fuel milage
fuel milage
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,978
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From: Central PA
You open a can of worms . This is common topic. It would depend on the area (Hilly flat in town open road) And gearing and tire sizes. Driving habits.
But I live in a very hilly area . I had your truck in a 89 version new with 3:55 rears and got 15 MPG with 31" tires. But it liked the open road and down south and out west it could break 20MPG . To be honest I have had 4 new F150 a 86,89,93,53 all set up same. And the 89 got better MPG than any . It was down hill MPG wise (the95 got 12MPG on good day) till I bought a used 94 302 e4od sc long bed 4x4 and I get 16 MPG hauling tools.
You got a really nice truck ought to last long time. The Mazda 5sd can have problems But I never did even at 200000 miles. Happy driving.
But I live in a very hilly area . I had your truck in a 89 version new with 3:55 rears and got 15 MPG with 31" tires. But it liked the open road and down south and out west it could break 20MPG . To be honest I have had 4 new F150 a 86,89,93,53 all set up same. And the 89 got better MPG than any . It was down hill MPG wise (the95 got 12MPG on good day) till I bought a used 94 302 e4od sc long bed 4x4 and I get 16 MPG hauling tools.
You got a really nice truck ought to last long time. The Mazda 5sd can have problems But I never did even at 200000 miles. Happy driving.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1
From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
The best way to find out is to calculate it yourself! Next time you get gas, top of the tank until she won't take any more. Get a receipt, and when you get back in the truck, write your odometer reading on the receipt. Next time you fill up (preferably at the same station and same pump), top it off again until it wont take any more. Get a receipt again. Now get back in the truck and write your odometer reading on the new receipt. Take the difference between the 2 odometer readings and divide it by the number of gallons that you just pumped on that 2nd fill up (ie, how-many-miles-you-drove / how-many-gallons-you-burned).
And that number will be pretty damned close to your real mileage, although it will not be entirely accurate. Good luck with that truck and welcome to FTE!
And that number will be pretty damned close to your real mileage, although it will not be entirely accurate. Good luck with that truck and welcome to FTE!
Last edited by Skandocious; Jul 28, 2007 at 06:35 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Try different brands/grades of fuel too... my 07 Ranger gets 2.3 mpg better with premium fuel than regular or midgrade (no difference in reg or midgrade mileage). Thats $1.50 I'm saving every fill up. My 79 gets 15 mpg no matter what, I give it premium fuel anyway, its only a couple bucks more a tank, and its been reliable transportation for years.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Also fuel brand matters a LOT more than you would think, and it also varies from station to station within the same brand. My '91 merc grand monkey get 16mpg in town and 18 on the road on marathon gas, 17 or so in town and 19 on the road with sunoco, and 19mpg in town and 23 on the road with BP/Amoco fuels. Don't know what's in the others but it doesn't even idle well on anything but the BP fuel.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
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From: Central California
Not entirely sure what my truck gets--I only bought it four days ago. My mileage, however, does suffer badly when I drive in the city. It'll do better once I complete the tune-up, but being able to shift into Overdrive at 35 MPH is nice!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
In town you are better off taking it out of OD and if you had 4.10 gears you would get optimum mileage, it makes the engine work a lot less, and constantly shifting in and out of OD kills trannies.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
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From: Central California
Originally Posted by Matts72
In town you are better off taking it out of OD and if you had 4.10 gears you would get optimum mileage, it makes the engine work a lot less, and constantly shifting in and out of OD kills trannies.
Last edited by Navy Jet Mech; Jul 29, 2007 at 02:16 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Turning high RPMs doesn't kill motors (within the acceptable operating range). I've seen hundreds of 300 Inline 6 motors out here on the oil rigs, they run full throttle all day and night for years on end. They might get an oil change once a month.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Central California
Originally Posted by Matts72
Turning high RPMs doesn't kill motors (within the acceptable operating range).
And on the subject of fuel brands: does anyone have an opinion on Arco? That's the least expensive gasoline one can find out here...
Last edited by Navy Jet Mech; Jul 29, 2007 at 11:54 PM.
Junior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
man am i the only one who shifts to 3rd or 4th on most roads. i keep the Rmps at 23-2800. at a constant cruise. and OD is like a 60+ mph thing for me. i dont know . but off 10gallons 150miles a tank =15 so i average about 12 to 15 depending how much i wind it out and how much i drive
