Is 16.5 mpg average?
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Is 16.5 mpg average?
We're on the road in our first trip in an 02 F250 4x4 we bought this week. On relatively flat road between Houston and Dallas, and driving cautiously like around 65-70, I got 16.44 mpg. Today, from Ft. Worth to Raton NM, driving 75-80 mph and climbing 6,000 ft. thru the day, I got 14.8 mpg.
Are these pretty much standard mileage numbers? Should I be able to improve upon this? Truck wasn't loaded, other than two adults and normal luggage.
Are these pretty much standard mileage numbers? Should I be able to improve upon this? Truck wasn't loaded, other than two adults and normal luggage.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
We're on the road in our first trip in an 02 F250 4x4 we bought this week. On relatively flat road between Houston and Dallas, and driving cautiously like around 65-70, I got 16.44 mpg. Today, from Ft. Worth to Raton NM, driving 75-80 mph and climbing 6,000 ft. thru the day, I got 14.8 mpg.
Are these pretty much standard mileage numbers? Should I be able to improve upon this? Truck wasn't loaded, other than two adults and normal luggage.
Are these pretty much standard mileage numbers? Should I be able to improve upon this? Truck wasn't loaded, other than two adults and normal luggage.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
Im curious to see some responses. I got my 2000 f350CC in August and at best I was getting 17.25mpg and it has been slowly declining to the last fill up at 13.06mpg. It has been pretty cold around the northeast so i dont know if it could be the extra time that I allow the truck to warm up or maybe its just not running as efficiently bc the engine is taking longer to reach ideal operating temp.
Winter fuel and warmup time is going to kill your mileage. I average 16ish in the summer and 14ish in the winter.
Driving all highway keeping it under 2000 rpm (68mph) I can get from 18.5-20.5mpg based on my records.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 22
From: Springfield, PA
My bone stock '97 2WD (with reman stock injectors) bested at 23mpg highway completely empty, and routinely hit 19-20 on mixed driving, including inner city Philly commute to work. On the summer camping trips from Philly to Lake George in upstate NY, filled with gear and towing a boat, she'd get about 16-17.
My '99 4x4 has never seen anything better than 18, and that was on the highway drive back from Denver. My local was 14-15. I expected a drop with the switch to 4x4 (all else is essentially the same), but with all the "improvements" from 97 to 99 I'm surprised the drop is as bad as it is.
My '99 4x4 has never seen anything better than 18, and that was on the highway drive back from Denver. My local was 14-15. I expected a drop with the switch to 4x4 (all else is essentially the same), but with all the "improvements" from 97 to 99 I'm surprised the drop is as bad as it is.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
Likes: 27
From: Hampton, Maryland.
Everyone who already responded has covered everything I would say. Winter fuel drops mileage a bit, I would say just to be more accurate, fill all the way to the top of the tank, take your time and get it all the way up the fill neck, and hand calculate, don't trust the lie-o-meter. 16-17 is about average on highway driving 70ish.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: phoenix united states
my 02 ccsb 4x4 gets anywhere from 15-20 depending on my right foot and if somebody needs a good smoking next to me. i towed a 31 travel trailer up north a few months back going from 1000' up to 7000' made it no problem but with the trailer loaded weighing in at ~13000 lbs it got 11.5-12
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, MD
Things could always be worse. I've been getting a solid 8mpg since finding my drain valve leaking. It's now fixed, and has not improved. Haven't had time to source a possible second leak yet, but I'm pretty sure it's the passenger side head port as my starter is all diesel-y.
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9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Things could always be worse. I've been getting a solid 8mpg since finding my drain valve leaking. It's now fixed, and has not improved. Haven't had time to source a possible second leak yet, but I'm pretty sure it's the passenger side head port as my starter is all diesel-y.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,459
Likes: 2,941
From: Reed Point, MT
There is no way you should be happy with less than 34.2228 miles per gallon with one of these 8000+ lb. bricks. If you're not getting at least 30, something's wrong with your truck.
Well, if you listen to the guys who are filling up (and bragging up) their diesel pickups standing next to you at the fueling station, that's what they're getting. If you don't believe them, just ask them and they'll tell you.
Well, if you listen to the guys who are filling up (and bragging up) their diesel pickups standing next to you at the fueling station, that's what they're getting. If you don't believe them, just ask them and they'll tell you.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 294
Likes: 3
From: Northern New Mexico
my '99 has been getting year around 17 MPG for many years. Rural driving on two lane roads, rarely exceeding 60 MPH, easy acceleration. The winter blend at my local station is 50/50 #1 and #2.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,591
Likes: 5,621
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
There is no way you should be happy with less than 34.2228 miles per gallon with one of these 8000+ lb. bricks. If you're not getting at least 30, something's wrong with your truck.
Well, if you listen to the guys who are filling up (and bragging up) their diesel pickups standing next to you at the fueling station, that's what they're getting. If you don't believe them, just ask them and they'll tell you.
Well, if you listen to the guys who are filling up (and bragging up) their diesel pickups standing next to you at the fueling station, that's what they're getting. If you don't believe them, just ask them and they'll tell you.
their gold plated comeaparts make 900 hp and 1800 ft lbs torque, get 35 mpg idiling, and actually make fuel when driving.
the ford drivers will tell you they are lucky to see 12-13 mpg.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
Anywhere from 15 to 19.5 here... that 15 included a whole bunch of warm-up time when the lows were single-digits, and I don't plug in at work. 16.5 is good for winter driving at 70-80 MPH, but it's possible to do a little better. I got 18 on a recent long haul at 70-75 MPH
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: Temperance, MI
16.5 is the best I've ever gotten unloaded driving like a grandpa in the slow lane empty. 14 is what I average beating the snot out of the skinny pedal...... 2mpg..... Who cares.... Hammer down!!!!
I drive my jetta for mileage.... I bought my truck to have a truck and a toy 14 I'm still happy with. Keep in mind you're fueling 444 cubic inches of engine with a turbo on top of it.... Any mileage is great mileage.
I drive my jetta for mileage.... I bought my truck to have a truck and a toy 14 I'm still happy with. Keep in mind you're fueling 444 cubic inches of engine with a turbo on top of it.... Any mileage is great mileage.