mileage
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
13City/17-18 Highway with proper inflated tires and clean airfilter. Get bigger engine if you can the mileage won't be much different. Just the way these trucks are IMO. I wouldn't trade mine though for anything else though
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
I've got a '04 long box, standard cab, 4.6L, 3.73 locker, honest to God, and I'm easy on the throttle, when on a long drive can easily exceed 20 MPG. In the winter, however, driving for a paper and coffee around town, it burns up gas at around 12 MPG. Combination driving it is consistantly just over 15 MPG. ON the freeway I put it on cruise control at 70. I really drive as if there is an egg under the pedal. When others blast by, I drive by them at the next light..saves brakes too.
31,000 miles, it's a great ride, no complaints, just normal wear and tear. Like it better than my old Chevy.
31,000 miles, it's a great ride, no complaints, just normal wear and tear. Like it better than my old Chevy.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 2
From: Seaford, Lower Slower DEL
I have a 4.2 V6, long box, automatic, 3.55 gears and cruise-control. The truck has just now turned 8,500 miles. My highway miles are at the speed limit or 2-3 above, whether it is 55mph or 65mph. Like bob Schulz, I drive it fairly easy, and remember that it is a V6, and not a V8. Both of my numbers are mixed, mostly city, some hwy, and mostly hwy, some city, but the worst and best are 15, and 22. Oh, by the way, these are not computer generated numbers, but receipt, mileage and calculator! Anyway, the truck does just what I want it to do, and I am pleased.... The best of luck in whatever you decide on......
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
I had an 05 SCREW 4x4 w/ 5.4. I leveled the front end and put an airaid intake on it along with Magnaflow exhaust. The best mileage I ever got with it was about 14ish. That was with a fair amount of highway miles. That being said. People who buy trucks should buy them knowing that they don't get great mileage. I bought mine knowing that gas was $3/gal and that it wasn't going to be getting 20+ mpg. I bought it because it rocked!
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
I bought my '04 with Lslip 3.73 gears and trailer towing package and 281 ci V8 precisely because of rising gas prices. With the low gear it never comes out of lock-up exept on the steepest of hills, on cruise. Pulling a trailer is painless with the low gear. And gas mileage is controlled by the right foot. The driver can make an engine sip gas. I was shocked after I picked it up four years ago.
It had 4 miles on the clock and a full tank of gas. So, I took off on a highway trip of just over 300 miles, got back, tanked it up, and on that first three quarters tank of gas, a new vehicle, not broken in, returned 20.1 MPG.
If, however, I try to keep up from every light to light in town, the weight of the truck and the rate of acceleration knocks down the mileage to 12. Average is always above 15. My old small block Chevy, 305, tops, on the highway, with lock-up trans. would barely yield 15. I think this engine in this vehicle is a marvelous compromise between HP and fuel economy, and utility. A V6 may not yield much more mileage because it has to work harder to do the same job.
It had 4 miles on the clock and a full tank of gas. So, I took off on a highway trip of just over 300 miles, got back, tanked it up, and on that first three quarters tank of gas, a new vehicle, not broken in, returned 20.1 MPG.
If, however, I try to keep up from every light to light in town, the weight of the truck and the rate of acceleration knocks down the mileage to 12. Average is always above 15. My old small block Chevy, 305, tops, on the highway, with lock-up trans. would barely yield 15. I think this engine in this vehicle is a marvelous compromise between HP and fuel economy, and utility. A V6 may not yield much more mileage because it has to work harder to do the same job.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,807
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands, TX
I get around 15-16 around town in the summer and 18-20 highway in the summer. I dont do winter mpgs as the fuel seems to be much worse. I do have oversize tires, 3.55 gears, and carry around 500lbs of stuff in the bed. Hope this helps.
~jstnromero
~jstnromero
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,039
Likes: 1,523
From: Maine, Virginia
FMC is discontinuing the 4.2L for the 2009 line-up. The base engine will be the 4.6L engine that we know today. Supposedly the lieage the figures between V-6 and V-8 are enough to justify keeping the six banger as the base motor.
My "04 Expy 4.6L 2wd 3.73 axle gets 21 on the hwy and crap around town. The truck has 49K and I haven't done a single to it except tranny flush and routine maintanence, tires and 4 wheel brake job.
I run Michelin tires bought on sale at Sam's club, fully synthetic lubes and OE air filter. This is the best hwy vehicle I've ever owned. I'll keep buying them until they do something stupid like quit making them.
My "04 Expy 4.6L 2wd 3.73 axle gets 21 on the hwy and crap around town. The truck has 49K and I haven't done a single to it except tranny flush and routine maintanence, tires and 4 wheel brake job.
I run Michelin tires bought on sale at Sam's club, fully synthetic lubes and OE air filter. This is the best hwy vehicle I've ever owned. I'll keep buying them until they do something stupid like quit making them.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I'm sure you all remember when they stopped using the 4.2L V6 in the F150 back in 2004...only to have it reappear in 2005!
I'd think that a modern, efficient V6 would do just fine in a small half ton...something like the Duratec 35...with 265 HP would put it over the current 2V 4.6....
Sure, wouldn't have the low end grunt to tow a heavy trailer, but neither did the old 4.2...but the duratec would get better fuel economy, and much better performance...at least unloaded...
I'd think that a modern, efficient V6 would do just fine in a small half ton...something like the Duratec 35...with 265 HP would put it over the current 2V 4.6....
Sure, wouldn't have the low end grunt to tow a heavy trailer, but neither did the old 4.2...but the duratec would get better fuel economy, and much better performance...at least unloaded...
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Originally Posted by Crazy001
I'm sure you all remember when they stopped using the 4.2L V6 in the F150 back in 2004...only to have it reappear in 2005!
4.6 3v
5.4 3v
^ new motor line-up...the V-6 has been determined unnecesarry...especially as it gets comparable MPG to the V-8
my 5.4 gets MPG directly in response to how I drive. I get way better mpg in the truck if the wife only drives it...but hey, it's a truck, with V-8....and very fun to drive
Originally Posted by bob schulz
I bought my '04 with Lslip 3.73 gears and trailer towing package and 281 ci V8 precisely because of rising gas prices.
Pulling a trailer is painless with the low gear.
Pulling a trailer is painless with the low gear.
a 4.6 towing easy??? and getting better MPG??? been there and done that, and I just can't support that statement. my 1994 F-150 with a 302 (less HP and TQ) could out-tow the 4.6...in terms of performance anyways...the 04+ truck platform rocks at towing
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
You're right about the '09 engine choices, and about the dropping of the V6.
All I was mentioning was that they did that once before, with the 2004s, and they threw it back in the truck in 2005.
However, with the addition to the Mustang sourced 3v 4.6 V8, I don't see the 4.2 getting used again.....
All I was mentioning was that they did that once before, with the 2004s, and they threw it back in the truck in 2005.
However, with the addition to the Mustang sourced 3v 4.6 V8, I don't see the 4.2 getting used again.....
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Over the years I've owned three Tauruses, two Escapes, one Explorer, one Mach 1, and my '04 150. The 302 in the Explorer was the biggest disappointment in gas mileage. I checked a couple of times and then forgot about it, gave up.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Originally Posted by bob schulz
302 in the Explorer was the biggest disappointment in gas mileage.
the speed density is a mostly closed loop system that only takes a Intake Air temp and a O2 sensor feedback...sucks big time. so the PCM is programmed for "nominal" conditions and MPG and power suffer