Well obviously I wasn't expecting to be getting good mpg when I bought my truck.. Just not one of those things you do. But I did expect to be getting more than 11mpg for my STOCK truck.. Anyone have ideas on how to increase mpg?! Parts, tricks, anything.

 

Do you live in the north where we have winter fuel blends? Did you just get the truck? If the answers to those questions are yes, wait until summer gets here and they go back to summer gas and see what you get. I have the 5.4 and get about 13 in the summer, but with the winter fuel blends and extra warm up time I get about 11 mpg.

 

Best mpg increase I got was doing an e-fan conversion.

 

Drive 60 when going into the wind. Use the GPS to spot your stops, then coast the last 4/10ths of the mile. Stay under 3k RPMs when accelerating. Don't idle when unnecessary. Don't use ethanol. Make a game out of getting MPG.

 

Mine (4.6L) went from 12.5 mpg to 15mpg when I did my last round of maintenance:

Plugs, coils, paper air filter, fuel filter, motorcraft oil filter, motorcraft 5W20 semi-synthetic, fresh coolant and thermostat. Cleaned throttle body, EGR, IAT sensor, injectors, etc. Tires at 45psi.

I also changed my intake manifold to the newer plastic style due to vacuum leaks.

Gotts mod helps a tiny bit. 3" exhaust helps a tiny bit. Programmer helps a tiny bit. It pays to really look over your truck to see why it is working so hard. Is your alignment off? Is the radiator beat up and limiting airflow? Brakes in good shape and not dragging? Is your coolant old? any vacuum leaks? has the diff oil ever been changed? Transmission fluid ever been changed? Original O2 sensors?

Having the A/C recharged got me about 1 mpg. Note that the A/C compressor is on and stealing MPG unless your dash selector is in 'panel' or 'off'

 

Herr is a Lil list I compiled awhile back since this question comes up so often...


Clean:
MAF
IAC
EGR
Throttle body
Motorvac engine

Replace:
Fuel filter
Air filter
Tires - nonaggressive
Synthetic oil
Front diff synthetic oil
Rear diff synthetic oil
Plugs
Cops/Wires
O2 sensors

Check:
Tire pressure
Alignment
Brake drag
Gas cap seal
Your driving style
Your weight
Cats - unclogged
Vac leaks
Gas tank staps for leaks
Extra weight, remove unneeded items in

Buy:
Efans
Eco tune for programmer
Different gears depending on where you drive and your tire size


Remember, these are 6000lb tanks. Not your grocery getter. Whenever you think you have bad mpg, remember that someone is getting lower than you.

 

If it gets better then 11mpg, IMO it's good on fuel.

 

My sc/sb 4x4 with 3:55s and 285s gets around 12.8 in the winter. My supercab flareside 4x4 with 3:55s And 265s gets around 14 winter both 5.4s and all city driving first one has no cats with a 14" Maggie the second has both cats with a magna pack and a y to duals. I see no reason your stock truck is getting 11 mpg unless you're driving like a bat out of hell every where.

 

Stock trucks do get 11mpg. They even get worse than that, with normal, easy driving. Many, many, many factors as to why one guy gets 14 with a stock truck and another get's 11.

My truck is more up to date on maintenance than a majority of owners. I have not had 11+ since October. I routinely get 9-10mpg on tanks that I don't ever get over 3k RPM, use 4WD, idle for long periods...etc.

 

I can attest to this.

When I want better mileage I just hope in my car. It's a truck if you expect anything more than 15, its unrealistic in a 4x4.