gas mileage
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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gas mileage
ok ok, we all know that our bronco's dont get good gas mileage at all. if im lucky, i migt get 11 mpg on the highway. i have a 5.0l and im sick of my gas mileage. i am runnin 33's on my rig so actually i get better mileage than what teh mile meter is reading, but i was wandering, is there anyone out there with some advise as to get better mpg's? anyone with proof on their own rig? please let me know bc im sick of payin 40 bucks to fill up my tank.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
A good tune-up , regular oil changes, and don't be fooled by the numbers with 33's and 3.55 gears. Yes, you may be able to cruise at 65-70 and only turn 1700-1900 rpm but you have lousy passing and hill climbing power. Cruising on level highway at 70 mph like that may be nice but the first hill you hit or "semi" you have to pass and you will force the tranny to downshift in order to increase the rpm's enough to gain any power. This kills any gain you may have at cruising speeds. Gearing to 4.11's will bring the engine rpm's back closer to what the engine "likes" for torque and power developement. With the cruising rpm's that low, you have little to no power in reserve for passing or hill climbing.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 355
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From: Oregon
I have a '92 351W with an E4OD and 31's with 3.55 gears and I get 13 around town and 15 on the highway. It would do better on the road if I kept my foot out of it, but that's not gonna happen.
I don't know what year yours is or how it's equipped, but if it's similar to mine then something is definitely wrong with your mileage.
I don't know what year yours is or how it's equipped, but if it's similar to mine then something is definitely wrong with your mileage.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Greensburg, PA
My 89 300 I6 EFI gets 14 city and 19 hwy. I'm completely stock, running autolite wires and platinum plugs. If you have a visor over the windshield, you'll lose about 2 mpg city and about 5 hwy(at least that's what happened when I put one on an 85 Astro for my brother). I also have 3.55's and 5sp w/OD.
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Senior User
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i have a 1988 bronco with a 302. i dont have a visor. i have a c6 and basically a later model bronco has a different transmission which will get better gas mileage mainly because of the gearing. i dont have overdrive on my c6, i dont know if a c6 comes with overdrive.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 94
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From: Ohio
89BroncoResto, you get 14 and 19 on your I6!?! I also have a stock '89 with an I6 and manual. I think the only time I got close to 19 was downhill on the Donner Pass! I get 12-14 with a mix of mostly highway driving (+80%). Of course part of this may as others have indicated my lead foot. 
I have had the truck for over 13 years and I don't ever remember getting that kind of mileage. I may have to check my book, I have the mileage and every gallon of fuel I ever put in her!
I have had the truck for over 13 years and I don't ever remember getting that kind of mileage. I may have to check my book, I have the mileage and every gallon of fuel I ever put in her!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Yes, it's called an E4OD. But they're more expensive to buy, and more expensive to fix when they break, which from what I gather, is pretty often.
You will get MUCH better mileage with the Mazda tranny. I had a '90 F-150 with a 300 and the Mazda, and regularly got 18-19 highway. The high revs that come with the C6 are what really kills your mileage.
However, the Mazda is widely considered to be a POS.
So you pays your money and you takes your chances.
You will get MUCH better mileage with the Mazda tranny. I had a '90 F-150 with a 300 and the Mazda, and regularly got 18-19 highway. The high revs that come with the C6 are what really kills your mileage.
However, the Mazda is widely considered to be a POS.
So you pays your money and you takes your chances.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Ohio
It is the 5 speed. This is interesting as I have always heard that the 300 is a) tough as nails (longevity) and b) able to pull stumps (torque). However the largest drawback to this engine is that it is thirsty! Percentagewise how many 300's were put in the Bronco. Yes I know that it varies by year, but ballpark numbers.
Last edited by Schlump; Oct 20, 2003 at 06:47 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
The 300, in my experience, is great for all three. Like I said, I regularly saw 18-19 highway in my '90 F-150. Of course, it was fuel injected which helps a lot. It was also 2wd and had a fiberglass cap.
Of course, my Bronco that I have now gets about 11 highway. But it's got 3.55 gears, a carb, and no overdrive.
Of course, my Bronco that I have now gets about 11 highway. But it's got 3.55 gears, a carb, and no overdrive.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Greensburg, PA
I do a pretty even split of highway and city driving and use midgrade gas. I bought my Bronco in May, and the only thing I've done to it is standard maintenance. I do have the Mazda trans, and am lovin the gas mileage! I was truly expecting to get about 10 city and 13 hwy. Oh by the way, the truck has 178,000 mi on the original motor (new mains @ 100,000) and runs like a champ!
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Senior User
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well, i have the c6 trans and it has 175k miles on it and still goin strong. i read an artical in fourwheeler magazine a while back and they rebuilt a c6 trans after +220k miles or somehting like that, so it lasted a while. is the c6 a mazda trans? yeh i do have high revs, but the 302 is a high rev motor and is able to run at such high revs. im tachin about 3k at +70mph i was wonderin if like a k&n air filter made any difference or some type of different air intake will help with better mileage?
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Algona WA USA
Milage
My 1985 Bronco (recently bought) and tuned up (minus oil change) has a 3spd (c-6?) and a 351W. I took it to work and back (114 mi round trip) and I got 16.235 MPG. that was with what I can only guess is 3.5 or 3.55 gears and 30x9.5's. I have no lift. So my guess is to stay in that range with a 3spd auto I have to go 4.10 (4.11) and 33's when I do it. Hopefully adding a 2-3" lift doesn't hurt me too much.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
The ONLY Mazda tranny ever put into the Bronco was the M5OD, 5 speed manual. The NP435 is (obviously) a New Process three speed manual. The C6 is a Ford-built three speed auto. The AOD and the E4OD are 3 speed + overdrive Ford autos. The C6 and the AOD are typical vacuum regulated automatics. The E4OD is a fully electronic auto. Early E4OD's had problems with hard shifting and heat dissapation. Ford made improvments to it over the years with the biggest developements happening for the 1994 model year. It is still in use in most half, three-quarter and one ton F-series but doesn't fair very well behind engines with the kind of torque acheived in the Powerstroke family of engines. The service records for the other two autos are impeccable by most standards. The C6 is considered by many to be virtually indestructable. Don't know much about the Mazda other than its being the only manual available in the Bronco and half-ton F-series for a short while.