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11 Mpg!!!

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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:14 AM
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11 Mpg!!!

I have a 2000 f150 4.6L. Within the last 3 weeks I have cleaned (recharged) my air filter as well as the MAF. I am still getting about 11 MPG. Can anyone give me any ideas on what else I might do to improve my mileage? Thanks
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:31 AM
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Is your CEL on? I would suggest bad O2 sensors.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:32 AM
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How many miles on it? If you're getting close to 100k, you might be needed new oxygen sensors.

Also, after changing out any of those items, you should leave the battery unplugged over night. Give the computer a chance to reset and relearn everything.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 08:05 PM
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I have a 97 4x4 with the 5.4 with 87k and also only get 11mpg. I have been chasing the problem and have had no luck. I have changed plugs, fuel filter, air filter, cleaned MAF, and had the CPU scaned to ckeck everything out including O2 sencors.

So far I have had no luck so I feel your fustration. While reading posts on this web site most people get 14+MPG, thats almost 50% better than what we get. Something must be wrong.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 08:06 PM
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I definitely feel your pain. There has to be something that is getting overlooked though.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by JC947386
So far I have had no luck so I feel your fustration. While reading posts on this web site most people get 14+MPG, thats almost 50% better than what we get. Something must be wrong.
Your math's way off... 22.43% better milage...

Its a truck, it was never ment for milage

Are you keeping up with traffic in town? Dont, theyre (usually) alot lighter.

I belive 22% can be saved by driving styles
~Nate
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 08:42 PM
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Lately I've seen a few low mileage concerns caused by thermostats that weren't letting the engine get hot enough. A shop with a good scan tool can watch the live data to see how hot the engine is getting, how the O2s are working etc.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:26 PM
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racerguy

The shop that scaned my truck did ckeck the o2 sensors, the front ones would bounce up and down in values and he said that was normal and not to r & r them. The back ones values changed verry little and he said that was normal.

What temp should my engine run in california?

Is thare more than one temp sensor? Myabe one for the gauge and one for the CPU?

Cuold this change my engine performance, my engine seems week when towing light loads.

I tried changing the T-state and Auto Zone sold me a 180 I think. The ones you had problems what temp were they running at? My gauge reads the same as it did before the T-state swap.

Thanks for your input.

schuebo

Its fustrating isn't it. Worse off for you is most 4.6 owners that i have spoke with say they get close to twenty MPG.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:42 PM
  #9  
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Did it ever get better mileage?
If yes did it slowly drop or seem all at once.

If it always got bad mileage then I would see what gear ratio you have (low?), then check it over and see if you can drive more like your grandpa .

I know a couple guys with similar trucks, both 2wd one is a 150, 4.6 stick he gets close to 20mpg (with over 300k on it) the other has a 5.4 auto and he is getting 16-17mpg. They both drive routes that stop at every town and haul some weight too.

I have a 97 150, 4.2 stick (with a wedge camper that drags wind) and can drive 75mph all day and get 15+.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 10:49 PM
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I have had this truck for 3 years, always got poor MPG. I have 3.73 gears. The truck is lifted and has 33" tires, but milage did not change when I lifted it. I expected it to get worse, but I gues that it cant get any wouse that 11 MPG.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2006 | 11:00 PM
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180 thermostat is too low. Haynes manual shows 188-195 for start of opening and 208-215 fully opened. So a 195 would be called for.
Yes there are 2 sensors as you presume, 1 for the gauge and 1 for the CPU. A live scan should show the CPU temp sensor reading and if not high enough, it may affect the CPU transition from open loop to closed loop operation. I thought there was a code for this. something akin to "closed loop not reached after 10 minutes of engine operation" or something to that effect. Possibly it was one of those generic codes Ford did not impliment.

I have a 99 4.6 auto 2WD and it gets a solid 20 on the long road trips (200+ miles at a time), around town is a completely different story. I do not even bother to try to measure it.

Dialtone
 

Last edited by Dialtone; Apr 5, 2006 at 11:10 PM.
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