WestVirginaFord

Just bought my 05 5.4 automatic and gas mileage is killing me. Are there any sure-fire ways to improve it. I'm going to eventually put a flowmaster on just for sound but will it help? Thanks in advance for any advice.

shotgun

What's your current calculated mileage (your mileage may be in line with normal)?

Sure fire? No.

Best case ways, yes.
Tune-up (plugs, cops, etc.)
Fuel filter
Proper tire inflation
Easy acceleration
Coast to stops
Longer following distance
Slow down
Reduce weight
Air filter
Overall proper maintenance

And the number one way?

Wait for it......









Buy a Focus.

JohnD

You can always add exhaust and a cai that will help a little, maybe a mile per gallon. I would say being very light footed is beneficial but now Im not sure that is true either. In my truck wheter I drive light footed or whether I really get on it and pass people and constantly drive at 70+ my low fuel light always comes on at the same mileage (around 350-360 miles) so im not sure driving it carefully helps either. You couldnt have bought a 5.4 f150 and expected good gas mileage, you probaably should have done a little research before you bought it. IF you want good gas mileage get a car, if you want a vehicle capable of many things, stick with the truck but dont expect a combo of both. Lastly, I will say that while on long trips I do get pretty good mileage, sometimes upwards of 18mpg but city driving is terrible.

Lenn

Fixed.

As stated, we really need to know what your calculated mileage is currently so that we can assist you further. IDK what your experience level is with these trucks but generally speaking, if your truck is 4x4- don't expect better than 13mpg. If its 2WD, you might get around 14-15. There really are no ways to better the fuel economy. You can do a tuner, exhaust and intake and get alot more power and some more fuel efficiency but even then, you are looking at nearly a $800 investment for a return of maybe 2-3mpg.

(All my figures are combined city/highway.)

ak_cowboy

A programmer and E-fans are the best bet,though the $$$ spent on them could buy a lot of fuel. Its hard to keep your foot out of it with an exhaust cuz it sounds so good lol.
Using my edge I've found I get the best mpg at 63mph, this means I'm getting passed a lot, but the difference between 63 and 70 is about 3mpg.

shotgun

With his 05, 5.4L 3V almost any intake could cause lean issues unless he gets a programmer with custom tunes.

As I have said before:

I can absolutely guarantee you might possibly see a MPG increase with an intake and a programmer with custom tunes.

An exhaust (cat back) will do nothing for MPG (and will probably hurt them 'cause the 'go foot' gets heavier). High flow cats, LT headers - maybe - but you definitely need a custom tune for those.

ak_cowboy

I know my Edge improved my mpg at least 2mpg, closer to 3. While that may not sound like much, I was at 9mpg and am now running closer to 12, that's a 30% increase! I see everyone getting 16+ and complaining about it, who cares? My escort would get 33mpg at 75mpg, but couldn't haul 2300lbs lol. Drive it like you stole it and enjoy your Truck!!!

shotgun

I understand and you might be the rule (or the exception), but I personally see more posts about 'my programmer didn't improve my MPG' than 'my programmer improved it'.

I think it may have a lot to do with how you drove it before you got the programmer.

I'm getting 17.3 combined so I bet I'll be lucky to get 2 MPG more. I do plan on the Edge CTS (with custom tunes) so I'll try to use the data logging feature to find the RPM/IECON sweet spot. I may find that 2100-2500 is better than 1800-2100 for IECON (during acceleration).

Who knows why each of these trucks seems to respond differently to the same mods?

ak_cowboy

What's this data logging you speak of? Is that a new option for the CTS? I would be stoked to get 17mpg!

shotgun

The Gryphon has the ability to monitor and log up to 3 PIDs.

http://forum.gopowerhungry.com/attac...write-up-5.pdf

I think the Evo and CS/CTS do/will too, but I haven't checked.