Very low MPG Reading
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,963
Likes: 897
From: Montana
I read in another forum that there is a screen of some type in the air box (guesing some sort of pre-filter) that sometimes is not installed properly and can restrict air flow a lot when so... I'd check the filter just to make sure. Also, try cleaning the MAF sensor.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Funny how the smallest things in life will humble you as you get past the "half-way" point in life. 
Made my long trip to South Texas this weekend and reset my computer with boat in tow. Averaged about 13.5 miles per gallon on the way down. Reset the computer again on the way back north...averaged over 17mpg without boat in tow with cruise set at 70+.
Short answer to the story...I do a lot of idling during the week on con-calls/etc and had no idea that the computer continues to calculate mpg, even during idle. I figured with current technology, the computer would actually sleep...but alas...call me stupid/ignorant/negligent but idling for long periods of time makes for a poor mpg calculation.
Made my long trip to South Texas this weekend and reset my computer with boat in tow. Averaged about 13.5 miles per gallon on the way down. Reset the computer again on the way back north...averaged over 17mpg without boat in tow with cruise set at 70+.
Short answer to the story...I do a lot of idling during the week on con-calls/etc and had no idea that the computer continues to calculate mpg, even during idle. I figured with current technology, the computer would actually sleep...but alas...call me stupid/ignorant/negligent but idling for long periods of time makes for a poor mpg calculation.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: LAS VEGAS USA
ive got 1100 miles on my 2010 5.4 3.55 4x4 and my lie-o-meter says im getting 10.9, the scary thing is thats what im getting no matter how i drive or if i use e85 or 100% dino juice. Anyone think this will get better?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 1
From: Pacific NW
With my 70/30 City/Hwy ratio (18 mile commute), I'm averaging (hand calculated) 15 to 15.5 mpg with bad traffic in the afternoon. When I go on a mostly highway trip, I hit between 17 and 19 mpg hand calculated. I'm betting that I can probably hit 20 mpg if I really tried (as in staying below 70mph). This is all on E5 or E10 fuel with a 2010 5.4 SCREW 6.5 bed 4x4 w/ 3.73 gears and 20" rims on the west coast.
Last edited by Jus2shy; Aug 1, 2010 at 12:47 AM. Reason: elaborated
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Cecil County, Maryland
I got 98.5 MPGs on Mine
Want have some fun. I was resetting my MPG calculator the other day just after I left the gas station. I was going downhill in a free fall (coasting), hit the button and WOW it read 98.5 MPGs Hey Ford got something here but it got lower as I applied the gas for the uphill travel. This got me thinking, the reading you get at the end of your run may not be the true MPGs. So I have been running my truck with the MPG calculator on the dash, if you want to have fun (I drive about 3 hrs every day and get bored) watch it change from 17.8 to 12.5 in less then a mile as you step into the pedal. So next is the "I will fool this computer" I drove so I would get the best mileage for my normal trip and then right before I got to the gas station I started driving like I was in a street race, it was reading 16.8 then 12.3 but after I filled it must have recalculated the average and it read 15.4. Oh well so much for screwing with the electronics. My hand cal was very close to 15 MPGs. Chris
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
My KR with the 5.4 and 3.73 gets a consistent 13.5 city/17 highway and that about what I expected. If I were looking for 20 MPG, I would have not bought a King Ranch and of course, would not be enjoying the wonderful things that vehicle has to offer. Also not interested in doing less than 70 MPH on the innerstates.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 983
Likes: 3
From: Detroit 'burbs
Yes it will improve. It needs a few full tanks of gas to run through and make sure not to go by the MPG caculator in the dash alone and to reset it to re-caculate.
New User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
xlt screw 4.6L 3V 4x2 with about 5600 miles on it I do about 90% city getting about 12.0mpg after the gotts mod. Before I was getting 14.9 but since I like the drone might have to put the snorkel back on and test if theirs a difference of MPG's
