F150Traveler

Ok, so when I got the SCREW 6.5 bed off road Dec 30 of 2011, I loved the power, but it took about 2 oil changes to "break in" and that it did. The mileage just got better all summer on it. It seems to really like summer blend better than winter, not sure why.

Thursday I went from I-70 in New Stanton, Pa to Harrisburg on the ol' PA Turnpike with 1.5 tons of grain in the bed. Going out, LOADED, 23.3 with the cruise locked on 65, rarely had to accelerate to pass a truck. It kept it in tow/haul mode. I did reset once I got on the turnpike, as it was getting about 15 from the last reset, which included some farm off road work.

I run BP 89 gas in it almost always.

Coming home... I reset it once I got on the pike, same exit, now heading west. It wouldn't get over 18.0 MPG on the way home?!?!?! How can it do better loaded than empty??

My cousin said to turn the traction control off, that did bring up the MPGs closer to home when I remembered to do that.

I can't complain about this truck, it easily does the work of the F-350 7.3 we used to have. I've pulled more weight with this than much bigger trucks. It always does what I want it to do. Most I've pulled is 8,400lbs of fertilizer plus the trailer of 2,600 home on the PA pike, to only get 9.8MPG, but that some serious pulling at 60mph. I can put a ton in the bed and hardly know it's back there.

When it's not on curse control... yea 14-15mpg highway in the winter, closer to 16 in the summer.

So in 33,098 miles, no warranty work, no break downs, just threw away the cheesy set of Goodyears after 28K.

Comments??

Teddek

Nice update. What was the mileage at each of your oil changes?

FoX2012

Winter gas contains more butane, which costs less, but evaporates quicker. I am seeing a 1-1.5 mpg drop from summer blend. Also be sure to double check the air in your tires as the pressure will drop in the cooler temps as well. I also notice when using cruise, that it "pulses" the throttle to maintain speed (on/off/on/off). I can get betting mpg with it off, keeping a constant throttle.

Great update!

greggebhardt

I have to agree that I can beat cruise control. Going up hills the cruise control will apply too much gas to maintain speed where i will let it drop in speed some only to make it up on the other side of the hill.

I have been behind "some people" who cruise control is likely a better idea as their speed varied constantly on the uninterrupted highway.

Truck owner

W. Pa is a good place to put truck to test. What gear ratio is in your truck? Nice to hear your thoughts on a 33k miles. Sounds like to eco is meeting your demands.

rdkev

Don't think traction control has anything to do with mpg...

HoustonRider

so 3,000 lbs in the bed you got 23mpg, and empty you got 18?

I would be happy with 18, lol

I think you need to call Ford and tell em you have a 9,000lb truck that gets 23 mpg.

Wanted33

It could have just been the wind direction. More head-on on the trip back home. Wind is not our friend. May 5.0L was the same last week. On a 250 mile run south it did 22.4, on the way home with head/cross winds it dropped quite a bit.

venatic

Maybe Tacoma boy needs to read this thread.

F150Traveler

He does need to read this. It's a good truck, best I've had yet. I've had 1994 F-150 300, 1996 F-150 302 auto, my first new truck, now the farm truck with 237K on it, rust got it, 2004 F150stx, 2010 F150 stx (new) It had the little V8 in it. This one out does them all. I was 18 when I got the 96, now at 34 with two little ones, the SCREW became necessary, I wanted another STX because of the rubber floor, but the XLT was forced on me, only my wife complained!

I guess heading west it doesn't like the head wind.

To be fair I reset it at the same places on the pike, as you have to cross the highest point, so half is up and half is generally down hill. The PA Pike is a good challenge for any truck, some level, lots of hills, lots of wind.

It will do 23MPG loaded, evenly. Now if I had it stacked up in a cloth tote, with some wind drag, sure it would have done worse.

Someone asked... it has a 3.73 rear end, the "Off Road" package came with that, the electronic locker (which has got me out a few times) and their version of an LT tire.

I just took it to Ziebart today for it's yearly rust proof inspection, loads of mud up in it, they did an exterior detail of it... shines like new. They did have to scrape the floor to clean up the mud from washing it out!

What can I say, it's a real truck, doesn't run around empty all day all shined up with big tires.