9 MPG...what gives?
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
9 MPG...what gives?
My 83 F-150 2wd with our favorite engine is only pulling down 9mpg. I'm pretty sure the carb could use a rebuild kit. Plugs and wires are new, and have about 6k miles on them.
Tires are inflated to proper pressure, and i'm pretty sure i don't have any dragging brakes. I shift between 2000-2500 rpm. I don't do jackrabit starts or anything. I might need a front end alignment..but i'm not sure on that just yet.
Anybody have any ideas? I at least need to get her up into the double digits, even if its only 12-13 mpg. I can't belive i blew through 19.1 gallons in 175 miles. I was driving under the speed limit all highway miles...55-60 mph.
Tires are inflated to proper pressure, and i'm pretty sure i don't have any dragging brakes. I shift between 2000-2500 rpm. I don't do jackrabit starts or anything. I might need a front end alignment..but i'm not sure on that just yet.
Anybody have any ideas? I at least need to get her up into the double digits, even if its only 12-13 mpg. I can't belive i blew through 19.1 gallons in 175 miles. I was driving under the speed limit all highway miles...55-60 mph.
Last edited by desperado_18_2000; Jan 12, 2006 at 11:50 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
About the only leak i've seen on this truck is coming from the valve cover. So no, i haven't seen/smelled anything fuel wise. My oil also doesn't appear to be contiminated with fuel either.. so i don't think my fuel pump is leaking.
Keep the ideas flowing...looks like i've got some R&R work to do....
Keep the ideas flowing...looks like i've got some R&R work to do....
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
Does it run kinda poorly? Black soot on plugs? Black exhaust? That will steer you to an engine fix.
Otherwise, jack up each wheel and see if they spin freely. Carrying more weight? (Holiday eating.....just kidding).
Tighten the carb holddown fasteners....theyre prone to cause problems.
Otherwise, jack up each wheel and see if they spin freely. Carrying more weight? (Holiday eating.....just kidding).
Tighten the carb holddown fasteners....theyre prone to cause problems.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 738
Likes: 2
From: McChord AFB
If you carb is in possible need of rebuilding that could easilly be your problem. I know of a few conditions whith my own trucks and friends' trucks where carb rebuilds have resulted in 100% mpg increses. Thats where i would start, a kit shouldnt be more than $30.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, SC
i was getting 11 MPG, rebuilt my carb, now I'm at 14 MPG with my '79 2wd 3spd. That is probably as good as it's going to get without overdrive in my old truck. i did a complete tune up before the carb rebuild, and it was still at 11 MPG, though it did run smoother.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 0
From: SW Arizona
Having an 81 E100 Van with a 4.9, I found driving with the windows up helped too. Amazing how much "drag" is caused with air rushing in and the empty space acting like a "drogue" while even going 55-60 on the highway.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: Weston, Nebraska
Hey were in about the same boat, I get around 9ish with my 86 4x4 and a 4 speed, it used to get about 13ish too, but after i rebuilt the engine, it started going downhill quite a bit, it has a straight pipe, an RV cam and 60 over pistons, other then that no real performance stuff, but the carb was a reman about 3 years ago already and this truck has always had a crappy idle even with the new carb, sounds like it's always kinda missin, i try to tell ppl it just has a big cam lol, so I've become fed up with messing with it and since i have a bit of money at this moment I went ahead and ordered an offy intake, 500 cfm edelbrock, hedman headers and a different air cleaner, so i figure this may improve the gas milage a bit, but if not I look at it this way, at least I'll be gettin the power for the gas it takes outta this wanna be 460, lol
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
I've got a kit to put in the carb, once i get a day off from work. I've been so busy here lately that its been virtually imposible for me to get the time to do any type of work on the truck other than oil changes. I'm going to see about going and picking up a boneyard carb tomorrow and putting the kit in that one, and swapping it on later to see if it makes a difference. I don't really have the time to down the truck right now to rebuild the one on the truck. So this is my second best alternative.
Yeah, eventually my six will get the the intake/carb/header treatment that i've been drooling over forever. I'm with you, if its going to get 9mpg, its either going to have a reason to...or get swapped in favor of a big block. Not that i'm unpleased with the six, i just figure if i'm going to get 9mpg..i'm going to have the cubes and torque to back it up.
