The Ultimate MPG thread.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 334
Likes: 29
From: Thomson, Georgia
Let me tell ya'll a little story. From mid November to mid December of last year I made about 14 or 15 trips from my home in Oceana, WV to Covington, VA (around 230 miles round trip). My truck is an 09 SCAB with 5.4 and 3.55 gears and the trip was about 40% two lane roads and 60% interstate. I started out on my first trip with the cruise set on 72 mph I averaged around 16 mpg (on the computer). After a couple of trips I dropped down to about 67 mph and got around 17.4 mpg. 60 mph broke the 18 mpg barrier. On one of my last trips I sucked it up and set the cruise on 55 mph and got 19.6 mpg! Now keep in mind that I am driving in WV and VA and there are no flat roads. The terrain here is continuous up and down. On the first 40 miles or so from my home is 2-lane road. The elevation goes from about 1300 asl to 4000 asl and then back down to 2500'. Then on I-64 up to 3500' then down again to 1800' then back up to 2500' and so on. You flat landers could do a lot better than me.
Moral of the story is just SLOW DOWN. I know it's hard, I was around back when the government changed the speed limit to 55 and I did get a few speeding tickets.
It wasn't that bad driving 55 now though. It felt a little weird having a big trucks pass me but I eventually ended up catching and passing them on the next long grade.
I don't think I would like to see the mandatory 55 MPH speed limit again but I do believe it would have a big impact on fuel prices and our dependency on imported oil.
Moral of the story is just SLOW DOWN. I know it's hard, I was around back when the government changed the speed limit to 55 and I did get a few speeding tickets.
It wasn't that bad driving 55 now though. It felt a little weird having a big trucks pass me but I eventually ended up catching and passing them on the next long grade.
I don't think I would like to see the mandatory 55 MPH speed limit again but I do believe it would have a big impact on fuel prices and our dependency on imported oil.
Great information. I live by your findings and it does indeed help the mileage a great deal
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2013 f-150 Limited Ecoboost v6 Actual MPG
I'm looking to buy a 2013 f-150 4x4 limited ecoboost v6 and i was wondering what people are seeing in actual mpg on this vehicle. i own a nissan sentra right now and i'm looking for the best truck with the best mpg. Also looking at suv's but most of the mid size ones get the same mpg as the truck.
Any one have any real info?
Any one have any real info?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 14
From: Texas
I'm looking to buy a 2013 f-150 4x4 limited ecoboost v6 and i was wondering what people are seeing in actual mpg on this vehicle. i own a nissan sentra right now and i'm looking for the best truck with the best mpg. Also looking at suv's but most of the mid size ones get the same mpg as the truck.
Any one have any real info?
Any one have any real info?
Fully retired now!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 22
From: Newnan, GA
Mileage Comparisons
The mileage that a couple of us have seen varies even though our driving techniques are similar. My co-worker's truck first: He had a 2011 XLT SCREW with 4WD, the EcoBoost, and 3.55 rear. He was averaging 20-22 overall, with a 60/40 city/hwy split. Pretty good, I thought. Then, thanks to a tranny problem, sold it back to the dealer and got a 2012. No other differences between the two trucks. Follows dealer and OM recommendations. However, his new 2012 (about 11K miles now) only gets 18-20 and when towing a very small 4x6 enclosed trailer, drops down to 16mpg. The 2012 actually did go down in mileage, even though things remained the same. More EPA stipulations, I would guess. Ford has confirmed that the newer EB does get slightly less mileage. I'm a pilot, not an engineer, so who knows?
My truck is also a 2011 SCREW, but FX4, with a 5.0 and 3.71 rear. I've got just under 20K miles on it now. I went a slightly different route: K&N Air Filter (not the CAI kit), pure synthetic oils (5W-20) with Z-Max, and am using Royal Purple in the tranny and differentials, and tires are at 40psi, instead of 35 (nitrogen). My mileage with the 5.0 in town is about 17.7, but on the highway, with towing my enclosed trailer, which is somewhat larger (6x12), my mileage is actually about 18.6-18.8. Given that we both use travel about 5mph below posted limits on the same routes, I'm pretty happy with what I get, particularly since I carry more crap (HD RK and all my essential lifestyle gear). Of course, I'm a little lighter on the gas pedal during acceleration, FWIW. Oh, both of us have cab-high canopies.
