MPG for E150 while towing
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
I have a 2003 E150 Chateau with the 5.4 motor, tow package and 143k miles. I recently purchased this van for towing a 4500# travel trailer which I took on a successful, no mechanical issue, round trip to Yosemite N.P. The problem, only 7 mpg average..... is this what I should expect or is something wrong with the van; a needed tune-up maybe? What could I expect with an older model with the 460 or a newer V-10? Any help would be much appreciated.
Rich
Rich
I believe the complaint is the MPG not the performance of the 5.4L.
My first question is how fast were you driving to get 7 MPG? If you were driving 70 or 75 like most people do you really cant expect anything better. Drive 55 -60 on the flats, in the hills, drop a gear and keep the RPM where your torque is right around 2500 RPM and see if it makes a difference. Oh and turn on your flashers.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
I can tell you by experience that 55 will get you near killed by truckers who like to run up on you fast to intimidate you then cut back close when they come back over. I think I got 13 with my 5.4 15 passenger towing a Mustang on a car trailer through the mountains of East TN, it felt like I was holding it back so I let it go, did 70 without issues, I held it back to 65 on steep grades tho.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
I have a 2003 E150 Chateau with the 5.4 motor, tow package and 143k miles. I recently purchased this van for towing a 4500# travel trailer which I took on a successful, no mechanical issue, round trip to Yosemite N.P. The problem, only 7 mpg average..... is this what I should expect or is something wrong with the van; a needed tune-up maybe? What could I expect with an older model with the 460 or a newer V-10? Any help would be much appreciated.
Rich
Rich
I have a 2008 E350, 5.4L, 4R75 trans., 3.73 rears and 265/75 16 tires. This weekend I pulled my 2500# pop up (10,500# GCW) @ 13 MPG for over 600 miles driving 55- 65 MPH depending on how much room there was, up and down some huge hills in British Columbia (8-13%). I left it in cruise at 60 on the biggest hills with the engine at 4-4500 RPM. Maybe you need a tune up.
Temporarily Deactivated
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 2
I have a 1990 Falcon 190 Class B camper van with a 351w, it's heavy. I have been pulling a 14' enclosed trailer and getting about 10.5 mpg. I changed the gearing to 4.10 and it it improved the mileage. Generally, you need to run close to the peak of the torque curve for efficiency. I tow in OD but I change my tranny fluid and installed a cooler. I want a tach and a tranny temp gauge. I have a thread here on my diff swap. I may swap again for deeper gearing and dually's so I can pull a bigger trailer.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,558
Likes: 249
From: Laquey, MO
So, back to your question. I think you should be doing better, but how fast are you driving?
I have a 2008 E350, 5.4L, 4R75 trans., 3.73 rears and 265/75 16 tires. This weekend I pulled my 2500# pop up (10,500# GCW) @ 13 MPG for over 600 miles driving 55- 65 MPH depending on how much room there was, up and down some huge hills in British Columbia (8-13%). I left it in cruise at 60 on the biggest hills with the engine at 4-4500 RPM. Maybe you need a tune up.
I have a 2008 E350, 5.4L, 4R75 trans., 3.73 rears and 265/75 16 tires. This weekend I pulled my 2500# pop up (10,500# GCW) @ 13 MPG for over 600 miles driving 55- 65 MPH depending on how much room there was, up and down some huge hills in British Columbia (8-13%). I left it in cruise at 60 on the biggest hills with the engine at 4-4500 RPM. Maybe you need a tune up.
That said, 13 mpg with your pup is pretty good. I only managed about 14 with the 1/2 ton truck I towed with at those same speeds, but lower RPMs. I also agree with your comment that a tune up may be called for since 7 mpg is less than what I average with the V-10 and 6,000#. I manage between 8-10 mpg unless I'm going through some steep grades (ie US 65 south into Branson, MO) and then I'll drop into 7-8 mpg.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Brentwood, TN
Hey Grems4ever,
What kind of MPG do you get driving around town without towing? I just ordered a 2011 e-350 xlt with the 5.4 V8. I'm wondering if i shouldn't have ordered the V10 - it might not be too late to change the order. Our main use is daily driving, but I do plan to buy a travel trailer and tow with it in the not too distant future.
I think the fuel mileage around town - which would consist of 90% of my driving - will just be too bad with the V10. My hope is that the v8 with its LS 3.73 rear axle will be quite a capable tow vehicle when the time comes - keeping in mind the 6700# towing capacity of the van.
Thoughts?
TimR><>
What kind of MPG do you get driving around town without towing? I just ordered a 2011 e-350 xlt with the 5.4 V8. I'm wondering if i shouldn't have ordered the V10 - it might not be too late to change the order. Our main use is daily driving, but I do plan to buy a travel trailer and tow with it in the not too distant future.
I think the fuel mileage around town - which would consist of 90% of my driving - will just be too bad with the V10. My hope is that the v8 with its LS 3.73 rear axle will be quite a capable tow vehicle when the time comes - keeping in mind the 6700# towing capacity of the van.
Thoughts?
TimR><>
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,558
Likes: 249
From: Laquey, MO
Not sure about the city mileage since most of my driving is mixed. I usually get 14 or so in mixed driving. I did have it out and about St. Louis last summer and even though there was a lot of stop and go driving, I still managed 13 on that tank of gas.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
FWIW:
My 2008 5.4 gets 11-12 in mixed driving, 16+ floating down the Interstate and 10-11 stop light to stop light. I do have fairly aggressive A/T tires though. I imagine that LTX M/S2's would really help.
As for the OP, my tractor trailer gets better than 7 MPG averaging 65,000#.
My 2008 5.4 gets 11-12 in mixed driving, 16+ floating down the Interstate and 10-11 stop light to stop light. I do have fairly aggressive A/T tires though. I imagine that LTX M/S2's would really help.
As for the OP, my tractor trailer gets better than 7 MPG averaging 65,000#.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
The killer of mpg in the room is cruising speed.
If you insist on cruising at 80mph, nothing you do is going to materially impact on mpg.
Drop the speed to 50mpg, and you will see a huge increase.
Oh... diesels can do somewhat better.. but not that much.
If you insist on cruising at 80mph, nothing you do is going to materially impact on mpg.
Drop the speed to 50mpg, and you will see a huge increase.
Oh... diesels can do somewhat better.. but not that much.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Masala
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
4
May 20, 2009 06:13 PM
wickedgood
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis
13
Jul 15, 2008 08:18 AM
