Is 8 to 12 MPG normal for an F-150?
08-30-2012, 01:15 AM
#1
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Is 8 to 12 MPG normal for an F-150?
I just bought my first Ford truck: a 1993 F-150 with the 5.0L and the 5 speed manual. It's been taken super-good care of and I really love this truck, but I am getting HORRIBLE gas mileage. I've been driving very gently, yet I get about 8 mpg around town, and 12 mpg on the highway going just 50mph steady... this is quite worse than the EPA mpg of 15 city/19 hwy. The truck seems to have plenty of guts and I love driving it and I'm really impressed with it over all so I want to help my fuel mileage so I can enjoy driving it more. I get a slight stumble off idle sometimes when warm. Also, I don't know if its really running hot enough, as the coolant sensor needle sits right between the "N" and "O" in "normal", which is only about 1/3 of the way up the temp scale. Perhaps the truck is running cool, and the computer never takes it out of "rich mode" during warm-up? Any of the forum's advice would be appreciated on how to increase my miles per gallon. Thanks!
08-30-2012, 08:32 AM
#4
November 2011 TOTM Winner
Do you have 2 fuel tanks? Your temp gauge sound normal. Mine runs at a higher idle until warmed up then the idle comes down to normal 750. The reason I ask about tanks is some guys have bypassing problems where one tank is feeding the other, this causes their fuel burn to look like crap.
Last edited by 5Rangers; 08-30-2012 at 08:37 AM.
08-30-2012, 10:13 AM
#5
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Check your brakes to make sure they aren't dragging and the emergency brake to make sure that it isn't too tight. Unload any crap you really don't need from the cab or the bed and do you have stock sized tires? (235/75/15's)
08-30-2012, 03:56 PM
#6
Like they have said. Anything that you do not need in the bed of your truck take out. For me all I have in it as of right now is the old drums for my backs and my cooler-turned-toolbox. Make sure you have good air in your tires cause that helps with gas mileage as well. And I don't know if anybody else does it here but whenever I put in atleast $20 in the gas tank. I put in some Marvel Mystery Oil. It helps clean the system so you get better fuel flow. Also how is your fuel filter?
08-30-2012, 07:25 PM
#7
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Totally unloaded cab and bed, stock wheels/tires, I do have dual gas tanks, but one is not filling up on it's own, unfortunately 
Tire pressure at 45 psi all the way around.
Tire pressure at 45 psi all the way around.
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08-30-2012, 07:30 PM
#8
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Turn the heater on and check the vent temp if you feels the truck is running colder than it should, read the plugs, if rich they should have some black soot on them.
