Hey guys I heard an interesting story today I was talking to a friend of mine who I hadnt seen in a while. He was telling me about a guy in his hometown who got a new ford truck back in the mid 90s that was getting 40mpg. He kind of kept this to himself but word must have gotten out and lo and behold Ford representative came out and took his truck gave him a new one and told him not to say anything about it. Who says these trucks cant get more mileage than they do. It just goes to show how much power the oil companies have over the big 3. When this goes on. And were supposed to believe all the crap were fed. When fuel is as high as it is now doesnt that irk you. What do you all think. Thanks

 

If I got 40 MPG I'd have no problem talking about it and Ford would not come out and take the truck from me and give me a new one. I paid for it and it's mine to use as I choose. What actions did Ford take to validate the claim of 40 MPG before they gave him a new truck? After all, I doubt they just handed over the keys to a new truck without darn good reason.

 

I think it is probably an urban myth. I've heard these stories before, in a variety of settings, but they are always the same: "A friend of a friend of a friend said..." It would be nice if it were true, tho. I'd love to get better than 15 mpg on my truck!!

STU

 

http://www.snopes.com/autos/business/carburetor.asp

When I heard the exact same story the only different word was 'dodge' instead of Ford.

 

Im not lying to you guys its true. This guy would not lie to me or tell me anything that wasnt true. Hes not that kind of a guy. If he said its true. Id bank my life on it. These trucks could all get double the mileage they get out ther now. We put a man on the moon over 35 years ago and where still in the dark ages as far as engine technology is concerned. For one big reason. The oil companies.

 

This could easily turn into a political debate about the oil companies...
Or about conspiracy theories...

One question, though. How did the guy's truck end up in the forefront of Ford Motor Co's priorities? Do the research, the story has been on the internet for years.

 

Ok. I'm not saying you or he is lying. Go to the link and read the story. I've honestly heard the exact same story in the 80s,90s, and 00s (is 00's right? ) and the only difference has been in the car make.

 

What about the guy who got 90 mpg in his Black Helicopter? Anybody hear about that?

 

he wouldnt be lying if he actually believed it, much like yourself. However it is an urban myth. based on a sci fi story out of a magazine in 1968 about futuristic america and how society would still be the same just with slightly different technology. I liked the story but it has no basis in reality. Oh and by the way, I wish I could get 15 mpg.

 

I don't think you're lying, but I think the story is just a rumor that someone started and it made the rounds. There is that old line "if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is". After all, what would stop someone from making the claim just to get a new truck?

FWIW, and the record has probably been beat, but many years ago the Guiness Book Of World Records reported that the highest gas mileage award went to the owner of a 1959 Impala. The boat anchor was propelled with a 283. The car had countless mods which made it non-roadworthy, yet it returned 259 mpg under controlled conditions as I recall.

On edit: Things have changed. From http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/

Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
The best fuel consumption ever recorded by a petroleum (gasoline) powered vehicle is 0.02638 l/100km (10,705 mpg), by team Microjoule (France) at the 2003 Shell Eco-Marathon at Rockingham Motor Speedway, near Corby, Northamptonshire, UK, on July 9, 2003.
At that rate, the car would have used just 10.5 litres (2.3 gallons) to drive around the world along the Equator! Because every ounce of weight can increase fuel consumption, driving duties were handled by the team's smallest member, 12-year-old Morgan Legeay. To ensure that the microscopic amount of fuel used by each vehicle was extremely accurately measured, Shell technicians took the temperature of the petrol remaining in the cars' tanks and feed this into a computer program designed to compensate for any expansion of the liquid due to heat.

 

This is one hot thread. I have gotten over 8 replies in 30 minutes. I wonder if that is an FTE record I bet its close. I stand by what I say the technology is there.

 

Ford just came and took his truck? How is that possible?

 

Perhaps this fellow with the 40mpg had a friend helping him by adding some gas to his tank to blow his mind. That old trick has been used both ways, add some times, take away sometimes. It gets the vehicle owners quite frustrated. Otherwise I agree that it is a repeat of a very old urban legend. I heard it in the 70s. The secret carburetor that got out of the factory that they came and reclaimed.

 

Stop and think for a minute, use some common sense. If Ford could produce a leap in technology as described here, they wouldn't reclaim the truck, they'd quickly market it. Can you imagine how many more full size trucks they'd sell if they got 40 MPG? With gas at $2 a gallon!!! They would put Toyota, Nissan, GM, and Dodge truck sales in the tank. Ford owes nothing to the oil companies, they look at their own bottom line. Ford execs are paid bonuses baised on Ford profits, not Chevron's. Urban Legend, nothing more. Call Mythbusters!!

 

I don't buy it. Unless it was a 2wd diesel lugging around in overdrive at 40 mph.