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I recently bought an '89 Ford F150, 302ci, standard cab, long bed, 4x4 from my friends 90 something year old uncle. He was the original owner and this truck only has 55 thousand original miles! Even better, for some unknown reason, Ford put a new 302 in it about 15000 miles ago BUT that's been about 20 plus years. Anyway, this thing drinks fuel like a big block! I live in an area where most of my driving is on 45-55 MPH county roads. Small amount of freeway and city streets. I am only getting 9 MPG city. Bone stock but for the FlowMaster I just installed. Can anyone give me tips on how to get better fuel economy? For the record, I know it will never be great, just trying to get the most out of it if there are reasonable options. Thanks in advance!
1) Catch up ALL the recommended maintenance (there will be a LOT);
2) Remove all unnecessary weight;
3) Air up the tires as close to their max as you can tolerate;
4) Follow the instructions on a can of Berryman's B-12 pour-in, but consider using 2-3 cans in 1 tank at once, and follow with another can per tank for the next few fillups;
5) Inspect the FPR & fuel reservoir for leaks;
6) Burn only 87 octane gas, occasionally adding Techron cleaner.
For detailed instructions, buy the latest red-cover or the oldest blue-cover Haynes manual, as described in this caption:
That truck only has a 5-digit odometer, so it's impossible to know if it has 55Kmi or 555Kmi. The fact that the engine was replace suggests it's in the 155K-255K range. But it's certainly among the cleaner '87-89s I've seen. How does the underside look? I highly recommend cleaning the engine & underbody whenever they need it. It makes things last longer, and it makes maintenance easier, and it makes problems easier-to-spot.
Stock fuel injection still? Early fuel injection is very dependent on the temperature sensors for fuel level determination and only uses the O2 sensors for cruise and certain conditions. Typically the sensors use resistance and higher resistance means colder means more fuel is added. Clean the temperature sensor electrical connections to make sure they're not showing high resistance.. Consider the O2 sensor(s) also, 20 years sitting might degrade them. Might help, it does on other older cars I've owned.
1) Catch up ALL the recommended maintenance (there will be a LOT);
2) Remove all unnecessary weight;
3) Air up the tires as close to their max as you can tolerate;
4) Follow the instructions on a can of Berryman's B-12 pour-in, but consider using 2-3 cans in 1 tank at once, and follow with another can per tank for the next few fillups;
5) Inspect the FPR & fuel reservoir for leaks;
6) Burn only 89 octane gas, occasionally adding Techron cleaner.
For detailed instructions, buy the latest red-cover or the oldest blue-cover Haynes manual, as described in this caption:
That truck only has a 5-digit odometer, so it's impossible to know if it has 55Kmi or 555Kmi. The fact that the engine was replace suggests it's in the 155K-255K range. But it's certainly among the cleaner '87-89s I've seen. How does the underside look? I highly recommend cleaning the engine & underbody whenever they need it. It makes things last longer, and it makes maintenance easier, and it makes problems easier-to-spot.
I would agree, in most cases, that mileage may be way higher. I know the family and I have DMV records as well. Also have many receipts and other records. You’d have to see it yourself to know. Not even a smudge or slight scratch in the bed, motor compartment is spotless and the under side looks hardly touched.
Original miles on this one. They have an all original ‘69 I think that has only 30 something thousand on it. Just sitting in a garage...
Anyway, I’ll go to work on your tips, thank you. I had been running 87. I’ll switch next tank. Thanks!
I curious, do you recommend that across the board or specifically for the 302 / 5.0. Both of mine are 4.9, but the 96 has a few mods including a cam and a shaved head.
I curious, do you recommend that across the board or specifically for the 302 / 5.0. Both of mine are 4.9, but the 96 has a few mods including a cam and a shaved head.
Burning higher octane gas does nothing, it's a common misnomer.
Octane is an additive to all gasolines that only increases resistance to detonation. It does not help the fuel burn any faster or create better combustion.
Higher compression engines (think 11:1 +) have a tendency for predetonation and the octane prevents that. I could geek out even further on carbon chains, but that's it in a nutshell.
Bottom line, you're wasting money on your 8.8:1 F150 by burning more expensive fuel.
That truck looks cleeeaaaaan man! Wanna trade? ha- I get 12mpg all day on mine. I don't think we get much better than that but yea I second everything steve said. 02 sensor for sure.
I looked it up, and those were EPA rated at 11 City, 13 Highway, so you are not that far off. It could be accounted for by various wear issues and sitting so long, such as wheel bearings, brake rotors/cylinders sticking, slipping transmission, sticking injectors or smog sensors/valves.
Barn find. Need help.
87 is what the engine is built to run on. Higher octane will make it run 
