The Ultimate MPG thread.
Sniperuml
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
From: Litchfield, NH
Tried the deal with keeping the RPMS under 2000 and it was a bust. Actually lost about 1 mpg (13.5>12.5) My truck does best when staying under about 2300. Never figured this out but I finally read somewhere that when you keep RPMs so low that it keep the tranny in the lower gear for a really long time causing more resistance or something to that effect. Stop light to stop light it 2000 RPMs is probably good. Think it really makes sense on the highway to use a higher RPM when accelerating. Instead of taking a half mile to get to 70 just gas it a little more get to speed and let overdrive and cruise do their job.
Guess what I'm trying to say is don't take anything as gospel and play around with these ideas. Some people driving conditions and needs are different so what works for one may not work for all.
Did just do the gotts mod. Haven't been able to check mileage yet (no money to do consecutive fill-ups at the moment. I hate the holidays) but I feel it has improved. Gas gauge just seems to move a little slower. We'll see.
Guess what I'm trying to say is don't take anything as gospel and play around with these ideas. Some people driving conditions and needs are different so what works for one may not work for all.
Did just do the gotts mod. Haven't been able to check mileage yet (no money to do consecutive fill-ups at the moment. I hate the holidays) but I feel it has improved. Gas gauge just seems to move a little slower. We'll see.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Northern Ontario
Well this has been an interesting read, thanks for all the info. I bought my first truck in September. Truck is a 2012 F150 Screw 5L. From what I'm reading some of you guys are getting WAY better MPG than I am. Il post what I have been getting let me know what do you guys think? People tell me it will get better but I'd like to see what you guys think.
When I first got it in Septmeber I was getting 25 MPG HY and 21 MPG Town. (That was when it was warm, and it was ALL HY miles)
Now I have 6000 Miles and its - 22 F here the best I get is 14 MPG HY and about 11 MPG in town.
I drive 60 mph on hy and in town I keep the RPM's low.
I didnt buy a 5L V8 to save on fuel cost so im not complainaing, I just want to see what you guys think.
P.S This is an awesome website, so much info to be found.
HH69
When I first got it in Septmeber I was getting 25 MPG HY and 21 MPG Town. (That was when it was warm, and it was ALL HY miles)
Now I have 6000 Miles and its - 22 F here the best I get is 14 MPG HY and about 11 MPG in town.
I drive 60 mph on hy and in town I keep the RPM's low.
I didnt buy a 5L V8 to save on fuel cost so im not complainaing, I just want to see what you guys think.
P.S This is an awesome website, so much info to be found.
HH69
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Northern Ontario
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 8
Some of the cold versus hot outside may also be the dreaded winter mix coming to your pumps...............
http://itisscience.wordpress.com/201...-a-difference/
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Likes: 2
Put your truck in manual mode
I have a 2011 F-150 FX4. After a while of getting around 16 mpg on the interstate and 12-14 in town in Colorado I decided to see what all I could do with a stock truck to get better gas mileage. Here is what I found.
First thing I decided to do was replace the air in my tires with nitro. Seems simple enough and cost me about 20 bucks but upped my mpg about 1-2 mpg with similar driving circumstances. One thing to keep in mind about your tire pressure. Keep your tire pressure close to the max OF THE TIRE...not the recommended tire pressure for the vehicle. That recommended tire pressure for the vehicle is much lower than the tire and is designed for comfort of ride, not mpg. My stock tires max is 44 and the truck recommends 34.
The biggest thing though that I started doing is putting my truck in Manual (M) mode. You get to chose when you shift and you can really keep those rpm's down. You can literally run in 6th gear at 45 miles per hour and keep it in 6th when you start to climb a hill.
In short I went from around 16-17 mpg on the interstate to 20-21. In town I went from around 12-14 and am currently getting 16.5.
I changed my air filter to a K&N and in all honesty saw no increase in mpg. I did see a noticeable increase in power and would still recommend it but really didn't see and mpg increase.
First thing I decided to do was replace the air in my tires with nitro. Seems simple enough and cost me about 20 bucks but upped my mpg about 1-2 mpg with similar driving circumstances. One thing to keep in mind about your tire pressure. Keep your tire pressure close to the max OF THE TIRE...not the recommended tire pressure for the vehicle. That recommended tire pressure for the vehicle is much lower than the tire and is designed for comfort of ride, not mpg. My stock tires max is 44 and the truck recommends 34.
The biggest thing though that I started doing is putting my truck in Manual (M) mode. You get to chose when you shift and you can really keep those rpm's down. You can literally run in 6th gear at 45 miles per hour and keep it in 6th when you start to climb a hill.
In short I went from around 16-17 mpg on the interstate to 20-21. In town I went from around 12-14 and am currently getting 16.5.
