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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

7.5mpg help please!!

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Old Dec 7, 2023 | 08:06 PM
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7.5mpg help please!!

Alright so im on going on 3 months of getting a consistent 7.5mpg and im at my wits end

1990 f150 xlt lariat reg cab long bed 4x4 aod 302 and 3.55s on 31s 175k miles
ive replaced the following over the course of the last few months fuel pumps, distributor, icm, map senaor and ect sensor, coil, plugs wires cap rotor, manifold gaskets, O2 sensor, egr and evp and the egr vac solenoid. Iac and tps. Thermostat. My cats are also fine. Also intake gaskets and injectors. Also did a replacement ecm and it ran terrible so i did the capacitor replacement on the oem ecm and it smoothed out nicely. i am sure im forgetting things but I’ve basically shot the entire parts cannon at her. . I have no vacuum leaks and no codes at all. I checked with my scanner. Its bone stock besides a muffler. Both fuel tanks work and have no cross flow issues. Starts up fine runs fine. Has good power. But im lucky if i get 8mpg. I drive it like a grandpa. And I’ve noticed i can beat on it or drive light and get the same mileage. Im at the end of my rope with it. Any help is much appreciated
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 04:17 AM
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Throwing your wallet at it is a ridiculous way to fix a problem. Was there any testing of those parts before you replaced them? You have now introduced multiple variables into the equation. If you didn’t use Motorcraft sensors, who knows if those new parts are any good?


Did you ever check the fuel pressure regulator to see if the diaphragm is broken? That will draw unmetered fuel into the intake manifold.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 07:42 AM
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I replaced everything with motorcraft parts. The reason for all the parts is the truck sat for about ten years and mostly everything was not working well. I replaced the fpr when i replaced the fuel tanks and pumps. Most the parts i replaced cause i had them new in boxes. Ive had a few of these over the years but this one is by far the worst with fuel which is frustrating because its the cleanest one ive owned. My last one i retired around 275k miles due to frame rot and that one averaged 13-14mpg
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 10:09 AM
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Does it hold fuel pressure ie checked for bad injectors? What do you mean by “no codes?” Are you getting the system pass 11 or 111 or are you not getting anything at all? I get 14-15mpg with that combination on my F-150 and Bronco.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 10:18 AM
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It holds fuel pressure fine. The injectors are all new as well. And sorry i should have clarified. I get the code 11 and if i forget ill get the code for the power steering switch and wot during the test. I never had one that was this brutal on fuel. It is my first auto but i know they do at least 11-12 city. If i go on a highway drive itll get around 10
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 10:29 AM
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What is the actual idle vacuum? Back probe the O2 for voltage. Pull plugs and see if one hole different or all same.

Something is commanding excess fueling. TPS perhaps?

How are you calculating 7.5mpg? Ever verified speedo with a GPS?
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Hit Man X
What is the actual idle vacuum? Ill have to check again

Back probe the O2 for voltage. I haven’t done that but i changed it cause i had a code for it once.

. Pull plugs and see if one hole different or all same. They all look the same.

Something is commanding excess fueling. TPS perhaps?
I haven’t looked into that.


How are you calculating 7.5mpg? Ever verified speedo with a GPS?
Speedo is accurate
 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 01:35 PM
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Have you checked the computer board for damage?

 
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Old Dec 8, 2023 | 09:00 PM
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I see that you replaced the capacitors on the board.

I would start with checking the major sensors output to the computer. They can be providing faulty info and the computer will never know so long as the data is within the realm of possible.

Never hurts the verify base timing and that it is advancing as it should.
 
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Old Dec 9, 2023 | 08:42 AM
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Location says Eastern Long Island. How much in town vs highway driving do you do? Lots of stop and go?
 
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Old Dec 9, 2023 | 01:04 PM
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is the truck exhaust stock?
 
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Old Dec 21, 2023 | 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Mudsport96
Location says Eastern Long Island. How much in town vs highway driving do you do? Lots of stop and go?
it’s mainly always in town driving. Mostly 30-45mph
its been on a few highway drives but only averaged about 10mpg
 
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Old Dec 21, 2023 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Totaledmy1987
is the truck exhaust stock?

no actually thats the only thing not stock. When i got the truck it was gutless and this mileage issue and long stort short the cats were literally melted inside so i gutted them and it ran wayyy better. But it still has the same mpg as it did.
 
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Old Dec 21, 2023 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by R&RFord
I see that you replaced the capacitors on the board.

I would start with checking the major sensors output to the computer. They can be providing faulty info and the computer will never know so long as the data is within the realm of possible.

Never hurts the verify base timing and that it is advancing as it should.

im going to look into that. I recently looked into the tos and it was beyond out of the recommended specs. A new tps fixed that but didn’t fix the mileage. I do have a second computer i may try
 
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