What big Chevy engine gets 20 mpg and almost 300hp? You're hearing lies. The 350 Vortec makes around 245 hp and gets 18mpg avg.

 

Actually my parents have a 1999 Chevy Tahoe with the 350 5.7L Vortec. That truck gets on average 14mpg city, 17mpg highway.

 

 

I also experience poor gas milage with my 97 F150.I think it has plenty of power, I guess the five speed helps a bunch but having the 4.2L I expected it to get better milage than 14.4 mpg.I installed a K&N air filter and dual exhaust , replaced the T.P.S sensor , new coil pack , plugs and wires , I still get the same milage and I too have a black soot at the end of my exhaust tips.

 

I just wanted to add my two cents if anyone is still following this thread. I bought a used 1997 Ford F150 XL with the 4.2L V-6. I was a bit astounded by the poor gas mileage. This is a standard cab with the long bed. Love the truck, but the gas mileage is terrible. I found this website by entering FORD+GAS+MILEAGE+4.2L. I was very surprised to find the thread. Anyhow, my experience pretty much matches everyone else's. Poor mileage (for a six) and black exhaust deposits. I previously owned an '88 Dodge Caravan SE with the 3.0 L V-6. This was a real hauler, believe it or not, kids, boats, trailers, you name it and it didn't use a lot a gas. I could haul full sheets of plywood with the seats out. Sometimes I kind of miss it. Gonna try a topper on the Ford to improve the aerodynamics (and security for my tools) but I doubt this will improve the mileage much. Anyhow, that's my say. Hope there is an answer somewhere. Later.

 

I also belatedly have an opinion. I feel the same apparently lots of 4.2 's are out there. The thing that pisses me off is there is no mileage advantage to the v6 over v8 none. I would put up with less power if it saved gas why it does not I don't know. I could understand if the v6 was so underpowered for size of truck that you had to floor it most of time but that is not case I have reg cab NO 4wd truck only has 150 lb tools, I get around 16 half freeway half country roads, pretty poor. Dakota 1996 4x2 ext cab got same mileage





>I just wanted to add my two cents if anyone is still
>following this thread. I bought a used 1997 Ford F150 XL
>with the 4.2L V-6. I was a bit astounded by the poor gas
>mileage. This is a standard cab with the long bed. Love the
>truck, but the gas mileage is terrible. I found this website
>by entering FORD+GAS+MILEAGE+4.2L. I was very surprised to
>find the thread. Anyhow, my experience pretty much matches
>everyone else's. Poor mileage (for a six) and black exhaust
>deposits. I previously owned an '88 Dodge Caravan SE with
>the 3.0 L V-6. This was a real hauler, believe it or not,
>kids, boats, trailers, you name it and it didn't use a lot a
>gas. I could haul full sheets of plywood with the seats out.
>Sometimes I kind of miss it. Gonna try a topper on the Ford
>to improve the aerodynamics (and security for my tools) but
>I doubt this will improve the mileage much. Anyhow, that's
>my say. Hope there is an answer somewhere. Later.

 

I hate to hear about all the gripes about the 4.2L and its gas milage. I just bought a 2002 F-150 Regular Cab SB 4x4 with the 4.2L and the 5 speed with 3.55 gears and 255/70 tires. Immediately after I bought the truck, I got 19 mpg (US) and I was quite impressed as I was new to driving a standard full time, I wasn't expecting such good milage. Since that time I let some air out of the tires, only a few pounds, and have done mostly city driving and have gotten anywhere from 15-17 mpg. Personally, I am not displeased with this motor, it is very peppy, and I have found quite a few upgrades for it, it takes some searching but they are out there. I think letting the small amount of air out of my tires did hurt my milage a bit, I have heard that on the '99 and up models, tire diameter makes a huge difference in how the truck responds, milage and performance wise. Good luck finding a 'solution.'

BigMrK

PS.. Ryanstruck, there are newer Chevy motors than the 350 (5.7L)

 

Yeah, I know there are newer engines, like the I6, if that's what you're referring to. But I would think that in a 1999 Chevy Tahoe, the 350 Vortec is standard, and though the 350 has been around for a long time, Vortec is a newer company to produce the engines, and to date the 350 is still the standard size engine in the Tahoes, Yiukons and Suburbans.

