Yeah, I think im gonna try 5w20 this time (versus 5w30). Slightly less viscoscity (maybe better mpg?) haha i think thats probably pushing it.

But yeah, I'm only 17, so I kinda picked up my dad's habits with the whole 7500 mile interval thing. Although, its about to roll over 100K, so ill probably switch to 5000 intervals. That'll probably be better for the engine and easier to remember too (rotate tires every 5K and change oil at the same time at 100K, 105K, etc... nice easy numbers. I just need to remember to get trans done every once in a while, because I don't feel comfortable doing it myself yet) By the way, over the course of 7500 mi, I'll usually have to add about a quart in between changes to keep 'er full.

Isaac

 

I would never go back to synthetic oil in my trucks. Mobil1 I would have to add 1-2qts between changes. With Motorcraft semi-synthetic I maybe have to add 1/2qt. I saw no real benifit.

The guy who is claiming to get 16mpg, totally do-able. My X has gotten 16 on many occassions, most often I get in the 12s but nice slow highway driving I can get 16 real easy. My F250 on the other hand has only gotten a best of 14. Just got back from a trip about 2,000 miles round trip and averaged a solid 12.25 (hand calculated) for the whole trip, thats with a 4" lift and 35s.

 

I'll let you - we're headded out this evening for the beach (about 4 hours away, 250 miles) and we'll be towing our 6k TT. This will be the longest trip since I got the X.

As I said earlier, rightnow I'm getting 13 (+/- 0.5) and it's been real stable in that range for ~1k mile. I did buy a can of SeaFoam yesterday and plan on adding it when I fill up for the trip - but I really don't think it will make that big of a difference and I'm doing it more for maintenance.

With my F150, 4x4, 5.4l, I would get 8-10 towing (leaning more towards 8.5 for an average - 10 on flat land). Empty, I would get in the 14-16 range. So I'm hoping for a more solid 10 mpg with the v10 - but we'll see.

 

A year ago we went to Fl with our 9000 lb TT fully loaded for a 13 day trip. We caught an unreal headwind going south and I averaged 6.7 mpg according to the lie-o-meter. Usually we'll run between 8 and 9. On the way back north we went through New Orleans and aparrently caught the same wind, only now it as at our back. This wind was big enough to make Chicago 60 degrees in the middle of January and it gave us 11 mpg for almost 500 miles. That was cool.

 

Just as a comparison, I am leaving Saturday from Goodyear, AZ and driving to Yellowstone Nat. Park, then Mt. Rushmore and over to Rock Rapids IA and then back home. All in all about 3700 miles and I will be towing my brand new toy hauler which will be weighing in at around 9-10k fully loaded. I will let you all know how it does on the trip as far as MPG I am expecting 12-13 but we will see?? I drive around 60-70mph when I tow..............

 

I typically get 11 - 13 mpg daily town driving. Driving from Western NY to FL and back (2220 miles round trip) I get 14.9 mpg at 74 mph. If I don't run the air I get 15.2 mpg. That's manual arithmatic. Total truck weight about 8500 pounds of kids, dog and luggage. Tried 92 octane for two tanks once, no difference. That's running a totally stock machine, 2000 V10 4x4, regular oil. 105K. Making the same run for Easter. I'll track it again. It's been the same for the past 5 years/trips though.

 

You guys getting over 12 ,What gears do you have. I have 4.30s

 

On a recent road trip of about 250 miles one way, about 60%expressway, 40% secondary roads - on the way there we got 16.4 according to the display. On the return, we were driving into a strong head wind for about 130 miles of it - we got about 14.5 for an overall average of about 15.5. This was with the wife, myself and two teenage kids on board. Speeds were 60 ish on non expressway, 70 on the expressway.

Recently, towing 11,100 lbs (I know pretty much exactly, as this was a trip to a scale to weigh the trailer!), again a decent wind, we got about 7 mpg. Speed was 55 to 60 ish, on secondary roads. All of this was done with overdrive off.

I have checked my computer with manual calculation, and so far, every time it is within 0.2 to 0.3 mpg of the calculated mileage. Oh...this is on a totally stock engine, V-10, 3.73 gears, 265 tires, about 75,000 miles on it.

 

worst ive ever gotten was 5.3 with a ~3000# trailer lol. furtunately, it wasn't long term.

my dad was driving, and I just reset the lie-o-meter, and like 2 miles later we his a brake check, that slowed traffic down to a complete stop. The problem was that people were coming up the shoulder (I HATE PEOPLE THAT TRY TO CHEAT LIKE THAT) and sneaking in between cars as the whole jam slowly kind of wiggled through.
It was kinda like how everyone was close together, then the cars in front moved, leaving some space until we moved, etc... and then people would sneak in...

My dad got pissed and would gun it everytime a space opened up to keep people from sneaking in, and then would slam on the brakes at the last second...

Im not sure what made him more pissed, the fact that people were sneaking in, or the fact that he was paying for gas

I usually get 9 mpg @ 70 mpg with a 7x16 enclosed trailer with 2 KTM's and a Honda Rancher

sorry for the anecdote

Isaac

 

I have an '04 EB with the 6.8 and just drove from Chicago to Keystone CO, 1060 miles without the trailer. Started out around 70 due to fog and was getting about 14 calculated at te first fillup, but then pushed up to 85 for the final 300 miles or so and it dropped down to 12.8 for the whole trip. Kids were getting real antsy to get there....Our avg speed includng all stops was 68.5 mph.

We are headed home on Sat and will post what the downhill run gets.

Towing or 7000lb trailer in the summer we get between 8 and 11 depending on hills and wind direction.

 

When I first got my Excursion I was getting 8.5 MPG in the city driveing like a grandma with no towing. Now I gat 10 MPG actual because its warmer.

 

With the exception of the tranny. All fluid is either semi or full synthetic from the factory. A switch to mobil 1 or similar synth may help but I've never seen anyone report a solid increase in MPG from doing it. With the use of MERCON V in the 4R100 now approved, you can use that. it is (I believe) a synthetic base stock fluid.

It does but not much. The extra rolling resistance probably negates any gains.

No coil packs. Coil On Plugs for the modulars.

Crappy ones will certianly reduce MPG. Change 'em out at around 60-80K. Verify torque every 30K.

You're right, most exhausts can help with highway MPG. However, the gains are minimal.

Programmers are not designed to increase MPG. The are designed to increase specific power throughout the RPM range by advancing the timing (typically). Real power increases need higher (more $$) 91+ octane fuel. No savings.

If you do this stuff you could probably see the same increase in MPG as you would if you added 10lbs of pressure to each tire. However, your lightened wallet would probably give you the most MPG increase due to the reduced sprung weight.

Want to increase highway efficiency? Reduce friction and pumping losses the best you can and increase your tire pressure. Realize that there are trade-offs with each "mod". Ford doesn't employ engineers with Masters and Doctorates for nothing. They have found the best balance between NVH, emissions & performance....for the dollar.

 

I have bfg 285s also, What preasure should I keep them at?

 

I run my BFG AT KO 285/75/16's at about 55. When towing, I fill them up to 75. If I get off road with lots of rocks or in deep sand, I'll air them down to 15. What an awesome tire.

 

I get a little better than 6.5 mpg when towing 9,000 lbs at 75 mph. I get 10.5 in around town-suburban driving.