MPG reality?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I'm getting a solid 17.5 MPG out of mine, with most of that being highway at 70 MPH. I drive like the grandpa I am and use the cruise extensively. But, it's a truck and will haul or tow anything I care to load or couple up. And, the 7.5 miles of towing I've done, bringing our 6000 lb boat/trailer combo home from the lake, proves it is quite capable. I'm pleased overall, but am not getting the MPG I was led to expect.
Yours has the same 3.55s that mine does, but I see low-20s on the highway pretty consistently. Thinking your tow mirrors have something to do with that. I forget who, but one well-known car magazine said that the tow mirrors cost about 1 MPG on the highway for the previous generation.
I've only filled mine up twice, but so far it's meeting my expectations. Wish I had 3.31s, but on the trip home the LOM said it was doing over 22. Experience is showing that to be about 0.5 MPG off when comparing actual fuel consumption with calculated, so it's still doing noticeably better than my '13.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Let's remember 2wd vs. 4x4 makes a difference also. Lot's of variables in fuel mileage. Altitude, driver habits, fuel quality, idle time. Difficult to compare from different drivers. I have a 2wd, 5.0 V8 and am getting 18 mpg around town. Haven't had the chance to take a highway ride yet. If I can get 18 mpg around town with a V8, I'm pretty happy.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
My '13 had the max tow package, and likewise didn't get close to the EPA-rated fuel economy. On long trips it never saw more than 20 @ 65-70 MPH. I think it was hindered by the 3.73 gears and the elephant-ear tow mirrors.
Yours has the same 3.55s that mine does, but I see low-20s on the highway pretty consistently. Thinking your tow mirrors have something to do with that. I forget who, but one well-known car magazine said that the tow mirrors cost about 1 MPG on the highway for the previous generation.
I've only filled mine up twice, but so far it's meeting my expectations. Wish I had 3.31s, but on the trip home the LOM said it was doing over 22. Experience is showing that to be about 0.5 MPG off when comparing actual fuel consumption with calculated, so it's still doing noticeably better than my '13.
Yours has the same 3.55s that mine does, but I see low-20s on the highway pretty consistently. Thinking your tow mirrors have something to do with that. I forget who, but one well-known car magazine said that the tow mirrors cost about 1 MPG on the highway for the previous generation.
I've only filled mine up twice, but so far it's meeting my expectations. Wish I had 3.31s, but on the trip home the LOM said it was doing over 22. Experience is showing that to be about 0.5 MPG off when comparing actual fuel consumption with calculated, so it's still doing noticeably better than my '13.
As for overall MPG, I'd be getting better if I drove like you and did 65 - 70 MPH. In fact, when I was running about 55 in Arkansas a few months ago the LoM was telling me I was in the low 20's. But, most of the highway driving has been on interstates with the limit at either 70 or 75 MPH, and driving 65 just to get MPG doesn't seem worth it.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 360
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
Those are probably lead-foots. We get better than that with our 3.5L EB. We've been averaging 19 or so, with occasional spurts well over 22 when we are on the highway. We drive up/down the mountain daily, and I'm sure that kills the mileage. Our 2010 Tacoma (4.0L NA) can not do as well.
New User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
My 15 xl scab 4x4 2.7 with 3.55's is averaging almost 19 towing a small trailer, but I live in the Phoenix valley where we have some of the best roads. haven't reset mpg yet it's still from the 8 miles I picked it up with. 80% of the miles I drive it is with a small trailer.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
We really need to explain if we are using the LoM, which appears to be 5% optimistic, or if we are calculating each and every tank. Either way works, but they give different results, so we need to know.
My results were calculated by documenting every drop that goes into the tank.
My results were calculated by documenting every drop that goes into the tank.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: central Louisiana
Let's remember 2wd vs. 4x4 makes a difference also. Lot's of variables in fuel mileage. Altitude, driver habits, fuel quality, idle time. Difficult to compare from different drivers. I have a 2wd, 5.0 V8 and am getting 18 mpg around town. Haven't had the chance to take a highway ride yet. If I can get 18 mpg around town with a V8, I'm pretty happy.
A co worker bought a 14 lariat with 3.5L eco and 3.31 gears and fusses cause the best he says he gets is about 17mpg. Like i told him, boost is thirsty, more boost more fuel needed. Plus he drive with a heavy foot and short trips, of course it's going to be low. But he didn't grasp the concept that i have a 15, 3.5L eco, 3.55 gears, lighter body, drive reasonably and get 18.5+. He couldn't understand the difference.
I have always been a lower geared fan, even when i had my 2wd f150's i always looked for the 3.55 gears. the only one i wasn't impressed to much with was the 5.0/3.55 combo in a 4x4 crew. I would have preferred the 5.0/3.73 combo for better low end. But the 3.5eco/3.55 gear combo fits my needs with the added low end torque of the eco and the moderate gearing goes good together for my needs and with average driving is staying 18.5-19 mpg pretty steady, even with pushing a bit harder on the go pedal every once in a while.
New User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Haven't done the exacts but at 400 plus a tank towing is amazing. I stay out of the pedal except for the occasional whoohoo...but that's rare it messes with my mileage. Now they gave us something to obsess about with that lil computer . I've been driving Ford trucks for 30 yrs, owned probably 12. I traded out an 01 screw lariat 4x4 5.4 with 232k named Frank. Frank was amazing, really amazing had 3.55 also with locking diff go anywhere got 12 towing 15 empty ran at 80mph comfortably. I literally beat the **** out of it. Only thing broke was that abs intake. Hope this one keeps me the same way giving this mileage...
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More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 37
From: Groton, MA
I can't speak for all 5.0s, but my LoM is showing about .2 mpg more than actual calculated, which is less of a difference than some are reporting.
New User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I only have about 450 miles (2 weeks old!!) so I expect my mileage to improve, but our 3.5L EB SuperCrew is getting about 16MPG hand calculated. This is almost all "in town" driving as we have not gone anywhere on the freeway yet. Looks like the calculated MPG on the dash is about +.75 or so off the hand calc which is close enough for me!!
FWIW - we had a '14 Ram QuadCab 4x4 with the 3.6 V-6 (gas) that routinely got around 16MPG in town and as high as 25MPG on the highway (both hand calculated). Last summer, we drove from Tacoma to Calgary and back (with a lot of mountain driving) and averaged about 23MPG .... which, when you consider we're talking a full size 4x4 with the aerodynamics of a brick, I always felt was great!!
I'm expecting about the same with the EB, but with a lot more comfort and room!! (And, maybe someday, we'll use the greater towing capacity.)
Cheers!!
Ken
FWIW - we had a '14 Ram QuadCab 4x4 with the 3.6 V-6 (gas) that routinely got around 16MPG in town and as high as 25MPG on the highway (both hand calculated). Last summer, we drove from Tacoma to Calgary and back (with a lot of mountain driving) and averaged about 23MPG .... which, when you consider we're talking a full size 4x4 with the aerodynamics of a brick, I always felt was great!!
I'm expecting about the same with the EB, but with a lot more comfort and room!! (And, maybe someday, we'll use the greater towing capacity.)
Cheers!!
Ken
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I have the 3.5 EB, and my LOM was off by 0.2 MPG on my last tank. I've only filled up twice, so my data sample is a bit weak.
F150 (Ford F-150) | Fuelly
F150 (Ford F-150) | Fuelly
