E350 gas mileage
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44
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I have a 1985 E-150, 351W HO w/4 barrel and 3.55's, ordered in '84, engine rebuilt twice for towing and performance, current mileage a little over 200k; ~10k on the last rebuild. It's NEVER gotten over 13 mpg hwy, NEVER gotten over 10 in and around town, and NEVER gotten over 7 towing a TT. I also have a '99 E-350 with 7.3 PSD ordered in 1998 with exactly the same mpg numbers. I'd love to meet some of those drivers, and drive those vans, that get 20 mpg.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 726
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Originally Posted by clev
I have a 1985 E-150, 351W HO w/4 barrel and 3.55's, ordered in '84, engine rebuilt twice for towing and performance, current mileage a little over 200k; ~10k on the last rebuild. It's NEVER gotten over 13 mpg hwy, NEVER gotten over 10 in and around town, and NEVER gotten over 7 towing a TT. I also have a '99 E-350 with 7.3 PSD ordered in 1998 with exactly the same mpg numbers. I'd love to meet some of those drivers, and drive those vans, that get 20 mpg.
Yeah, me too. I've had several vans, used and one new. The absolute very best I ever achieved was 16.1 M.P.G. with my 1995 E-250 w/ 300 cid L-6 totally stock and totally empty 110,000+ on the odo. That was, for the record, mixed two-lane (moderate hills) apx. 35 mi., expressway apx. 13 mi., and apx 4 mi. city. Same trip time after time.
The 1989 w/ 351 and loaded (500-800 lbs?) achieved about the same mpg as the 1995 w/ 6'er loaded hovering around 15 mpg over the same course.
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: St. James Long Island
Average
Originally Posted by kgwld1
Do you own mine this is my 2nd one and my milage is what it is! I drive with this van for a living and I stand behind my milage. My miles are 99% highway I get 600 plus miles per tank.
If this describes your vehicle use then great but most people use their cargo vans differently.
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I have a 2000 e-350 v10. On a recent trip from Halifax to Montreal we were getting 750 - 800 km's per tank.I run the van very close to empty every tank. That was with 2 adults and 3 teens, a full size motocross bike, gas pressure washer, box of tools, 20liter fuel can, food coolers and luggage. First tank was 722 km's. 2nd 781 km's, 3rd tank 786km's. The last 2 tanks still had 10 liters of fuel to go. I was pretty nervous of buying the v-10, I'm glad i have it now. I have 2 friends with E-150's that get the same or better on the highway with the same load.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I have a '01 E350 extended SD, with 5.4 and 3.55 gears, run it 95% city, with a load of approx. 1600 lbs. I get a solid 10.2 mpg with tons of stop and go driving, from business to business, provided I do not run the engine for A/C while at stops. I carry a lot of temperature sensitive products that HAVE to stay cool. The guy that owned this route before me had an E250 with a 300cid, not sure of gearing. He also got around 10mpg with his van with the same approximate load, maybe 500 less since his was a cargo and mine is a converted 15 passenger van with full interior, minus rear seats.
I'd pass out if I EVER got 15mpg, even on the highway! ! ! !
I'd pass out if I EVER got 15mpg, even on the highway! ! ! !
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: S Alabama on 200 Acres
While shes not a gas burner my 06 E-350 Diesel Cargo just had to run from Mobile, AL to Augusta, Ga and right back for an essential part pick-up. Nothing in van but me and then a 150lb box on way back. Filled tank to absolute max in Mobile, topped off again in Augusta, filled back-up to max again in Mobile. Constant 70 mph on Interstate averaged 19.9mpg and one sore Butte.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
'05 E-350, V10, 3.73LS, 65,000 miles. I NEVER drive over 55mph.
Highway - 17
City - 10
Towing - 12
Highway - 17
City - 10
Towing - 12
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Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: St. James Long Island
You lost me on the Towing MPG's being higher than regular city driving. I guess that 17 MPG's highway isn't impossible at a steady 55 MPH. I just don't know how you manage to be that disciplined on the open road as these V-10's like to move at a higher clip than that. If you can pull it off more power to you.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
Hey Genesis -- One of my lifelong goals was to s-l-o-w down. Now that I'm retired that's exactly what I do.