Yeah, eventually my six will get the the intake/carb/header treatment that i've been drooling over forever. I'm with you, if its going to get 9mpg, its either going to have a reason to...or get swapped in favor of a big block. Not that i'm unpleased with the six, i just figure if i'm going to get 9mpg..i'm going to have the cubes and torque to back it up.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
I have my 84 F150 4x4 4 speed tuned in pretty close to where it needs to be, and I only get 8-10 mpg. But I also have 4.10 gears with 33" mudders. I am running a Holley 350 2bbl with a Clifford adapter on the stock intake, and a Hedman Hedder. When I still had the 3.08s in it with the 2bbl and EFI manifolds I think I was very close to 18 maybe 19 mpg. On the road I drive fairly conservative, but when I get to off roadin a bit, my right foot tends to gain a little weight 
he he! I figure it's about as good as its gonna be, I don't drive it everyday anymore so it's not a big deal to me. Hell it's a truck, built for work and play!
he he! I figure it's about as good as its gonna be, I don't drive it everyday anymore so it's not a big deal to me. Hell it's a truck, built for work and play!
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
I finally put the rebuilt carb on the truck, and it has made heaps of difference. I don't have any hard MPG figures yet, but just by driving it and watching the fuel guage..its definately not drinking as much gas as it was. It makes it feel like a whole new truck.
And i know its a truck, its built for work and play, if i wanted 20+mpg, i'd still be driving my Town Car everywhere.
And i know its a truck, its built for work and play, if i wanted 20+mpg, i'd still be driving my Town Car everywhere.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Don't slaughter me too badly guys but gas mileage was the reason I bought my current daily driver. A 95 GMC Jimmy 4x4 with the 4.3 Vortec...4L60e tranny with OD+ 3.42 gears + 30" Cooper STs= 18-21 mpg! Quiet and comfortable on the highway and decently capable on the trails and seasonal roads out here. Not to mention it comes in handy when you have to haul 3 of your drunken buddies home from the bar! Now that I think of it, this vehicle has also been known to be called on the job to pull stuck vehicles out of places they shouldn't be. A couple weeks ago I pulled my buddies 88 Dodge pickup out of a mud pit with it. The Jimmy is about to roll over 192k miles and still running well. I have to admit I am a Ford man but GM did it right with the Vortec motors, they just run and run!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, SC
Originally Posted by Pkupman82
Don't slaughter me too badly guys but gas mileage was the reason I bought my current daily driver. A 95 GMC Jimmy 4x4 with the 4.3 Vortec...4L60e tranny with OD+ 3.42 gears + 30" Cooper STs= 18-21 mpg! Quiet and comfortable on the highway and decently capable on the trails and seasonal roads out here. Not to mention it comes in handy when you have to haul 3 of your drunken buddies home from the bar! Now that I think of it, this vehicle has also been known to be called on the job to pull stuck vehicles out of places they shouldn't be. A couple weeks ago I pulled my buddies 88 Dodge pickup out of a mud pit with it. The Jimmy is about to roll over 192k miles and still running well. I have to admit I am a Ford man but GM did it right with the Vortec motors, they just run and run!
B
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
I had a 1990 GMC S-15 that had the weirdest electrical problems. If you pushed on the cigarette lighter too hard (I used it for a power supply for a CD player) then it would blow a fuse. The horn wouldn't work, the interior light would operate exactly the opposite of how you wanted it to (I really need the light on when I'm driving) and there was something else it did, too. And the dash lights quit working at about 60k miles.
The motor & tranny ran and ran, but everything else was just... crap.
The motor & tranny ran and ran, but everything else was just... crap.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Knock on wood my 95 has not given me too many electrical problems. My little brother's 85 GMC Jimmy S15 has given me more headaches and sleepless nights than my 13 weeks at Marine Corps Boot Camp! Geez where do I start! Self-dimming headlights, no blinkers, no dashlights, no horn, goofy blower motor operation, no dome lights...and that's just the electrical problems! And to make matters worse he really screwed things up when he tried wiring in a CD player...OMG! I have most of the electrical problems fixed or at least figured out, and the stereo is wired up correctly. It too is a fun little rig, a bit underpowered (2.8 V6 2bbl) but it is quite the trail runner when you put it down in low range.