I've got an 81 2wd with 351w, c6 and not sure of the gears. Just wondering what kind of mileage you guys with similar age and setups are getting.

 

I've got an 84' with a transplanted 351W and AOD 2WD that I get about 12-16 depending upon how impressed I am with myself.

 

I have an 85 ho 351 I get about 9-11 C6

 

My 88 351w supercab gets 10MPG in the city... 10MPG on the highway... and 10MPG Towing.... Are these things just preprogrammed to burn gas no matter what??

 

If you want fuel economy, buy a 4 cylinder compact rice burner.
None of the Ford family of engines were designed with great fuel economy in mind.
Trucks and the engines that are put in them are chosen for torque and horsepower, not fuel economy.
The 5.0(302) and 5.8(351) were rated pretty similarly when they rolled off the assembly line. The 351 just has more torque and HP for those of us that tend to use our trucks for hauling/towing.

 

It doesn't surprise me, I just think it's amusing that it seems to burn the same amount of gas no matter how hard it's working!

 

My 86 351 H.O. C6 auto. gets about 10. Drops to 7 when towing our 5100 lb (empty) travel trailer.

 

I'll find out soon what kinda mileage mine will get.

New 351 HO long block, edlebrock performer, holley 600, long tube headers, true duals with 40 series Flowmaster mufflers. C6 Trans. 3.55 gears

Hopefully it won't be too bad, but like was said before, if I wanted economy I'd get a 4cyl Ranger.

 

I've got an 80 with a 1969 windsor that has never gotten better than 11.5 mpg. And i'll tell you I worked really hard for that .5. I've tried everything to get better mileage and all I get is more power with the same mileage nomatter what. It does have a lift with 33 inch mudders, but I could drive it 54 mph and still get 11mpg.

Zac

 

I've got an 86 4x4 with 350 gears the 351 has a comp Etreme energy 4x4 cam, a 69 4bbl intake, a Carter AFB 625, hooker headers and a four speed. I also have 16" rims with 265's on them. I get 10 in town and 16 going 60 or 15 going 72.

 

that sounds pretty good. I think I'm getting under 10 on average. I guess it's geared pretty low - a new carb prob. wouldn't hurt either...

 

Yes seems the 351 s love gas , thats why later yrs they made over drive my 92 gets 15.6 with easy gas pedalling, and 13-14 with the stomp syndrome ,Towing 11-12. Years later they tried to be more economical and i dont ever feel they got better than 20 - TR

 

My 85 351 4V H.O. 4X4 gets 11.1 to 11.7 mpg towing,loaded,empty,going 75 or doing 25,does'nt matter. Best at 12.1 mpg two times. Truck has duel 2.25 exhaust with H pipe and 40 series Flowmasters with 3.5 tips out the rear,Jacob's computor ignition and K&N air filter. Its running 32X11.50X15 BFGs on 8 inch wheels. Truck has 139,000 miles

 

Way back when I had a real job the last new truck I ordered for myself was a '90 F250HD 351 AOD 4.10LS 4x2. As the guy who ordered the trucks for our small fleet it was my choice to make. After a couple of the early diesels (6.2 and 6.9's) I was fed up with stinky, winter fuel jelling, rattling diesels and opted for a gasser. I ordered the 351 because I thought I'd do a little better on mileage and I had some "heavier iron" available if I needed it. In retrospect I could have just as well gotten the 460. On a good day I did 12-13 even with the overdrive and it wouldn't pull squat (about equal to the 6.9 w/3.55's).

The carb'd HO's may have done better but the performance of the FI engine in the '90 was a disappointment ... Granted an mpg or two now isn't a bad thing unless you need to pull something.

 

Thanks for the input!!!! My Dad had a 79 460 4V Holly 4180, with about a 2500 to 3000 stall, 4.10s (I think), C6 and 32X11.50X15 tires. He purchased the truck used and it was set up to run at tractor pulls locally and to be streetable also. It was a strong running truck and averaged around 9 to 11 mpg. My 85 351 4V H.O. is stout, didn't seem to be much different than the 460 on the street, as drag racing (my brother) my 351 would stay even with the 460 to about 60 mph then the 351 (3.54 gears C6) would pull ahead slowly, but as for low end torque, 460 was awesome. Point is even with the stall,gears and setup, mpg was about the same!!!