My gas mileage is great - 19 MPG combined
#1
08-17-2009, 12:18 PM
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My gas mileage is great - 19 MPG combined
Here is the story I thought I would share.
Truck: 2002 F150, 2 wheel drive, 5.4L supercrew w/ 3.55 posi rear end and Automatic tranny. Stock size tires. Also has fiberglass flat bed cover. 161,000 miles. Truck was very well maintained by previous owner. He had changed the plugs, tranny fluid, rear end fluid, brakes are good, etc... Although I am not sure what brand plugs or what brand fluids he used. When I changed the engine oil I filled with Mobile 1 5W20. I run 87 octane fuel.
Driving conditions: Kind of combined city/highway to and from work. There is about 5 miles of interstate and another 5 miles of no redlight county road in a total of 20 miles to work each way. I will admit that I drive kind of light footed with as much coasting as possible. However I have determined that when you pull away from a red light - if you will go on (say 1/4 to 1/2 throttle) instead of taking for ever to get up to speed, it does get better gas mileage.
I started at 16.5 mpg
Now - I am getting 19 mpg
Here is what I have done and the cost and benefit.
1. K&N filter and the air intake mods found on the forums. 3" pvc pipe into the fender well mod. Remove silencer inside air intake pipe. Got me to 17 MPG. Price - $65.00
2. Headman shorty headers (this was a real pain to install on my truck and doubt worth the effort and money). Got me to 17.5 MPG. Price - $300.00
3. Electric Fans mod. Purchased 2 16" fans and controller from Autozone. Got me to 18.5 MPG. Price - $150.00
4. Purchased an Edge Evolution tuner. Running on setting 2 (towing) with 87 octane fuel and a bump of 0.50 in timing on the evolution. Getting between 18.5 and 19.5 mpg. Just depends on how much red light setting I do on any given tank full. I can go 350 miles and still be just under a 1/4 tank of gas.
Bottom line - these mods do help. No idea on the HP gains as I am not trying to race this truck. Just use it as a daily driver and haul a few things and get decent mileage out of it.
Hope this helps others.
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Truck: 2002 F150, 2 wheel drive, 5.4L supercrew w/ 3.55 posi rear end and Automatic tranny. Stock size tires. Also has fiberglass flat bed cover. 161,000 miles. Truck was very well maintained by previous owner. He had changed the plugs, tranny fluid, rear end fluid, brakes are good, etc... Although I am not sure what brand plugs or what brand fluids he used. When I changed the engine oil I filled with Mobile 1 5W20. I run 87 octane fuel.
Driving conditions: Kind of combined city/highway to and from work. There is about 5 miles of interstate and another 5 miles of no redlight county road in a total of 20 miles to work each way. I will admit that I drive kind of light footed with as much coasting as possible. However I have determined that when you pull away from a red light - if you will go on (say 1/4 to 1/2 throttle) instead of taking for ever to get up to speed, it does get better gas mileage.
I started at 16.5 mpg
Now - I am getting 19 mpg
Here is what I have done and the cost and benefit.
1. K&N filter and the air intake mods found on the forums. 3" pvc pipe into the fender well mod. Remove silencer inside air intake pipe. Got me to 17 MPG. Price - $65.00
2. Headman shorty headers (this was a real pain to install on my truck and doubt worth the effort and money). Got me to 17.5 MPG. Price - $300.00
3. Electric Fans mod. Purchased 2 16" fans and controller from Autozone. Got me to 18.5 MPG. Price - $150.00
4. Purchased an Edge Evolution tuner. Running on setting 2 (towing) with 87 octane fuel and a bump of 0.50 in timing on the evolution. Getting between 18.5 and 19.5 mpg. Just depends on how much red light setting I do on any given tank full. I can go 350 miles and still be just under a 1/4 tank of gas.
Bottom line - these mods do help. No idea on the HP gains as I am not trying to race this truck. Just use it as a daily driver and haul a few things and get decent mileage out of it.
Hope this helps others.
