16 mpg highway before break-in, now with 25000 miles, it's about 18 mpg.


05 5.4L 2wd

 

Another thing to consider is the fuel itself for poor mileage. If your area has real oxygenated fuel, you will get lower mileage. People from Houston and LA suffer from this.

 

I have 06 FX4 SCREW w/ 6.5 bed 3.73 gears and was getting 14-15 at 65MPH. I just turned 16K miles and added a tonneau cover a couple weeks ago. Got 18.2 on first fill up and last night I filled up and got 18.7. I have also been trying to keep RPMs under 2000 but go over when trying to get on interstate. I couldn't be happier with the mileage. When I first got the truck I got 13-14 and was a little worried because I put about 400-500 miles a week.

 

Oxygenated fuel. This would be a good reason for my lousy mileage. I live in Houston and have gotten a best of 15.4mpg. That is with easy driving on my truck, 40%town 60%highway.

Truck is an 07 Screw, 5.5 ft bed, 5.4l, 4x4.

 

Dont use the overhead readout unless it is reset at fillup, otherwise it is the average of all the gas and trips since last reset. Calculate by hand. Miles/Gallons.

 

I'm in Houston and have never seen 18 MPG, ever, on my 5.4l super crew. 14 in the city and 16 at best on the freeway. coming up on 36000 miles on my 2004.

 

I'm in Houston too (Clear Lake) and with just 3100 miles on the new truck I calculated 11.92mpg when I filled up today. Big 'o suck. However, I did get the trip 'puter to throw out an 18mpg reading the other day on I-45 coming back from Galveston...with a 20mph tailwind

 

I get 14 to 16. And that is checking it from fillup to fillup with a calculator. The trip computer will lie to you....it is an good estimate at best. Keep your foot out of it and you may get better than I do, but dont expect it.

 

Yea noone in Houston is going to get good mileage. I head home from LBK to Houston and can make it on a single tank. Fill up in Houston and head back to LBK, have to stop about 120 miles short to fill up.

 

As far as the gears, I think it depends on the type of driving (Hwy vs."City") ... Granted, the 3.73 would "get you going" better/quicker/faster, but once "going" (up to speed), would not the 3.55 keep you 'afloat longer' (better MPG's)? As well, the weight differential (of 20" wheels as opposed to 16/17's) should also be offset once at (and maintaining) speed - correct?

There are a number of 'tricks' to get better MPG's if you REALLY want (and we should ALL REALLY want). Lose your tailgate - drop it, or take it off altogether if you rarely use it - it not only produces drag, it adds weight. Get a Tonneau cover (or get one of those extenders or some other sort of aerodynamic aid(s). Max inflate your tires (and KEEP `em there), check `em WEEKLY - at least - this could also alert you sooner to potential EXPENSIVE tire repair/replacement, poor wear, and OTHER (i.e. ~*** "DANGEROUS***~ conditions/problems). Perhaps taking a bit "longer" (mileage-wise) route on occasion as opposed to the "shorter" (time-wise) route will help (and possibly improve your quality of life along the way?? - Imagine that ...) - and here is one I KNOW slips by lots of us - if you peek in your Owner's Manual, you will notice in the HVAC section, it states that is more economical to operate (especially at higher speeds I would add) with the vent system "CLOSED" ... I suppose it eliminates drag - improves aerodynamics ... but I KNOW it boosts MPG's cause I've been opening/closing my vent system (yeah, a bit fanatically at times) for years - and I do better - much better - than the average owner/operator of similarly equipped vehicles as mine (late 90's/early 2000's Rangers, Auto Trans, 4X4) - and I have 4.10 gears in the back. It is as well my understanding and belief that a clean/polished vehicle cuts through the air (if only minutely) better, than a dirty, filmy one.

Now individually, these things might not add-up to a hill of beans - but added TOGETHER - AND WITH (reliable - NOT AT ALL FAR-FETCHED) PREDICTIONS OF $3.50 & 9/10-gal. by mid summer ... well, I know what I'll be doing (and NOT doing!). Not to mention, are ya really liking all this sending of Greenbacks (i.e. YOUR HARD-EARNED $!) to the desert-people - oh, and that P*O*S NUT-JOB in Venezuela???

Lastly - guess where the price of a gallon goes if we ALL start "Saving" (CONSERVING) an extra mile or two (OR MORE!!!) per gallon??? BINGO!

There are other "tricks" (as I am SURE you all are aware) men - perhaps we should start (yet another) Forum (?) ... naaaaaaaaah.

Glenn ...

 

tailgate loss doesn't do anything for mileage. tried it on 500 mile trips and noticed no improvement. if anything, by my calculations, i figured i lost about .1-.2 with it down.

 

I was skeptical with mine "down" - so, I took it "off" (and simply put it back on whenever I need it ... not to mention, keeping it tucked-away keeps it safe from "harm" [damage]) - GUARANTEED WEIGHT (and hence - fuel) savings, at least in stop and go traffic with it "off" though.

Not certain of aerodynamic gain on highway without it though.

As I mentioned, depends heavily on the type of driving one does.

 

There was a Myth Busters episode using a Ford F150 Screw debunking the tailgate myth. They used wind tunnell tests on models. Then they did road testing using the gate, up, down and with a net. The tailgate up was the best milage. I am researching there website for the episode number. They basically said Ford took into consideration the tailgate up when engineering the truck. They never tested it using a bed cover.

We should flood Myth Busters with emails to reproduce there testing using a bed cover...which I have.

 

Don't let anyone fool you there is not much mileage difference between the 3:55 gears and 3:73. In fact in some cases the 3:73 will give you better fuel economy.
The 3:73 is better suited for this truck then the 3:55. You will notice it with a head wind, and the transmission will not down shift as much.

My 04 Lariat 5.4 tow package, 3:73 LS gearing, 48K miles religously gets 19.8mpg at 70mph, 20.1 @60mph. Avg city and HWY 15.8mpg. The mileage does start falling off rapidy once past 75mph. I do have a hard tonneau cover, not sure if that helps or not.

 

what RPM's are you guys getting at 65 mph? I get ~1800 rpm. I've also got the 3.73 gears. I'm interested to see what the 3.55 gears do.

You can and should expect 15+ mpg out of your truck. Obviously we all drive differently, but light throttle and lots of cruise control are proven methods.. If you continuously drive it easy and use good gas, you can even do better than that. My truck weighs in at 6000lbs and I consistently get 15-18 mpg. I do have those tanks where its less, but that's due to me being frisky or a tank full of ethanol blended gas

a v-8 doesn't automatically mean bad gas mileage. My Mustang gets 17-18 mpg in the city with liberal throttle (=burnouts) and upwards of 30 mpg highway.

so to answer the original poster ?...I'd say 15 mpg city/mixed driving and 17+ mpg highway only