QUESTIONABLE GAS MILEAGE??????
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
QUESTIONABLE GAS MILEAGE??????
TRUCK:
1995 F150 SC 4x4. 302, 5 speed, 3:08 gears.
When I bought this truck 3 years ago I would get 17-18 mpg @ 65-70 mph on cruise.
I installed new Delphi pumps, put in new Autolite plugs, new Richmond distributor, new fuel filter, It has OEM stock exhaust. Everything I did seem to decrease gas mileage. The other day I took it on a 355 mile run & got 13.048 mpg. I do regular maintenance, oil, filter, air filter, I put on a new 02 sensor & TPS a year ago, etc. I run Union 76 (87 octane) almost all the time. Buy at the same stations. Truck runs OK, with the gears it lacks power until you get some Rs. But I drive it pretty easy over all. This was driving hills, on the flatter runs 15 mpg is tops. Like I said before I could get 17-18 pretty regular before on same roads.
What is going on? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
1995 F150 SC 4x4. 302, 5 speed, 3:08 gears.
When I bought this truck 3 years ago I would get 17-18 mpg @ 65-70 mph on cruise.
I installed new Delphi pumps, put in new Autolite plugs, new Richmond distributor, new fuel filter, It has OEM stock exhaust. Everything I did seem to decrease gas mileage. The other day I took it on a 355 mile run & got 13.048 mpg. I do regular maintenance, oil, filter, air filter, I put on a new 02 sensor & TPS a year ago, etc. I run Union 76 (87 octane) almost all the time. Buy at the same stations. Truck runs OK, with the gears it lacks power until you get some Rs. But I drive it pretty easy over all. This was driving hills, on the flatter runs 15 mpg is tops. Like I said before I could get 17-18 pretty regular before on same roads.
What is going on? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Gas has more ethanol in it now which hurts milage.
Your engine has more miles on it.
Your cat converters may be a bit more restrictive
Assuming your truck doesn't have any active codes and is in good running order..
With that axle gearing overdrive is hurting your gas milage not helping... especially in hills, so lock it out every time you start it up and drive around for a while to compare. Yes that means highway driving too.
Your engine has more miles on it.
Your cat converters may be a bit more restrictive
Assuming your truck doesn't have any active codes and is in good running order..
With that axle gearing overdrive is hurting your gas milage not helping... especially in hills, so lock it out every time you start it up and drive around for a while to compare. Yes that means highway driving too.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
Gas has more ethanol in it now which hurts milage.
Your engine has more miles on it.
Your cat converters may be a bit more restrictive
Assuming your truck doesn't have any active codes and is in good running order..
With that axle gearing overdrive is hurting your gas milage not helping... especially in hills, so lock it out every time you start it up and drive around for a while to compare. Yes that means highway driving too.
Your engine has more miles on it.
Your cat converters may be a bit more restrictive
Assuming your truck doesn't have any active codes and is in good running order..
With that axle gearing overdrive is hurting your gas milage not helping... especially in hills, so lock it out every time you start it up and drive around for a while to compare. Yes that means highway driving too.
It is a 5 speed manual transmission.
I bought it with 132K it has 158K now. But from about 136K it dropped & I have never been able to get close to that mileage. Most of what I did started about the 136K area. New plugs & service started the drop off.
I have been wondering about the exhaust. It is the original muffler & cat. I have wanted to take it to the guy that does my exhaust work but he is 75 miles away from me & the truck is 100 miles from me the other way. So maybe I need to follow up with taking it to him.
I could live with 15-16 mpg. My V10 QC 2500 4x4 Dodge gets 12-13 mpg. If I can't improve the F150 it will go to a new home. It's For sale mainly because I won't except that low of mileage.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
It should do better, any codes present? What is the base timing set to?
I found that the 5.0 produces best milage at about 2000rpm when cruising on relatively flat highways but 2500rpm is better for hilly terrain. Lugging the motor just doesn't work with EFI in terms of fuel consumption. For comparison the E250 van I bought recently gets high teens and into the low 20s on the highway and it's got 4.10 gears so at cruising speeds it turning 22-2300rpm.
I found that the 5.0 produces best milage at about 2000rpm when cruising on relatively flat highways but 2500rpm is better for hilly terrain. Lugging the motor just doesn't work with EFI in terms of fuel consumption. For comparison the E250 van I bought recently gets high teens and into the low 20s on the highway and it's got 4.10 gears so at cruising speeds it turning 22-2300rpm.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
Paul, Not that I'm aware of. There were no codes the last time it was in the shop. As for timing I have it set @12 degrees BTC. The truck runs at elev of 3000 to 6000 ft. that is the same as when I got the better mileage. I don't have a tach in the truck to know my RPMs. Maybe I need to run it in 4th gear & see if that changes anything.
No fuel transfer issues. That is why I use only Delphi pumps. They are the only pump I have never had an issue with in any vehicle I have put an in tank pump in. I have even had problems with Motorcraft in Fords before.
No fuel transfer issues. That is why I use only Delphi pumps. They are the only pump I have never had an issue with in any vehicle I have put an in tank pump in. I have even had problems with Motorcraft in Fords before.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
Might of found the problem on another thread here. I had a bunch of work done when all this started. I believe I had the ICM changed. I read that the 95 F150 requires a black ICM but the parts books call for a grey ICM. So I need to see which one I have. What I read is common issue with having the wrong ICM is power loss & gas mileage.
The truck is at our other place so next week I will check it & post my findings.
The truck is at our other place so next week I will check it & post my findings.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,775
Likes: 442
if its a remote mount tfi, which im sure it is, it should be black. very few came with remote mounted gray modules, if any (I have seen a couple over the years but could be someone replacing it with the wrong module)
theres also a code for the module, which is typically thrown when they are switched from gray to black and vice versa. of course, not throwing a code in such instance wouldn't be a surprise either.
with all else functional, sounds like you just need to do some skinny pedal mashing on super long steep grades to burn out some crud.
theres also a code for the module, which is typically thrown when they are switched from gray to black and vice versa. of course, not throwing a code in such instance wouldn't be a surprise either.
with all else functional, sounds like you just need to do some skinny pedal mashing on super long steep grades to burn out some crud.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,786
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,775
Likes: 442
I'll have to look it up....but when I was swapping computers I had a comp that was mated with a black tfi, but mine was gray. Because I didn't check the truck when I pulled the computer, the code pointed me to tfi switch. Coulda been lucky, but I'll do some investigation and see if I can determine which code it was.
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
You might have solved my bronco 5.0 power issue to
Might of found the problem on another thread here. I had a bunch of work done when all this started. I believe I had the ICM changed. I read that the 95 F150 requires a black ICM but the parts books call for a grey ICM. So I need to see which one I have. What I read is common issue with having the wrong ICM is power loss & gas mileage.
The truck is at our other place so next week I will check it & post my findings.
The truck is at our other place so next week I will check it & post my findings.
nor the mechanic could figure it out..WE WILL CHECK THIS OUT TOMORROW ...I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS ISSUE THANK YOU
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BIG-COUNTRY
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
May 16, 2006 05:58 AM
Weston666
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jul 4, 2005 05:16 PM
wycowboy
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
24
Mar 22, 2004 04:09 PM