Yeah I get about 15 highway and city mix and about 16 highway.

3.31 gears offered on a 5.0l? I didnt know they offered those gearings... still new to new to trucks...

 

Thank you again. Conanski, I let the truck warm up because it is February in Nebraska. There is frost on my windshield every morning when i brave the 20 degree weather with a windchill. It allows the truck to get warm, for me and defrost my windows (kinda need to be able to see out of them...). Also, with my last tank, I refilled at the beginning of the week, that was when i recorded 7.96 mpg, and I added Marvel Mystery Oil to both tanks. As of the moment, I am still on the first tank and, by my rough estimates based on mileage and tank capacity, I have come up to about ten. I'll let you know the exact numbers when I top off again. As well, my truck has a 5 speed manual, so the shifting thing isn't an issue for me as it would be if it was an auto. To add a side note, I think my speedo is off (it changes and my RPMs don't) but I cruise flat land and am running about 2100 to 2300 RPMs.

 

OH! Another question: what is the oil capacity of a 460? I feel like an idiot to have to ask this, but gimme a break! It's my first big block! (I have a 76 f100 with a 302, and a 93 Explorer with the 4.0 as well.)

 

With 26" tires it's pretty good, but these trucks just look goofy with itty bitty little treads. 3.73 to 4.10 is the starting point for a 5.0 truck with 30" tires.. what all these should have come from the factory with IMO, and bigger tires means even more gears. I have 3.55/30" on my truck, it's a good combo with a 5.8 but it's simply not enough for the 5.0, too much weight, not enough motor.

 

Oh, by the way, I buy big (and only American), nothing little will do... lets put it this way, I can say this 'cause my parents own one, YOU try stuffing your 6 foot, 8 inch, 200 pound frame in a Prius...

 

Well that's a different situation, getting the windows clear in the winter is a safety issue, I have to deal with that myself. You probably get winter gas in your area then too, combined with the longer warmup cycles the engine requires you're probably doing about as good as can be expected with that truck.

 

Winter gas is an interesting point. It raises another: is the slightly higher octane of E10 dragging me down at all???

 

I don't own a Prius but I do own a Subaru, and my 6'5" 250 lb carcass fits in there farily well. It gets 26mpg combined, and well into the 30's strictly highway. BTW the Subaru was built in Indiana. It's all about making intelligent choices, I got my truck for when something needs to be hauled and the car is my daily driver. I'd prefer to keep as much of my hard earned money as possible instead of financing some oil exectives next lurury Yacht.

 

ROTFL!!! Very nice. Honestly, I do fit in my friend's Subaru pretty well, but like I said, American only. And my knees are against the dash in the Prius. I have to agree on the money, but i did buy this truck with a purpose in mind: Hunting. I love being able to drop into a low gear and crawl wherever I point the truck to go without having to feather the throttle. And I do plan on overhauling the engine while I am in college as I will be majoring in Automotive Tech, and when I do, I know a few tricks that wind up with more power, AND better fuel economy. For the moment, I just want to know if there are other things I can do without tearing the whole truck apart, such as manually adjusting the injectors and what-not like in diesels.

 

Running reg gas vs ethanol might get u a little more mpg but not much. I'd run the F100 or Explorer for better economy & just take the big 460 out on special occasions.

 

Well, the F100 is temporarily out of commission, and the explorer is no longer mine. The thing is, the E10 is cheaper than regular gas, and has a better octane rating. I like my motors to run just a little bit hot, to burn out some of the extra carbon, but at the same time, is cooler, slightly more expensive gas worth the mpgs? Guess Ill be doing more than just my calculus homework tonight...

 

I know what you mean I use alot of ethanol. I dont think the extra $ at the pump vs the mpg really gains much.

 

Yeah. Does anybody know if the injectors can be adjusted???? Or something else in the motor that can be done manually to knock up the mileage a bit? Is it possible to rig a toggle switch shut-off to two or four injectors for highway cruising??

 

460/5,

I like your idea about a "multi-displacement" engine. Obviously, Cadillac did this in the 1980's (?) and it's being done currently by several mfrs. (can't recall who). But in all of those situations, I believe, something is done with the valve timing on those cylinders, so as to minimize "pumping loses" from the dead cylinders. But perhaps that (valve opening?) technology was not being done back in the 1980's after all--I can't remember for sure.

If gains could still be made without some variable-timing camquackery, then I too would be interested in such an elegantly-simple solution.

Perhaps someone can either shoot this retrofitted multi-displacement idea down or, even better, elaborate upon it?

For the short term, however, worthwhile gains in mpg can be had just by maintaining your maximum safe tire inflation. I think there is a formula, somewhere, saying X lbs. in missing pressure = X less mpg. I believe I read the average person could pick up 1-2 mpg, by ensuring proper inflation.

Keep in mind that your tire pressure drops with the temperature. I believe (but am too lazy to confirm) that it drops one pound per 10 degrees F. So, you'll have to boost 'em in the winter months.

Good luck with the truck--I too have a 460 with 5spd.

BigSix

 

Yes, I personally am not too worried about the drag generated by the dead cylinders. A 460 has more than enough power to drag two, or even four deads. I honestly believe, that on four, with four dead, it will still have more power than my dinky 4.0L explorer. Who cares anyways? It'll be for highway cruising. Again, if anyone know if it is possible to rig a toggle shut off directly to the injector wiring, please, let me know!

P.S.- My tires are all at spec. They are summer highway tires (they SUCK at getting traction in snow, mud and sand) and are very good quiet tires that run about 50 psi.