I hate to mash on it, my my stock 5.0 302 is the biggest gas guzzling no HP no torque engine i've every drove. Now it may work better in the south or on flatter lands but i live in the mountains of the NW. I have to hit 60 m/ph in 3rd just to stay at that speed when i shift to 4th when drivin up mountain hwys. Constantly staying on the gas gives me about 12 mpg. I'm already planing on some HP/Tq upgrades, but i'm wondering about fuel savers as i have a 2500 mi trip coming up.

Has anyone used the fitch fuel catalysts on summit, or the dnyo tabs and magnetic fuel savers on jcwhitney. Perhaps the Tonneau covers, do they really reduce enough drag. And of course i would love to hear ANY other suggestions.

 

I don't know what any of those other things are but it was proven on Mythbusters that leaving your tailgate up with no extra accessories is one of the most efficient ways to drive your truck, aside from using a net in place of the tailgate (for some odd reason). Don't bother with a tonneau cover if you're trying to get better fuel mileage with it.

As for not being able to climb hills in 4th, what gears are you running?

 

I'm still learning quite a bit about vehicles so i'm not sure. What i am sure of is i've never driven another truck even close to as high geared as mine, and few cars. I'll tell you the speeds at about 5k rpm though.
1st: ~40 mph
2nd:~65-70 mph
3rd:~85-90 mph speedometer only goes to 85 so who knows after that.

even when i'm in 4L i don't have enough torque for easy snow or offroad situations. I'm guessing that changing the gear ratio could give me not only more power but milage right, well sept for 5 o/d on the freeway.

 

Its by no meens flat in My western PA area. And I get 15 MPG or better but its a maf truck. The other 8 F150 302 4x4 auto got 13 MPG and up .

I used to go to GA to vitist my uncle . I get better MPG down there.

Do tune up
pull codes
check gears (Allot I have bought for parts down south have had 3:08 rears ? Gas mileage I guess.)

Good luck Please let us know what find out

 

Ow and if its e4od auto it will stay out of OD When pulling hills

 

You can check your gears by either reading the 2nd line on the tag attached to the rear diff, or if it's missing, by checking the code on the driver door jam and using this decoder:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...r_Decoder.html

A numerically lower gear (such as 3.08s) is going to make your engine turn fewer RPMs at a given speed than a numerically higher gear such as 4.10s, which means the 3.08s will yield better gas mileage but a lack of power.

Do as Larry said. Give her a tune up (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap & rotor) and I bet it'll run 1000 times better. And also pull the codes too and see if it comes up with anything. There is a procedure here:
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13

Let us know what you find out brother.

 

I won't be able to check the code for gears just yet, i've got a couple of weeks left over here in the desert. The tune up is of course a definite must, and i think i might just take the tail gate off and tie it down in the back for my trip.

my home and truck is in oregon, but i'm stationed in southern GA now so maybe when i get down there i'll get better milage. it's a manual with 5spd o/d so on those flat lands i suppose i won't ever have a reason to mash on the gas cept for my own entertainment. so my mileage may very well improve just by being in that climate and terrain.

thanks for input

So is there still nobody that's used the magnetic fuel savers on jcwhitney, they connect onto the fuel line and claim it breaks apart hydrocarbon clusters(i think) which is supposed to burn more efficently. up to 11.6 mpg increase claim. but only 25 bucks, getting wat you pay for, probably more bull$%!* scams.

 

HA!! The oil companies claim they need a hugh refinery to break apart oil molecules, and all this time they could have been doing it with a $25 gadget. We've been duped!!

No.. I'd say you have very uncomplimentary gears in that truck, that's the biggest problem. Certainly the motor could be more powerful, but it hasn't got a chance if you can do 70mpg in second!!

 

i know i know, it's BS..

I thought that had a bit to do with it, now i see that it has quite a bit to do with it. A 4.10 or 3.73 should make quite the difference then, maybe match that up with a 9:1 or 9.5:1 cam, some 1.7 rockers and i should be pretty satisfied correct???

 

It'll make a hugh difference. What year is your truck?

 

it's a 91 XLT Lariat ext cab 4x4, and i just want to add something. even with the current lack of performance, she rides like a caddy compared to most other fords i've ridden in.

 

Don't remove the tailgate. Mythbusters proved you'll see a DECREASE in fuel economy when removing the tailgate versus keeping it attached and in the upright position.

 

my bad, i read your post wrong.. thanks for the correction

 

As far as changing the rear end ratio goes what parts do i need to change it. Just the ring and pinion set with the install kit and maybe some new bearings??? be nice if it was that simple.

Oh and are the axle ratios on a 4x4 matched front to back for outside dia wheel travel. If they are then i take i would need to change both out to match up even though i usually only use 4x4 in mud or snow when slippin and slidin around anyways. though i do use 4wd with bout 2-300lbs in the bed in the winter on black ice or snow covered roads. 4wd doesn't help much on ice but i'll take as much help as i can get.

almost forgot, my exhaust is stock but cut off at the end of the ext. cab with a tore up muffler and a hollowed out cat so i really need a new one. Hooker super comp longheaders with true dual 2.25 and flowmaster 40 series. 2 questions on this set up. i've read the new placement of the O2 sensor on a reducer at the end of the headers will bring forth needed adjustments for brain/comp reading. Hope that's not true or is simply for an application other than mine or of course a cheap fix.
What are your thoughts on a Xpipe with this set-up.

once again thanks for the advice/suggestions.

 

Not sure but yeah 4x4 gotta change out both gears in front and back...