Hello everyone, I have a 2010 f150 super crew 4x4 5.4L. It's my daily driver to work daycare and back home. I've tried driving 60-65 mph on the hwy and 80-82mph on the interstate. Both speeds I average 14.5- 14.2 mpg. Is there anything I can do to get better gas mileage? Daily round trip is 42 miles. Please help!

 

That's normal for those conditions on average. A programmer or special tune would help slightly. Keep the tires inflated properly. I run 40 psig in my p-metric Michelins. Accelerate slowly. Minimize idling. Drive slower.

 

Is it stock, or is it lifted with big aggressive tires?

 

Good point. If the truck has been lifted, it will increase fue consumption due to poorer aerodynamics. If the tires are larger than stock, that will also increase fuel consumption due to poorer aerodynamics and increased rolling resistance.

 

Bigger, wider, taller and/or heavier tires all HURT the mileage with these trucks. I'm REALLY surprised that you get the same MPG at 80+ MPH that you do at 60!!!! The MPG on mine (2010 4x4 FX-4 5.4 Scab) drops off quickly above about 55 MPH. You need to recheck that mileage at different speeds over the exact same route, including the same direction.

Also a tonneau cover drops MPG about 4/10 MPG. (Yes DROPS regardless of what the vendors say!) Drafting, even at a distance, adds about 1 MPG. Stopping and having to re-accelerate to speed KILLS the MPG of mine regardless of how gently I accelerate!

My readings:
45 to 50 MPH abt 23 MPG
55 MPH abt 21 MPH
65 MPH abt 18.5 MPG
70 MPH abt 17.5 MPG
75 MPH abt 16.5 MPG

 

Drafting a big truck on the interstate will give a huge increase in fuel economy. I'm not advising anyone to do this though.

 

Interesting first post and reason to join. Has your mpg recently dropped or did you just get the truck? Make sure your air filter is clean and the above posts, although you will be driving a while with a tuner to break even on the costs, if at all. Sounds like your mileage is about right, maybe a little low for hwy with a 4x4 screw with the 5.4. I average 13ish mixed hwy/city with a 6in lift pushing heavy 35's. I assume you don't do all hwy and your factoring in your overall mpg.

 

Need more specs besides the ones listed above. How many miles? Ever change plugs? Ever run a fuel system cleaner like Amsoil or Techron? Do you frequently check that your tire pressures are the same? Is your air filter clean? Have you ever cleaned your throttle body? How old are your brakes? Are your rotors grooved a little? You could have a caliper or two locking up resisting the rolling via a bad piston pin or a slide that needs greased. Any suspension components loosening causing side drag? Your front tires will show evident ware.

I would ask about fuel filter but Ford decided to put those inside the tanks on 2009+. Foolish move Ford.

As far as drafting a bigger truck, I would rather take a 3mpg hit than nick up my front end paint by following too close.

 

Looks like you are using the dash display to see your mileage. The only proper way to see your actual mileage is to do it by hand over a period of time.

 

The in-dash display in mine is pretty accurate and VERY responsive.


FWIW Drove about 53 miles coming home this evening and I checked the MPG again. MOSTLY open road with about 10 red lights. I drove about 6 miles at 50 MPH and the rest at 55 to 60 MPH and faster when passing. I still got 18.5 MPH overall. I filled up shortly before getting home and measuring and calculating MPG gave the same results. I added a hard tonneau cover but otherwise a COMPLETELY stock 2010 FX-4 5.4 3.73 S Cab.

I haven't measured lately but I usually get about 14.3 MPG in town, if I stay out of heavy traffic.

 

Do you fill up at one station only if you can help it? Perhaps you got a couple crappy tanks of fuel due to the formula the store receives wasn't up to tier.

 

A few more items that contribute to poor MPGs:

Dirty air filter
Old, poorly gapped spark plugs
Poorly performing catalytic converter(s)

 

The 80 to 82 mph kills the fuel mileage in these trucks. If you can run 2 to 3 mph under the posted limits without getting run over I would give it a try. Usually your right leg is the best way to increase fuel mileage!

 

I would also assume that the 3.73 does not help either, especially on the interstate.
I have the 3.55 and at 78mph over a daily 114 mile round trip I get 15 mpg in winter and 16 mpg when outside temps are over 75 deg f . These numbers have been repeatedly calculated by hand. My truck reading is 1 mpg high.

If I keep it under 65 I can approach 17 mpg during the summer.

Remember, these trucks are rated at 14 city/18 highway with an avg of 15 mpg mixed driving. Proper maintenance and use of the go pedal are your best options.