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#2
08-17-2009, 12:48 PM
I'm glad to hear of your success. Sounds like you have a good truck and love it. Pleasant change from the hair pulling problems we read about on here.
It founds like the fans helped out allot. This will be my next project. I didn't think about just going to Autozone to buy them. Are they made for Ford or just a generic Fits everything brand? I have the 5.4 with over-sized tires and am lucky to go 300 mi. before the gas light comes on.
It founds like the fans helped out allot. This will be my next project. I didn't think about just going to Autozone to buy them. Are they made for Ford or just a generic Fits everything brand? I have the 5.4 with over-sized tires and am lucky to go 300 mi. before the gas light comes on.
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08-17-2009, 12:58 PM
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08-17-2009, 02:41 PM
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08-17-2009, 04:39 PM
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08-17-2009, 10:35 PM
#7
08-18-2009, 07:50 AM
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The increases I indicated above are based on same driving conditions and same driver methods (as best as possible in the real world).
These mods did make a difference for me. Not saying they will for you.
There are a lot of people that have done the electric fans and I don't think it is such a load that it would hurt/kill the alternator. But it is noticable. Just like the A/C compressor is noticable to some and others never notice it turning on.
These mods did make a difference for me. Not saying they will for you.
There are a lot of people that have done the electric fans and I don't think it is such a load that it would hurt/kill the alternator. But it is noticable. Just like the A/C compressor is noticable to some and others never notice it turning on.
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#8
08-18-2009, 08:11 AM
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#9
08-18-2009, 05:10 PM
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#10
08-18-2009, 09:24 PM
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The advantage to e-fans is that they only run when needed.
When at cruise on the highway the fans are most likely no running unless you have the A/C on. While complicated to implement, you could probably have the fans not run while moving with the A/C on above a certain speed. The forward motion of the truck should create enough airflow.
When at cruise on the highway the fans are most likely no running unless you have the A/C on. While complicated to implement, you could probably have the fans not run while moving with the A/C on above a certain speed. The forward motion of the truck should create enough airflow.
#11
10-26-2009, 08:20 AM
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Update:
Here is the story I thought I would share.
Truck: 2002 F150, 2 wheel drive, 5.4L supercrew w/ 3.55 posi rear end and Automatic tranny. Stock size tires. Also has fiberglass flat bed cover. 161,000 miles. Truck was very well maintained by previous owner. He had changed the plugs, tranny fluid, rear end fluid, brakes are good, etc... Although I am not sure what brand plugs or what brand fluids he used. When I changed the engine oil I filled with Mobile 1 5W20. I run 87 octane fuel.
Driving conditions: Kind of combined city/highway to and from work. There is about 5 miles of interstate and another 5 miles of no redlight county road in a total of 20 miles to work each way. I will admit that I drive kind of light footed. If I want to drive spirited I get out the corvette.
I started at 16.5 mpg
18.5 mpg w/ mods but no programmer.
20.6 mpg w/ superchips Cortex in Mileage XS mode. (Edge evolution got me 19.0 MPG but had to return it - kept locking up the computer and truck would not start). Purchased the superchips and the Mileage XS program is a lot better and have not had any issues.
Here is what I have done and the cost and benefit.
1. K&N filter and the air intake mods found on the forums. 3" pvc pipe into the fender well mod. Remove silencer inside air intake pipe. Got me to 17 MPG. Price - $65.00
2. Headman shorty headers (this was a real pain to install on my truck and doubt worth the effort and money). Got me to 17.5 MPG. Price - $300.00
3. Electric Fans mod. Purchased 2 16" fans and controller from Autozone. Got me to 18.5 MPG. Price - $150.00
Purchased Superchips Cortex programmer. It has the Mileage XS program in it and does great. I like the fact that in this program mode the shifts are still soft and you get great mileage. I am getting 20.6 MPG.
Bottom line - these mods do help. No idea on the HP gains as I am not trying to race this truck. Just use it as a daily driver and haul a few things and get decent mileage out of it.
