I have a F150 XLT auto, v6, short bed, super cab. I have approx. 1150 miles on it in one month. I only seem to be getting 11-12 mpg and mixed driving. This seems low. I have been told that the mpg will improve after about 3000 mi. Does that sound correct???

 

I did read in the manual that you should'nt even measure mileage in first three thou.
I am inmore or less the same boat -
'03 F150 V6 2wd short bed s-cab
and reading about 14 mpg at 1600 miles

sounds correct that it would improve as you would want everything to fit nice and tight in there and the loosen up as the parts get to know each other

 

I got 12.5 on first tank. (V6 SC SB auto 3.55) I don't drive aggressively. I then drove slower than Whistler's Mother and got almost 14. Kids on bikes were shaking their fist at me 8>). Best HWY is 16.5 mpg.

From an earlier post I was advised to let the engine break in some more before worrying about gas mileage. I have resigned myself to not being too concerned about mileage. It's the price you pay to drive with the 'big dogs'. Except for mileage issues I really do like my new truck. I am planning on adding a tonneau cover. I had one (A.R.E.) on my Ranger and it was a great help hauling my RC planes. The F150 is so much larger I am in hog heaven, even if it does cost more to get there and back.

 

yea it is funny but after spending my first twenty driving years in the passing lane, these days nothing is making me happier than manuevering my spanking new true blue F150 s-cab down the slow lane at just a couple mph under the speed limit .
am really hoping that mileage will improve as it wears in and that I will still be diving her twenty years from now when I am a grandpa which I drive like one now anyway.

 

You guys must just have a heavy right foot or maybe should have bought a v-8. My truck has 2500 miles on it and I have 16+ mpg on every tank so far. I drive on the freeways of LA at 75 to 80 miles per hour. The manaul says that you can get 15% better millage at 55 than at 65. My old 4 wheel drive Toyota with a 4 cylinder only got 18 mpg and this is a much better ride so the lack of super millage doesn't bother me. I have a friend that had a 01 Tundra with a V-6 and got 16 to 18 mpg and now with a 03 Trundra V-8 gets over 20 mpg.

 

i know with my '99 reg cab i got 16 until about 50,000 miles, then progressively better, now getting 19-20 at 90k+ i think these drivetrains need to loosen up, break in for a while. just be patient.

 

mines a damn gas guzzler bought it at 33,000 now has 90,000 12-15 mpg the whole time ive owned it

 

I'm wondering if the shift points make a big difference. I got a 98 4.2L w/ a 5speed and i usually shift at 3000 in the the first 3 gears. I got 74k on my truck and ive got ranges from 15-17.5mpg. Is this bout average for the 4.2? The only mods i have on it is the Gibson super truck exhaust and ngk iridium plugs.

Thx Matt

 

I have a 99 and I am only getting around 15 mpg. I was getting 18 and then I put a K&N filter on and it hasn't adjusted itself in the computer yet so I am getting worse mileage. My goal is to get to 20 on the highway averaging 60 mph. Next step will be to add an exhaust.

 

Ya know how they say drive it like 55mph for the first 500 miles or so....This might be where your issue is. Take the following expierence into account.

In 1998 I bought 2 brand new F150 STX's for my wife and I. Exact same vehicle just differnt colors is all.

I got the usual run down about driving it 45-55mph for the first 500 miles. I was young and ignored them of course...drove 75-85 mph, my wife on the other hand drove hers from Nashville to Memphis and back again...about 520 miles round trip at 55 mph.

I was having to fill up my tank a little too often...so I asked the dealerships's top mechanic. He informed me I was an idiot and the difference in gas milage was attributed to the way in which I drove my vehicle. He gave me a schematic to make a siphon at home and gave me a test to run. I siphoned all fuel out of the tanks of both vehicles, added exactly 5 gallons to each tank. Threw a 10 gallon plastic tank in the bed of each. Drove my truck the exact speed limit till it ran out of gas....I got about 70 miles before it died....filled it up and drove back home. Got in my wifes truck and drove the speed limit on the same route....this time I got about 95 miles. This means I got about 14mpg in mine and she got about 19 in hers. To this day, she gets about 18 hard driving and I get 14-15 hard driving...it makes a difference.

 

Well I can't do anything about that now. I didn't own the truck when it was new, so I could not manage that part of the program. With that in mind, I am simply looking for the best things to do with the hand that I have been dealt. No complaints just looking to do a little fine tuning. I am glad you made the post though, it adds credibility to what I have always heard. Thanks.