how do I improve my gas mileage on my 1996 f150 std shift truck its a 6 cyl 4,9 ltr engine.

 

start with basics...

tune-up. air filter. check for vacuum leaks.
brakes are NOT dragging
tire air pressure. wheel alignment.

old school Trucker driving style...
slower is better. under 60..
coast as much as possible.

make the truck lighter.. this is hard to do.
purchase a LITTLE car. j/k. as trucks are not made for gas mileage.. to big and heavy. even a F 150

 

Also, run non-aggressive tires and go easy on the "go" pedal.

 

... what they said.
remember that your truck weighs about 4500 lbs and is only slightly more aerodynamic than a brick. there are no bolt-ons, that i know of, that will pay for themselves in fuel savings on these units.

 

A bed cover may help the aerodynamics.

 

OD, change the gears in the rear.

 

Synthetic lubricants in engine, transmission and differential.

In my opinion, the most "bang for the buck" will be your driving habits. Accelerate smoothly, shifting into the next higher gear as quickly as possible without lugging the engine. You want to be in the highest gear [overdrive] as soon as possible. Drive like there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal. Drive @ 55-62 mph, when possible. Look ahead and let off to slow rather than wait and have to brake hard and then go through the gears again to get back to speed.

 

all good suggestions

 

255,000 I have a 1996 Ford F150 with a 4.9 L 300 I six engine trying to set the time in there or timing marks on the timing cover and on the crank sensor there is a pointer which one should I line the time and mark on the harmonic balancer up with?

 

Maybe, maybe not. Current trucks have aerodynamics tha set up a bubble of high pressure air inside the bed and behind the cab. Putting a cover on them reduces milage. Is the same true for a bull nose? Who knows.

 

Welcome to the forums.

Please start a new thread instead of digging up an old one (unless your question is a direct continuation on it). This is a 4 year old thread about gas mileage, and you're asking about timing marks.

Secondly, please use punctuation in your posts. Run on sentences are extremely difficult to read, and can sometimes (if not often) be impossible to decipher. The better we understand you, the more we can help.