 gears and 33" tires.

Around town and HARD on it , I never saw below 10mpg,

Highway crusing , cruise set at 70. 13.2mpg




97 F250 reg cab 4wd 351 5speed 4.10 gears 285 tires

Around town 9-10mpg(CONSISTANT) normal driving

Highway cruising (NO cruise) doing 65-70. 12mpg


You do the math

 

I would get the 460cu. Bigger engine usually means bigger and stronger running gear. I drove around in a company's bone-stock 1996 f350 CC 460, E4OD, 2WD, with a shell and it got constantly 13-14mpg at 65mph empty with 4 people. My 1994 f350 CC, 7.3IDIT, E4OD 4wd only gets 1mpg better. The only reason I would get the 351W would be if I was concerned about weight; which you arent since its a 3/4T truck.

 

Same axles, trans and t-case for both engines

 

My 351 gets 15 regularly, 15.6 was best ever. 265 AT tires, and i use the same pump at the same station to fill up.
That said, i wouldnt mind the 460 if i only used the truck to tow or haul, but for commuting, it just wouldnt make sense.

 

Figuring 15k miles a year the difference between 14 mpg & 15 is around 200 $. Thats at 3 $ gal. For me I'd rather spend the 200 a year & have the power and truck that I want. Probably the biggest factor is everyone usually thinks their current truck is the best.

 

This is a fair point, and Im not trying to say my truck is better, im saying get the truck that fits your needs. Sure if you can pull off 14mpg with a 460, thats not a big difference, but say you're getting closer to 10 on average, thats a cool $1,500 dollars in fuel difference! ($3,000 vs $4,500)

Completely worth it if you are hauling all the time, but not if you haul air half the time. it should depend on your use of the truck.

 

I believe, by the time you get into a 3/4 ton truck, it's not really a daily driver type vehicle anymore, it's a piece of heavy equipment.

Get the biggest engine available.

That being said, the 351w is a great motor, but if all your truck does is haul a camper and do RV duty like mine, it just makes sense to go with the 460.........JMO.

 

ok well what engine would you guys want for a daily driver?a 351w or a 460?i pick the 351 why would you want a 460 if your not pulling anything like me?i mean I like the truck the guys selling I just feel the 460 will drain my pocket of cash for gas money.you really would take a 460 as a daily driver keep in mind in not using it for towing at all.how many of you guys drive ra 460 as a daily driver and not for towing?anyone at all?i bet not.

 

Mine is. I have had several daily drivers with various engines and this truck best suits my needs. I don't tow every day but when I do, I've got what I need. Gas mileage wasn't much different between any of them. The wear factor was. All my heavier trucks with bigger engines always outlasted the lighter trucks with the smaller engines. What you saved in gas you spent in repair even for just occasional towing. My worst was a f350 with a 351. Lugging that heavy truck around with the smaller engine made it a dog. If you like the truck, buy it. If fuel consumption is the main reason, buy a cheaper truck for occasional use and a rice-burner for a daily driver and take your fuel savings and build the truck you've always wanted!

 

Mine (460) is a daily driver, usually only tows or is loaded on weekends. I've had 351's and they were ok but mileage was a wash. Did a hair better empty but worse when towing or loaded. I would have to downshift going up long hills with the 351 empty.

 

If you are not pulling or hauling get a HALF TON or ranger. It is that simple.

I have 8 F350s. and you know what i drive on a daily basis? A RANGER that gets 18-20mpg

 

My daily driver is an Explorer that gets close to 20 on the road.

 

mazda 4 cly,5 sp car (though i don't care for manual trans anymore....at all.) 35-37 mpg all the time.deer hunting was cheap this year.
id rather spend $ on something tangible than waste it to line the pockets of the greedy.trucks only leave the yard if they're making $.