Hope this helps others.
Here is the story I thought I would share.
Truck: 2002 F150, 2 wheel drive, 5.4L supercrew w/ 3.55 posi rear end and Automatic tranny. Stock size tires. Also has fiberglass flat bed cover. 161,000 miles. Truck was very well maintained by previous owner. He had changed the plugs, tranny fluid, rear end fluid, brakes are good, etc... Although I am not sure what brand plugs or what brand fluids he used. When I changed the engine oil I filled with Mobile 1 5W20. I run 87 octane fuel.
Driving conditions: Kind of combined city/highway to and from work. There is about 5 miles of interstate and another 5 miles of no redlight county road in a total of 20 miles to work each way. I will admit that I drive kind of light footed. If I want to drive spirited I get out the corvette.
I started at 16.5 mpg
18.5 mpg w/ mods but no programmer.
20.6 mpg w/ superchips Cortex in Mileage XS mode. (Edge evolution got me 19.0 MPG but had to return it - kept locking up the computer and truck would not start). Purchased the superchips and the Mileage XS program is a lot better and have not had any issues.
Here is what I have done and the cost and benefit.
1. K&N filter and the air intake mods found on the forums. 3" pvc pipe into the fender well mod. Remove silencer inside air intake pipe. Got me to 17 MPG. Price - $65.00
2. Headman shorty headers (this was a real pain to install on my truck and doubt worth the effort and money). Got me to 17.5 MPG. Price - $300.00
3. Electric Fans mod. Purchased 2 16" fans and controller from Autozone. Got me to 18.5 MPG. Price - $150.00
Purchased Superchips Cortex programmer. It has the Mileage XS program in it and does great. I like the fact that in this program mode the shifts are still soft and you get great mileage. I am getting 20.6 MPG.
Bottom line - these mods do help. No idea on the HP gains as I am not trying to race this truck. Just use it as a daily driver and haul a few things and get decent mileage out of it.
Hope this helps others.
#12
10-29-2009, 10:24 PM
Senior User
gas milage and AUTOZONE
First off you guys really need to try O Reilly's better parts better prices and wont dump the lifetime warranty stuff in two years. second off i guess im lucky i got a 2002 extended cab 4 door with the little doors k&n intake system and im getting 19-20 miles per gallon to and from work or just riding around and 18-19 pulling my boat. It has 94,000 on it now it had 81,000 when i bought it. Still has factory spark plugs never been changed . I just put new brakes on it a few months ago they had never been changed. The previous owner was in his 70's drove it to church on Sunday and hauled cattle to the stock pen that's it. I guess i just got lucky 
#15
10-30-2009, 08:10 AM
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It is not a chip. It is a programmer. I would do the electric fan mod. The Gotts intake mod & K&N filter and then buy the programmer.
I purchased the programmer from Auto Parts & Auto Accessories - Over 6 Million Auto Parts, Aftermarket Parts, Truck Accessories & Car Accessories. Best price and right now they have 10% additional off and free shipping.
The cortex programmer will cost you $341.10.
If you get 2 mpg increase like I did it will pay for itself (basd on $2.50 per gallon of gas) in 15,500 miles. If gas goes back to $3.00 per gallon you will pay for it in 13,000 miles
How long do you plan on keeping the truck?
Plus when you tow or go offroad or something and would like a little more power - you can retune to a power setting from the gas mileage saving setting.
I purchased the programmer from Auto Parts & Auto Accessories - Over 6 Million Auto Parts, Aftermarket Parts, Truck Accessories & Car Accessories. Best price and right now they have 10% additional off and free shipping.
The cortex programmer will cost you $341.10.
If you get 2 mpg increase like I did it will pay for itself (basd on $2.50 per gallon of gas) in 15,500 miles. If gas goes back to $3.00 per gallon you will pay for it in 13,000 miles
How long do you plan on keeping the truck?
Plus when you tow or go offroad or something and would like a little more power - you can retune to a power setting from the gas mileage saving setting.