I changed my air filter to a K&N and in all honesty saw no increase in mpg. I did see a noticeable increase in power and would still recommend it but really didn't see and mpg increase.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Since where I live all things are measured in metric, I found this handy little website to convert litres/100km>MPG
Fast and easy.
http://www.calculateme.com/cGasMilea...G-imperial.htm
There is also one to convert to US gallons as well.
Bill.
Fast and easy.
http://www.calculateme.com/cGasMilea...G-imperial.htm
There is also one to convert to US gallons as well.
Bill.
Get it here:
http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/convert.htm
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 10
From: Houston
My experience
Hey guys, new member here.
Here is my experience with F150 mileage in South TX (Houston).
I have a mixed commute to/from work of 50/50 highway/city. Most highway driving in Houston is more similar to city driving -- lots of stop and go
so in reality it is probably more weighted towards city driving. Another 'benefit' of living in South Texas is that we get an extra big shot of ethanol in our fuel that reduces efficiency by 10-15% (based on my unscientific observations).
With those variables in mind, here are my results:
2002 SCREW Lariat 5.4L (CAI) 4x4 FX4 w/3.55
Lifetime avg 14.8 mpg (if I could get onto back highways and cruise I saw as high as 15.5)
Recently upgraded to new truck and have only had it for a few weeks
2013 SCREW XLT Eco (stock) 4x4 Off Road w/3.55 w/20" FX4 rims/tires 5.5 bed (
unfortunately this means the Pirelli ATRs..)
Current mpg over 600 mixed miles is 16.2 mpg.
I am optimistic that as the engine is broken in and I have the opportunity to get it onto an uninterrupted stretch of highway that the mileage will only get better from here.
Regardless I am content with the improvement over my '02, the power and torque of the Eco is intoxicating!
Here is my experience with F150 mileage in South TX (Houston).
I have a mixed commute to/from work of 50/50 highway/city. Most highway driving in Houston is more similar to city driving -- lots of stop and go
so in reality it is probably more weighted towards city driving. Another 'benefit' of living in South Texas is that we get an extra big shot of ethanol in our fuel that reduces efficiency by 10-15% (based on my unscientific observations).With those variables in mind, here are my results:
2002 SCREW Lariat 5.4L (CAI) 4x4 FX4 w/3.55
Lifetime avg 14.8 mpg (if I could get onto back highways and cruise I saw as high as 15.5)
Recently upgraded to new truck and have only had it for a few weeks
2013 SCREW XLT Eco (stock) 4x4 Off Road w/3.55 w/20" FX4 rims/tires 5.5 bed (
unfortunately this means the Pirelli ATRs..)Current mpg over 600 mixed miles is 16.2 mpg.
I am optimistic that as the engine is broken in and I have the opportunity to get it onto an uninterrupted stretch of highway that the mileage will only get better from here.
Regardless I am content with the improvement over my '02, the power and torque of the Eco is intoxicating!
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 8
I had a PT Cruiser for almost 10 years that got 21-22...
I had a 2012 beetle turbo for 6 months that got 28 avg but had a PREMIUM fuel requirement 35 to 40 cents MORE per gallon.
I got rid of it for the 5.0l from detroit in the form of a SCrew that averages 17-18..
moral, my fuel cost really has not changed much through 3 cars.
As I look at things and their claims on MPG impact, upgraded exhaust, air intakes, etc... The real ROI does not seem to hold weight for my driving.
Most claim 1-2 mpg gains. So realistically I may get 1mpg for my upgrade. On 25 gallons thats 25 miles extra or a little over a gallon of gas saved.. So lets say an even $4 dollars on a tank and you fill up weekly
10 weeks later I have 40 bucks back. 20 weeks 80, and after a year finally 200 back and still have not saved the amount of a cold air kit... The notions and claims these people make that it will pay for itself? Way too long for me to see the return.
BUT, I go through a tank every 1.5 weeks. Someone who drives ALOT, the ROI occurs sooner. Something to think about when choosing upgrades...
I myself would not do these things solely for MPG, IMO.
I had a 2012 beetle turbo for 6 months that got 28 avg but had a PREMIUM fuel requirement 35 to 40 cents MORE per gallon.
I got rid of it for the 5.0l from detroit in the form of a SCrew that averages 17-18..
moral, my fuel cost really has not changed much through 3 cars.
As I look at things and their claims on MPG impact, upgraded exhaust, air intakes, etc... The real ROI does not seem to hold weight for my driving.
Most claim 1-2 mpg gains. So realistically I may get 1mpg for my upgrade. On 25 gallons thats 25 miles extra or a little over a gallon of gas saved.. So lets say an even $4 dollars on a tank and you fill up weekly
10 weeks later I have 40 bucks back. 20 weeks 80, and after a year finally 200 back and still have not saved the amount of a cold air kit... The notions and claims these people make that it will pay for itself? Way too long for me to see the return.
BUT, I go through a tank every 1.5 weeks. Someone who drives ALOT, the ROI occurs sooner. Something to think about when choosing upgrades...
I myself would not do these things solely for MPG, IMO.