After hearing all the hubub about gas mileage, I decided to do my own little test. I've heard anywhere from 11mpg to almost 20!!
I know peoples driving habits vary quite a bit, so I've broken it down in 3 catagories:

1. Babying it (always shifting at 2-2500 rpm, never full throttle)

2. Normal (most shifts at 2500-3500 rpm, occasional full throttle, some holeshots)

3. Hammering it (always shifting above 3500 rpm, lots of full throttle operation, some racing, etc...)

Here is what I found:

Babying it: 15-15.5 mpg
Normal: never much over 14 mpg
Hammering it: 12-12.5 mpg

I suspect most people fall somewhere between the first two. I didnt see any gain in mpg by adding the superchip, but the increased performance is well worth it. Any other input on this topic is appreciated. My driving is @40 miles per day with 15 of that being highway.



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1999 F150 4x4 XLT BLACK ORP 4.6 5 SPEED 3.55
LUND HOOD SHEILD
K&N
FLOWMASTER SERIES 40
PREMIUM SOUND W/CHANGER
PIONEER 6815's(for now)

 

Your study seems to have been right on! I experience aprox. the same mileage in the 3 mentioned situations.



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99 4x4 XLT supercab 5.4L Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Med. Graphite w/Captain Chairs, Pioneer DEP-4000, Tint, K&N, Bedliner, 3" Catback w/3 Chamber Flowmaster, 285/75/16 BFG A/T on American Racing Python wheels, Stull Billet Grill

'00 Expedition XLT, Silver w/Dark graphite interior, 5.4L, Stull Billet Grill and some other stuff. All in all she'll stay stock. Ok, maybe a Flowmaster 50 series soon.

 

I have a 4.6 150 sc and get 19.5 h and 16 city thats close to the sticker 15/19. I had a 97 gmc yukon with a 5.7 and it got 14 city and 18 h sticker 15/19 with less pickup than the ford 150 4.6

 

Isu76,

Your mpg seems a little higher than average. Have you done any mods to it?? I remember for the first few weeks, I got almost 16 mpg, but I just passed it off as careful break in. My mileage has slowly been getting worse.

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1999 F150 4x4 XLT BLACK ORP 4.6 5 SPEED 3.55
LUND HOOD SHEILD
K&N
FLOWMASTER SERIES 40
PREMIUM SOUND W/CHANGER
PIONEER 6815's(for now)
SUPERCHIP
AIRBOX MOD

 

Well, I fall between the first two categories. One problem, I get 11mpg!!! I'm getting a tonneau cover, exhaust and some new plugs and wires and I'll take it from there. (38,000 miles)

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Ford bugshield, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)

 

>>>>I would have to agree that your figures are about right and should be on the average. I get somewhere in between 14.6 and 15 mpg on daily driving in what you called normal, never really tried babying it. Will have to one fillup and see what difference it makes. On highway driving I've seen anywhere from a four to five mpg swing for the better.

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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue

Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner

 

I seem to fall between the 2nd and 3rd lines and I get from about 13 to 15 local driving I haven't taken any long trips yet to see what I will get on the highway I'm hoping it will be close to the sticker number of 20 highway

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

Blackenedford,

My mileage is close to what you have tested. Just had a fillup from my normal stop and go driving to work (2.4 mi) and puttering around on short trips resulting in 13.8 mpg. Sometimes it's less than this.

I have on occasion gotten 18.5 and 18.9 on sustained interstate driving @ 65 mph while going on vacations. Unfortunately my driving needs do not occur frequently like this during the course of a normal year (about 7500 miles per year.) My results mirror the MSRP stickers so I did not get any mpg surprises.

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)



[This message has been edited by Dunbarton (edited 01-07-2000).]

 

no mods, its all stock but i have a light foot and these mpgs are unloaded, with no ac on. I did not check it when it was new, it has 5k now.

 

I definitely fall in the second category as far as driving habits. I drive right at 120 miles per day round trip to work, about 60% of which is at highway speeds (75-80), the rest can range from highway speeds to stop and go (Houston traffic). I drive a 99 4.6L SC 4x4 ORP, bone stock. My total average mileage so far (10,500 miles in just over 3 months- I bought it with 37 miles on it) is just a hair over 14 MPG (14.02 to be exact). I have tracked every ounce of gasoline that's gone in it. Worst tank was 12.2 MPG, trying to maintain 70 MPH in the hills of west central Texas. Best was 16.15, which was only about 1/3 tank, most of it at 40-50 MPH due to heavy fog one morning going hunting. Have used Pennzoil 5W30 oil until the next oil change, then I'm going to Mobil 1, hoping to see a slight increase there.

Barrett

[This message has been edited by bearintex (edited 01-07-2000).]

 

I must say I feel almost lucky to get the mileage I am seeing. I drive fairly hard, usually shifting at or above 3500 rpm at least half the time. I usually do not baby it at all. My mileage since the "chip" has not been below 15.9mpg city even with the advent of the "winter" fuel (oxygenized).

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Mike Boardman '99 F150XLT 4X4 RC,FS,4.6,5spd,3.55LS,ORP,
Towing pkg,K&N GenII FIPK,FLowMaster,SUPERCHIP!,SnugLid,Luverne Nerf bars,
bug shield, DK Toreador Red.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

 

I usually get between 17 - 19 mpg.
The lowest mpg was 16.5
The highest was 19.4
I am averaging about 17.5 with winter driving.
( 4400 miles so far ) ( 4X2 model)
I fall into cat #1

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99 XLT SC, 4.6 L,MacNeil Window Deflectors, Ford-Duraliner Bedliner, K&N Filter, Westin Nerfs.
Family Hauler

 

Sounds good to me. I think I fall into the last two categories.

 

I got my worst and best mpg's today. I filled up two days ago, and drove say 50% on city. Since I knew from the start I am getting crap mileage, I figured might as well have some fun and drove harder with RPMs reaching 4000. By the 1/3 tank, I filled it up before going on my delivery, and I got an agonizing 13.8 mpg. Then I went on a delivery at steady 65 about 245 miles (10% city) with RPMs never reaching 2500 which gave me an astonishing 20.6 mpg. Both uses Texaco. Just shows you how much effect a heavy foot and stop and go driving is on mileage.

Leo dC

 

Last summer vacation to and form Branson MO.
I average 18 mpg. 75% of driving speed was between 70 and 75 mph. Left Branson and drove to San Marcos avg. 17 mpg still speeds btwn 70 & 75 mp.

Just made a trip to Arlington, TX and round trip avg. 15.8 mpg, but drove somewhat harder. MX SPD @90 AVS @75. My observation is 65-70 is okay if your trying for a higher gas mileage, but if your like me, just enjoy the drive and be safe.

I'm trucking a 5.4liter w/3.55 gear ratio. The only add-ons as of gas savers: K&N air filter, Tonneau lid, and Borla exhaust system.


Longview,TX
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www.synerlec.com

[This message has been edited by TripleD (edited 01-08-2000).]