I love the van, it's even got hand controls so my disabled wife can drive it. The torqshift tranny is a real blessing when she's driving with the cruise control -- it downshifts going down hills so I don't have to tell her to pull it down a gear.
The towing miles are 95% highway miles, that's why the mpg is up there. We seldom use the van for anything else. I like to say it's got 65,000 miles on it and it's only been driven 8 times
We're running Mobile 1 and a K&N which I guess helps some, otherwise she's totally stock...we take the seats out when we're on the road.
Recently added a generator to run the air conditioner while overnighting at Motel WalMart and rest areas.
I love the van, it's even got hand controls so my disabled wife can drive it. The torqshift tranny is a real blessing when she's driving with the cruise control -- it downshifts going down hills so I don't have to tell her to pull it down a gear.
The towing miles are 95% highway miles, that's why the mpg is up there. We seldom use the van for anything else. I like to say it's got 65,000 miles on it and it's only been driven 8 times
We're running Mobile 1 and a K&N which I guess helps some, otherwise she's totally stock...we take the seats out when we're on the road.
Recently added a generator to run the air conditioner while overnighting at Motel WalMart and rest areas.
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: St. James Long Island
Hey Genesis -- One of my lifelong goals was to s-l-o-w down. Now that I'm retired that's exactly what I do.
I love the van, it's even got hand controls so my disabled wife can drive it. The torqshift tranny is a real blessing when she's driving with the cruise control -- it downshifts going down hills so I don't have to tell her to pull it down a gear.
The towing miles are 95% highway miles, that's why the mpg is up there. We seldom use the van for anything else. I like to say it's got 65,000 miles on it and it's only been driven 8 times
We're running Mobile 1 and a K&N which I guess helps some, otherwise she's totally stock...we take the seats out when we're on the road.
Recently added a generator to run the air conditioner while overnighting at Motel WalMart and rest areas.
I love the van, it's even got hand controls so my disabled wife can drive it. The torqshift tranny is a real blessing when she's driving with the cruise control -- it downshifts going down hills so I don't have to tell her to pull it down a gear.
The towing miles are 95% highway miles, that's why the mpg is up there. We seldom use the van for anything else. I like to say it's got 65,000 miles on it and it's only been driven 8 times
We're running Mobile 1 and a K&N which I guess helps some, otherwise she's totally stock...we take the seats out when we're on the road.
Recently added a generator to run the air conditioner while overnighting at Motel WalMart and rest areas.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
We thought about a high-top, but it wouldn't fit on our carport. 
And I explored a rooftop air conditioning unit but there's no place on my roof that it would fit without severely modifying the air conditioning ductwork inside which runs all the way up to the drivers seats.
I call the A/C R2D2. It's a portable 8,000BTU unit that vents outside via a hose thru a window. Pelonis Portable Air Conditioner Dehumidifier
I use it in the shop or house when it's not in the van.
When it's in the van, we vent it thru a hole in the floor (right in front of the drivers rear wheel) so we don't have to mess with closing off the rest of an open window.
We're planning a cross country trip for Aug/Sept and need to have the seats in place, so I bought another drivers side rear door to see about putting in a regular window unit so we wouldn't have R2D2 taking up space in the van.
Looks like it will work out pretty well?
And I explored a rooftop air conditioning unit but there's no place on my roof that it would fit without severely modifying the air conditioning ductwork inside which runs all the way up to the drivers seats.
I call the A/C R2D2. It's a portable 8,000BTU unit that vents outside via a hose thru a window. Pelonis Portable Air Conditioner Dehumidifier
I use it in the shop or house when it's not in the van.
When it's in the van, we vent it thru a hole in the floor (right in front of the drivers rear wheel) so we don't have to mess with closing off the rest of an open window.
We're planning a cross country trip for Aug/Sept and need to have the seats in place, so I bought another drivers side rear door to see about putting in a regular window unit so we wouldn't have R2D2 taking up space in the van.
Looks like it will work out pretty well?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: S Alabama on 200 Acres
Went with the hitch mounted Gen Set with the window AC on my third travel van in 85. Worked great. The trick is to build a good solid brace around the back of the AC unit and then down to the bottom of the door. I used one inch angle Aircraft aluminum and painted it black to mach the trim on the van. If you just mount it in the window space the top half of the door will flex going over rough spots. Interstate 10 in Florida like to have ruined the door before I realized what was going on..