 

>I am the owner of what I call "A Gas Guzzler" here's my
>story:
>
>I own a 1999 F-150XL 4X4 which is still under factory
>warranty, it has very low mileage on it. Realizing that
>it's a truck, I'm not expecting great gas mileage, I don't
>tow and most of my trips are highway. I usually drive
>between 55-60 mph and I have only been getting 14-16 mpg, I
>took it back to the dealership, and they said it was
>sluggish and they replaced the oxygen sensor, spark plugs
>and two sensors that regulate air and fuel mixture, they
>assured me after the repairs were done and road tested, they
>were getting between 18-24 mpg, I thought my problems were
>solved, since getting the truck back, and using it for a
>week Im still getting roughly 16mpg. The truck has the 4.2
>v6 engine , I'm pleased with the amount of power it has but
>I am very disappointed with fuel mileage, if anyone can
>relate to this or can tell me if this is the best mileage I
>will get please give me your input.
I have a new F150 4.2 and it has 1400 miles on it. So far the fuel mileage is between 15-17 locally. Haven't been on the highway yet. From all that I have read, thats all I can expect from it.

 

Wow, this topic never dies !! I am always suprised at the w-i-d-e varations from individual to individual and truck to truck. But anyways...some more grist for the mill. My truck: 2000 F150 4.2L 3.55 rear end, 255/70 tires. 53,500 miles, Bought new. 2 years old this month. No Bed cover, shell, etc. But usually run tailgate down for long Interstate trips.
Best ever; 21 mpg. Worst ever; about 17 mpg. These are Interstate numbers. Combined city/Interstate will average about 17-18. Never checked "all city" but suspect it is around 15-16 mpg. I have driven enough Interstate miles to figure this out: on flat to slightly hilly terrain: 65 mph gives me about 20-21 mpg. 70 mph gives about 19-20 mpg. 75 mph gives about 18-19 mpg. 80-85 mph gives about 17 mpg. These are "ball park" numbers but actual numbers never differ from them by more than 1/2 to 1 mpg.
Just today I got some of the worst ever mileage for Interstate travel since I have got the truck; about 250 miles averaging 80-82 mph got me 17.3 mpg.
Brian

 

Wow! This has got to be one of the longest running threads I think I've ever seen.

I'm relatively new to this forum, so go easy on me here, but in my exerience, the type of gas you run affects milage. I ran midgrade for the first year ('99 F150,) then switched to 89 octane when the gas hit $1.60 something. I noticed decreased milage, down to 16-17 from almost 20mpg new on the interstate, and driving almost 1000 miles a week (steel salesman out of NC,) I could feel it in the pocket. I too noticed a buildup of soot/sludge/something on the tailpipe tips. Switched back to mid-grade on a test basis, milage went up to around 19-20. I got brave and ran a 2000 mile swing through Louisiana on 93 Amoco, and got 21.5, with the tailgate UP!, and no bed cover. I went back to mid, either Marathon, BP or Citgo, and still get between 18-19 on 92k, ready for a tune-up to try and fix that. Still much better than the '78 460 F250 in the barn.

Steve

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Feb-02 AT 05:34 PM (EST)]I own a 94 F-150 Super Cab Short Bed 4X4 Automatic. It has 5.8L V8 with 109,000 miles on it. I recently put on new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter, and it still only get about 11mpg. I drive it good. I always put the higher octane gas in it. 89. What can I do to improve my MPG. Anybody have any thoughts????????


Michael

 

I just had a pickup identical to yours but it was a 96 model, I know there were some differences, but basically the same. I had a JET chip, high flow cat converter, dual glasspacks, K&N Air Filter, and Bosch 4 point platinum spark plugs with a lower temp thermostat and I got 14 mpg one time that I remember. Typically I ran 86 or 88 octane and I got nearly 13 mpg consistently, didn't matter if it was highway miles or city miles. They're great trucks, hang on to it, mine had 149,000 miles on it when I traded.

Kyle

 

2000 XLT 2wd,5 speed,3.55's and stock 16 inch ties.Average mileage(40% town/60% highway) 16.5.But I drive 70-80 mph on highway.If there's one thing I've found it's that sometimes people will over estimate their mileage or stretch the truth a bit.14-16 doesn't seem to bad given it's a 4x4.I had a Nissan 4x4 once and only got 16 mpg.Now if you want mileage get a diesel,cant wait for ford to put the 6 cylinder powerstroke in a 1/2 ton truck.As far as chevy guys,you know they lie :P

CB

 

94 5.0 V8 5-speed.... 10 mpg in city... need I say more

PLEASE HELP!

drpicou(No Email Addresses In Posts!)