Disappointing 5.4L MPG
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
11-13 MPG combined sounds very normal. A tune up would probably help, but this isn't a small vehicle.
Spend a few hundred to tune it up yourself. If you need better mileage, buy yourself a small used econo-beater to commute to work.
Spend a few hundred to tune it up yourself. If you need better mileage, buy yourself a small used econo-beater to commute to work.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Ponchatoula, La.
03 pwrstk 4X4 suprisingly good mileage
I bought an 03 7.3 crew cab pwrstk FX4 back in August (114,000 miles), just put my 33" tires on it, so, I don't know for sure what it will do to my mileage. Now, with the stock tires on it for the last 6 months I've been consistantly getting 17-18 normal driving (combined around town, back roads- not much interstate), 21+ on the interstate. No, it's not for sale either...........lol
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Ok, I keep hearing about the high tune up costs. Here is my $.02. I would take some of that $650 the dealer quoted you and put it towards upgrades as well and a do it yourself tune up. Plugs and cleaned injectors never hurt. I run Marvels mystery oil in both my rigs on a constant basis and it does seem to help quite a bit with overall performance. Alone with that I would spend some money on a good programmer like the Edge evolution that I have on my 01' F150. I have 3.55 4x4 6 inches of life and still get up to 18 on interstate and 14 for city driving. I set it on program #2 which is the towing setting and it works with standard fuel instead of premium. Also look at exhaust and intake issues. IMO if it breathes better both in and out it cant hurt anything. If you are going to spend the money might just as well put it all to good use. This is only MY OPINION and I am definately not an outstanding mechanic. I do what I can and have a couple trusted Pros that do all my big work that I would rather do myself but dont have the facillites. I hope that this gives you maybe some type of ideas to think about. Good luck. Whatever you do, DONT spend $650 on a tune-up!! do some local research and pricing before you decide.
