Miles To Empty Question
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Miles To Empty Question
Have an 07 f250 and love it. Only 3200 miles on it so far. Everytime I fill the tank it tells me I'm going to get 378 miles to the tank or 378 miles to empty which would be about 12 miles to the gallon, which I imagine should be pretty accuarte on the 5.4 litre v8 crew cab. As the gas gets lower I finally only end up getting about 320 to the tank. I wonder if my sending unit in my fuel tank is bad? Also will the gas mileage get any better or will it get worse?
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From: MA
The trip computers are not that accuate. If you always drove under optimal conditions (Down hill with the wind at your back) then maybe you would make the 378 mark. There are to many variables to concider that the trip computer can't handle..
The best way is to hand calculate over time if you want accuracy.
The best way is to hand calculate over time if you want accuracy.
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Here's something to ponder:
You fill up your truck's tank. Ther computer tells you what your range on that tank full is.
Question: HOW DO IT KNOW????
(Meaning, how does the computer know if you're running empty, towing, loaded, feathering the throttle or doing drag strip launches?)
Answer: IT DON'T.
The computer ESTIMATES your range based on previous milage. If you start at 378, the computer will revise the estimate constantly as you drive. So, if you hammer the throttle, the estimate-to-empty gets revised downward. If you drive like a AARP member, it willgo up.
Next time you're in the mountains, watch what happens on a long down grade. The miles-to-empty will increase.
Rember. The computer is CONSTANTLY revising the ESTIMATED range based on the milage you have been getting previously.
You fill up your truck's tank. Ther computer tells you what your range on that tank full is.
Question: HOW DO IT KNOW????
(Meaning, how does the computer know if you're running empty, towing, loaded, feathering the throttle or doing drag strip launches?)
Answer: IT DON'T.
The computer ESTIMATES your range based on previous milage. If you start at 378, the computer will revise the estimate constantly as you drive. So, if you hammer the throttle, the estimate-to-empty gets revised downward. If you drive like a AARP member, it willgo up.
Next time you're in the mountains, watch what happens on a long down grade. The miles-to-empty will increase.
Rember. The computer is CONSTANTLY revising the ESTIMATED range based on the milage you have been getting previously.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: NJ
not to get off track, but I don't have that option on my new f350, and it doesn't bother me.
although, we do have a 2005 envoy and it has average mpg and it's a constant update that is pretty accurate. and that also goes with the range they give you. as the average mpg changes, due to driving style, the range changes also.
somehow it seems it's measuring how much we are in the throttle and stop and go etc. because as soon as you are going for a while, the average keeps going up while you are driving, making the total mileage range change too.
not sure if the ford is the same way or not.
although, we do have a 2005 envoy and it has average mpg and it's a constant update that is pretty accurate. and that also goes with the range they give you. as the average mpg changes, due to driving style, the range changes also.
somehow it seems it's measuring how much we are in the throttle and stop and go etc. because as soon as you are going for a while, the average keeps going up while you are driving, making the total mileage range change too.
not sure if the ford is the same way or not.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Phoenix, Az
I don't have a trip computer on my 99. I only know one thing for sure- the miles to empty just aren't enough! 
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From: New York
I never use the miles to empty thing. I leave it on the ambient temperature and the compass direction. At least they are a little more accurate. The only thing I can say about the miles to empty is that is comes up too fast too soon all of the time.
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Originally Posted by PHWLEE
I never use the miles to empty thing. I leave it on the ambient temperature and the compass direction. At least they are a little more accurate. The only thing I can say about the miles to empty is that is comes up too fast too soon all of the time.
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well try and drop it to 65 to better your chances at 2000 rpm...when i first got the truck i was hard on the gas and got 11.2 mpg and the next week i was easier and got around 12.4...now with about 10,000 miles on the truck i drove normal. you know cutting in and out of traffic cutting people off and muscling the other, smaller vehicles around and i just filled up and did the mpg by hand and got exacltey 13. this week im going to drive easy and se if i can get 13.5-14,...lets hope...so what im trying to say is that 13-13.5 is not unreachable but you will have to drive easier and slower...ive seen from a few websites that you lose almost 1% mpg for every mile over 55...and dont drive with you windows down while driving over 45 mph...you will save mpg with you air conditioner rather than with the windows down at that speed...
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From: New York
Originally Posted by clubt
I guess my main concern was that after a "break in period", what can I expect to get to a tank? I realize that if you hammer the throttle all the time and keep it above 2500 rpm's you're going to get aroung 10 mpg, I don't, I keep it around 70 - 75 on the highway around 2500 rpm's. Thanks for your help.
I have a V10 CC (which had 3.73 gears) and I averaged around 250 miles to a tank, though I never let it get too low. I just had the gears switched to 4.30's so I imagine the mileage is a little worse now. It'll take a little bit of time for me to find out.
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Originally Posted by clubt
Have an 07 f250 and love it. Only 3200 miles on it so far. Everytime I fill the tank it tells me I'm going to get 378 miles to the tank or 378 miles to empty which would be about 12 miles to the gallon, which I imagine should be pretty accuarte on the 5.4 litre v8 crew cab. As the gas gets lower I finally only end up getting about 320 to the tank. I wonder if my sending unit in my fuel tank is bad? Also will the gas mileage get any better or will it get worse?
I have never seen a Ford that you can't run the gauge down till the needle is below the red mark & still have fuel in the tank.
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Originally Posted by PHWLEE
I have a V10 CC (which had 3.73 gears) and I averaged around 250 miles to a tank, though I never let it get too low. I just had the gears switched to 4.30's so I imagine the mileage is a little worse now. It'll take a little bit of time for me to find out.
Alright then,
Some good info to work with. With the cost of gas these days I guess I'll try & take it a little slower. Thanks for the info.