Hey, mister 38 posts:

1) I am a retired auto mechanic.
2) I have owned both of them, both with 5-speeds, 4x4, and 3.55 gears. I'll take the 302 any day.
3) I've been on this forum since it was an email listserv.

 

I’ll add mine to the mix. I was getting 9mpg last week on my trip to/from South Dakota loaded with hunting gear and my pup. Sucked as I only have one fuel tank, the aft 18 gal so I had to stop and fuel up every 150 miles or so.

I have 31” mud tires and wimpy gearing (I think 3.08? I don’t remember) so I think the only options are regear or run smaller non mud tires in order to get better mpg. One of those options is not as fun for a weekend around town mostly dedicated hunting truck, I just don’t want to pay a shop to do the work as I’ve never done anything with diffs before. Trying to keep this a low cost hunting truck.

 

My signature says "you drive a brick...better fuel economy is not an option" for a reason. Ford had a lot of things in mind back then but fuel economy wasn't one of them. I get 10-12 and I've tried a few different things and can't seem to get any better. Running at 65 ish around 2200 to 2400 RPMS I get 12 at best. I don't even know how but I actually got worse mpg running 68 in OD with an empty trailer than that same trailer fully loaded with a fully loaded box running at 55 to 60 in third. These trucks are old now and sadly almost to the point to be considered a classic ...unless she's rebuilt like it just came off the factory floor there's little that can be done to get better than I think 15 tops.

 

Damn phone doesn’t show signatures but that’s a good one. I’d like to get 15mph though. I bet if I ran small economy tires I’d get closer to that. Loaded down with all my hunting gear, larger mud tires, and wimpy gears leaves me wanting but I chose this truck so I’m not complaining. Fuel bill is still cheaper than a car note from my old f150.

 

Yeah kinda bs it doesn't. If you click on my profile I think it'll show it. I use my computer in the evening and my phone during the day lol. I think 15 is achievable (in my opinion) but not worth the trouble. The V8 is known for many things but fuel economy...not so much. I could definitely get better mpg if I drove like a grandpa (no offense to you older folks) but I got the lead foot of my family ... I'm known for treating F150's like F350's and treating F350's like F650's so I'm pretty hard on my stuff. Yes, it's bit me in the *** several times but hey, you only live once. If it wasn't double the damn price to get a 3/4 or 1 ton I would own one but I make my 94 work. In this economy I can't just go and buy something I like. Someday I'll hopefully be able to afford a bigger truck but until then this ole 94 will have to be my go to rig. Because I have a 5.8 I imagine the mpg is around the same as a 5.0 but either way they're not exactly efficient now but they were for their time. I think people don't realize many buy these trucks for their toughness and ease to work on and not for fuel economy and efficiency. Btw for all the aeronose people here...don't be fooled by the name. They're anything but aerodynamic.

That's my 2 cents. Not trying to sound like an ******* but just speaking the truth. Moral of the story is there's more to life than fuel economy
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Back in the day when these things were new they didn't get great mileage. A base I6 manual 2wd would get 18 on average and it was all down hill from there. OPs 302 auto was good for 16 and that's when they were new.

These trucks all had there purpose and the 3 engines all had their place. Around town hauling stuff in the bed the I6 was your truck. On the Freeway the 302 was better. But if you had to tow anything the 351 was it. But the MPG for the 351 auto would be typically around 14-15 empty. Add 4x4 and take off some more.

 

My trucks a manual

 

It was actually rebuilt recently, so that should help me out, but oh well, I'll just drive less, that'll help me out. The longer I can go without filling both tanks, the better. I bought it knowing it would get (g)*** mileage, but it's capable, so I'll just suck it up and enjoy my classic.

 

Missed that somehow. Then 17mpg. this was a really good baseline back in the day.

 

Damnit I want 17, I'd be happy with 14-15 though

 

My 95, 4wd, 3.55gears, gets 12-13, my 10yrs newer 04 gets 13-14...and its 2wd, 3.55gears, I get compliments on my 95 all the time, not one time on 04

 

The price to pay for the coolness factor

 

Who needs gas milage when you look cooler than all the others, am a right? lmao