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GAS MILEAGE INCREASE

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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 11:27 PM
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GAS MILEAGE INCREASE

Are there any safe, sound ways to improve gas mileage on the 5.4 ?

I am running a 2008 250 4x4 automatic.

Have heard of several options for the diesels but not much that applies to gas engine.
 
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 11:31 PM
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Sounds like you answered your own question
 
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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There are a few things you can do. You can install a cold air intake, a throttle body spacer (Airaid, Poweraid is best ), dual exhaust from the catalytic converter back, headers would even help as well. These things let the motor breath better. They make a chip that you can set for different things, one setting being fuel economy. I'm sure more people will have some ideas as well. Good luck getting better milage.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 12:04 AM
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everything listed above is snake-oil for a 3v 5.4L
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 09:15 AM
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Put that motor in a smaller truck.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Will Bite
Put that motor in a smaller truck.
Or do better and put a GM 5.3L in a smaller truck.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 09:40 AM
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a sct xcal 3 tuner will increase power and/or fuel econo. if you want.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by brd7666
a throttle body spacer (Airaid, Poweraid is best )
This one actually has a better purpose than what it was originally intended for....paper weight for your center console.

All of those will get you a louder truck and the combined cost will not offset the savings in gas had you just left it alone.

Keep your tires aired up, your air filter clean, and drive as though you have an egg under the throttle.

 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 10:04 AM
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Put your right foot on a diet. Serious, I can go from 12mpg to 15/16 (in the summer, of course) by just driving easier. That doesn't mean you can't go fast, just don't accelerate a 6000 pound truck like its a race car.

I've also noticed a small improvement by keeping the revs between 2000 and 3000 ... the 5.4s don't seem to like to be run down low. But I drive a manual so I have a bit more control over that stuff.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 12:17 PM
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Contact Mike at 5 Star Tuning, he's a sponsor on the V10 forum but he can tune 5.4s as well.

Believe it or not, changing your gears from 3.73s to 4.10 or 4.30 will help you pick up another 1-2 MPG, especially if you tow or do a lot of in town driving. And you'll be MUCH happier with the acceleration.

Headers, cold air intake or exhaust will do nothing on a 5.4 3V Super Duty.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 06:57 PM
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The 5.4L already has a cold air intake.
 
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Old Sep 4, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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Throttle body spacers are a waste of money don't get em for any reason.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2010 | 12:08 AM
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Anybody ever heard of a Fitch Fuel Catalyst. Saw an article about it in Off Road Adventures a year or so ago, and they claimed it worked. Something about conditioning the fuel to a standard octane or something like that.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2010 | 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Pinky Demon
Anybody ever heard of a Fitch Fuel Catalyst. Saw an article about it in Off Road Adventures a year or so ago, and they claimed it worked. Something about conditioning the fuel to a standard octane or something like that.
I saw that too for a month or so, that stuff sounds like snake oil.

I would do a K&N filter only, not the whole FIPK kit they sell. It will pay for itself in 3 years no matter what because you reuse it, but my experience in all my gas engines and my brothers 2004 5.4L F150, are that you can get a 1/2 to 1 mpg increase driving just like you do. Not much gain but like I said it pays for itself because you reuse it.

I can't say that I buy the idea/statement that a better exhaust wouldn't help. If you free up the exhaust and the engine works less hard, then you have the option of using less fuel. That said most people won't use less fuel because it sounds better and feels better.
 
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Old Sep 5, 2010 | 06:28 AM
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Can't comment on the 5.4 directly but for all our gas vehicles we've gone to synthetic fluids (oil, diff etc) as much as possible and have seen modest improvements in the range of 2-3 mpg's.

Does it cost more? Yes, but in addition to better mpg's the vehicles are better lubricated which hopefully will result in less wear and tear and fewer problems down the road.

As far as which oil we use I'm not goimg to say as I don't want to start an oil war.....pick your own as they are all better than the dino's...
 
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