How accurate is it?
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
How accurate is it?
The computer in the truck?
You know, the one that calculates I have 530 miles
left in the tank of fuel, but I rarely get more than
450 out of it.
Some trips, I can eek out a 20 to 21 mpg on the highway.
That is resetting the computer each and every time I fill up.
Has anyone checked the accuracy on that? I keep
forgetting to do the math when I fill up...maybe I
forget on purpose because I don't want my bubble burst.
~castrol
You know, the one that calculates I have 530 miles
left in the tank of fuel, but I rarely get more than
450 out of it.
Some trips, I can eek out a 20 to 21 mpg on the highway.
That is resetting the computer each and every time I fill up.
Has anyone checked the accuracy on that? I keep
forgetting to do the math when I fill up...maybe I
forget on purpose because I don't want my bubble burst.
~castrol
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,740
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
If your truck is stock it's pretty accurate. The Distance to Empty (DTE) is usally close. When you say you only get 450 miles, is that until you fill it, or until it runs out? And by run out, I mean the engine stops running because the tank is empty. That's what the miles mean, how long you can go until the tank is dry, not just to where you should fill it.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
From: northern,california
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ml#post3990543
Here is some reading for ya. It is in the 6.0 tech folder.
Here is some reading for ya. It is in the 6.0 tech folder.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 58
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My biggest reason for asking...
We bought a 5th wheel camper and took it out to the State Park this past
weekend. It was a great trip and the computer let me know I was getting
about 13.5 up to near 14.1 mpg while in tow/haul mode. I thought this was
outstanding, but that when I started to question the validity.
Granted, it was mostly freeway towing. Very flat. Very easy. I reset it after
hooking it up and it started at about 8mpg and slowly climbed its way up to
14.1 by the time we got there. It had dropped back to 13.6 when we pulled
in the driveway last night.
We bought a 5th wheel camper and took it out to the State Park this past
weekend. It was a great trip and the computer let me know I was getting
about 13.5 up to near 14.1 mpg while in tow/haul mode. I thought this was
outstanding, but that when I started to question the validity.
Granted, it was mostly freeway towing. Very flat. Very easy. I reset it after
hooking it up and it started at about 8mpg and slowly climbed its way up to
14.1 by the time we got there. It had dropped back to 13.6 when we pulled
in the driveway last night.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
My mpg reading is accurate. My truck is stock. If reset when filling up and not touched until the next fill up, it is accurate. Matches the hand calc exactly.
The DTE is Guess.
The DTE is Guess.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,679
From: Stephensville WI
It's as accurate as all the promises the presidential candidates are making to get you to vote for them.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 25
From: Hooterville, WI
Those DTE calculations are based on average MPG over a period of time. My G/F's Van always tells her she has 0 miles left when it's down to 1/8 of tank. If you spend time idling that will affect the calculations. It's not intended to be a tool, it's more of a gimmick.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Mine is always 15% higher than the hand calculated MPG. The miles to empty seems fairly accurate. When the low fuel light comes on, I have roughly 100 miles to empty, or somewhere around 5 gallons left. Fill the tank with 33 gallons in a 38 gallon tank. If I reset mine while driving the thing goes crazy! I have seen as high as 88 MPG when reset while driving.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 857
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Originally Posted by wadesmith
I have seen as high as 88 MPG when reset while driving.