From what I've learned from others with similar trucks, the 2011 with the EcoBoost gets better mileage than the newer versions. Perhaps a tuner would improve things further, opinions vary on that. But since I've got the 6yr/100K B2B warranty, I can't tweak it too much.
There's only so much we can do to get better mileage without affecting performance and reliability. Compared to my first truck, a 79 Bronco, that on a good day got 12mpg, I'm certainly not complaining.
Merry Christmas to All!
My truck is also a 2011 SCREW, but FX4, with a 5.0 and 3.71 rear. I've got just under 20K miles on it now. I went a slightly different route: K&N Air Filter (not the CAI kit), pure synthetic oils (5W-20) with Z-Max, and am using Royal Purple in the tranny and differentials, and tires are at 40psi, instead of 35 (nitrogen). My mileage with the 5.0 in town is about 17.7, but on the highway, with towing my enclosed trailer, which is somewhat larger (6x12), my mileage is actually about 18.6-18.8. Given that we both use travel about 5mph below posted limits on the same routes, I'm pretty happy with what I get, particularly since I carry more crap (HD RK and all my essential lifestyle gear). Of course, I'm a little lighter on the gas pedal during acceleration, FWIW. Oh, both of us have cab-high canopies.
From what I've learned from others with similar trucks, the 2011 with the EcoBoost gets better mileage than the newer versions. Perhaps a tuner would improve things further, opinions vary on that. But since I've got the 6yr/100K B2B warranty, I can't tweak it too much.
There's only so much we can do to get better mileage without affecting performance and reliability. Compared to my first truck, a 79 Bronco, that on a good day got 12mpg, I'm certainly not complaining.
Merry Christmas to All!
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 4
From: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
AVG 14.6MPG 16L/100KM
Cruzing Speed 70MPH 113KM/H
Temperature 4'F -15'C
1800 RPM HWY Flat Road Minumum Grade
My question is
How much does the Temperature change the avg fuel mileage considering that someone in Texas is doing there avg at lets say 72'F?
Just curious
Cruzing Speed 70MPH 113KM/H
Temperature 4'F -15'C
1800 RPM HWY Flat Road Minumum Grade
My question is
How much does the Temperature change the avg fuel mileage considering that someone in Texas is doing there avg at lets say 72'F?
Just curious
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 174
Likes: 16
From: Tallahassee, Florida
I have a question, in relevance to gas mileage. My father had a 2001 F150 4.6 ext cab 2wd and he got 22 hwy with 3.08 gears. I have 3.55 gears in my 2004 (new body style) and get about 17 hwy. I know my truck is heavier, but we have the same running gear, would 3.08 gears help my mpg? I know I have a full size truck I don't expect anything crazy good just curious.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 9
I have a 2013 f150 3.5l ecoboost with 3.55 gears and i had 25mpg already granted i had cruise sitting at around 52mph or so. On average with a mix of speeds from 45 to 65 i get around 18- 20 depending on my foot..... also that was with only travelling around 30 or so miles from my home to work.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 171
Search around for the GF "chips". They are nothing more than a resistor in a box that is a scam and can hurt your ride. There are no "chips" for modern engines. Look into a programmer from a proven company, and better yet look into custom tuning.
https://www.f150forum.com/f2/tuners-pcm-ugrades-124931/
https://www.f150forum.com/f2/tuners-pcm-ugrades-124931/
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 14
From: Texas
I have a question, in relevance to gas mileage. My father had a 2001 F150 4.6 ext cab 2wd and he got 22 hwy with 3.08 gears. I have 3.55 gears in my 2004 (new body style) and get about 17 hwy. I know my truck is heavier, but we have the same running gear, would 3.08 gears help my mpg? I know I have a full size truck I don't expect anything crazy good just curious.