atxval

It seems my 5.4 at 13mpg isn't looking too bad.

1poorplayer

Look , so far , gas mileage is unexpectedly bad. ( I did my homework , I watched TV commercials and read the brochure and built my truck on Fords website ) I guess I'm supposed to know better.
I asked in my original post if anyone knows if there is a "break-in" period , during which the Ecoboost gets poor mileage. ( hoping for the best )

Yes , until I believe 2011 , anyone could easily put a lightweight plow on ANY 1/2 ton pickup.
I like my new F150 FX4 enough , that I'd like to get rid of my 04' 3/4 ton Chevy gas hog , and put a light plow on it. I didn't buy the truck to plow with , just wanted to drive it more , and thought It'd work.
Like meeting a woman , I was first attracted to the truck's shape and good looks. The interior has more options than the wife's Cadillac. ( thus my disappointment - not being able to plow our driveway with it )

So , if you consider 6 or 7 mpg lower than advertised ( with gas prices at $4.45 per US gallon ) nitpicking , I'm guilty. That's why I was hoping SOMEONE would have something GOOD to say about a possible "break-in" period.
Instead of the simple response ..... Duh , it's a truck ? It's supposed to suck.

Thank you to the guys who gave me an intelligent response , that pertained to the thread.

atxval

Reduce weight, install a tuner, reflash the system, increase boost (?), lighter HFCs and exhaust...

1poorplayer

The only way I can possibly reduce weight would be to send my old lady to weight watchers.
( that's a little unfair cause she could only drop about 5 lbs - lol )

HFCs ?

don whitman

Just curious, did you really think you would the mpgs as advertised?
I think the truth in advertising died back in the 70's. If you watch ANY advertisement on TV you just know they are just in it for the money, They never really lie, they just don't tell the truth. Look at our politicians, and the gubment, it's all different now.
Personally I think we are going third world faster than anyone would have thought.

TJPlatinumEB

Nitpicking and whining aside, you do understand that Ford isn't the one who sets the MPG ratings right? The EPA does that under EXTREMELY specific and in my opinion, unrealistic circumstances as already illustrated earlier. Ford and every other manufacturer has no say so in this whatsoever.

What does your window sticker say? Did you read the part where it says Mixed driving and "most people can expect to get" ratings? Most of the trucks will be in that 16mpg range in city and most people will see that.

I've got almost 19k on mine and it has gotten 16.5-17.5mpg in town and 20.5-22.5 on the highway since the day I bought it. Winter blend fuel dropped that down to about 15.5/19 or so over this past winter, but you can't really count that.

Some people notice a good improvement over time and as the miles increase, the MPG tend to increase too. I took my truck on a 900 mile round trip the day after I bought it and got almost exactly 21mpg. It hasn't changed much since.

Nothing against you personally, but blaming Ford for bad advertising or lying seems to be a pattern lately that a lot of people are claiming. Ford and every other manufacturer gives the EPA their best equipped trim level for MPG and then claim it in their ads and commercials. Nowhere in any commercial or advertisment does any manufacturer say you WILL get a certain MPG. They say "up to XX MPG". Sure it might be the 4x2, 3.15 rear end model, but it will do it. Ford nor any other manufacturer can change what the EPA says or does and is required to put that info on every sticker and has no choice what that outcome is. Plain and simple.

SurebutterCringe

While I agree with most of what you're saying, it is a little disconcerting to see Mike Rowe on TV every commercial break touting 22 mpg! 22 mpg! 22 mpg! While i am not as upset about it as some other ones on here, I can see a little of where they're coming from.

1poorplayer

Well don , when I purchased a vehicle in the past ( think pre President Bush / decent gas prices ) , I could really give a damn about mileage. The whole "bad mileage" with my "Eco boost" is more of a jab on the chin than anything.

The real reason it kind of pisses me off , is that Ford chose to use the word ( "ECO" ) to NAME their new motor , and put the badge on the side of their trucks too.
They are the ones making a BIG DEAL out of it. Chevy ( or chebby as poster Nasssty calls me ) didn't call their 5.3 engine - the FuelSaver 5.3 , so you got what you got. Whatever.

I'd have likely bought my F150 just for its great torque , great looks and "average" gas mileage , but thought I was getting something more.

They made up the engine name , they brag about fuel economy. I love the truck , but I'd have a LOT more respect for Ford if they had just called the engine something like , twin6 ( twin turbo , V6)

I'm sure the misleading name made them loads of money though.

FordmanUGA

That sucks man, it seems my '01 5.4 with it's 14.7 MPG in town isn't so bad after all. Especially or a motor with 123,000 miles on it. Hate to hear it.

ranken

That's what I think, I talked to a guy the other day driving a 2012 ecoboost and he was getting 1mpg better than my 09 5.4. Didn't figure it was worth trading.