My Lightning got better mileage!
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 215
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From: Southeast TN
My Lightning got better mileage!
I like my new '04 F-150 SCrew a lot. It's gonna be a great ruck for a lotta years.
BUT!...I must admit I fell for the imaginary, ficticious mileage ratings of 15/19 on the window sticker. The '02 Lightning I traded in got better mileage. I still can't believe it: The 380 HP supercharged Lightning got better fuel mileage than the new SCrew. The L came in at about 15 mpg; best so far on the SCrew is 14.3 mpg (I have the 3-valve 5.4L engine). I guess it's all that extra weight I'm haulin around now. GVWR of the L was only 5900 pounds. GVWR of the SCrew is 7,950 or so. On the good side, the L required 91 octane; the Screw can live with 87. That in itself saves $0.20 per gallon.
When you think of it, after the price we pay for these trucks, the incremental fuel cost, either plus or minus, for most of us is pretty darn insignificant. Might as well ignore it. The difference between 14.3 mpg at today's $1.66/gallon verus the EPA window sticker of 19 mpg only amounts to about $48.00 per month, assuming 20,000 miles per year. The market value depreciation alone is probably 10 times that much.
Still, I thought the L was a gas hog. Just goes to show you: it's all relative.
CW
BUT!...I must admit I fell for the imaginary, ficticious mileage ratings of 15/19 on the window sticker. The '02 Lightning I traded in got better mileage. I still can't believe it: The 380 HP supercharged Lightning got better fuel mileage than the new SCrew. The L came in at about 15 mpg; best so far on the SCrew is 14.3 mpg (I have the 3-valve 5.4L engine). I guess it's all that extra weight I'm haulin around now. GVWR of the L was only 5900 pounds. GVWR of the SCrew is 7,950 or so. On the good side, the L required 91 octane; the Screw can live with 87. That in itself saves $0.20 per gallon.
When you think of it, after the price we pay for these trucks, the incremental fuel cost, either plus or minus, for most of us is pretty darn insignificant. Might as well ignore it. The difference between 14.3 mpg at today's $1.66/gallon verus the EPA window sticker of 19 mpg only amounts to about $48.00 per month, assuming 20,000 miles per year. The market value depreciation alone is probably 10 times that much.
Still, I thought the L was a gas hog. Just goes to show you: it's all relative.
CW
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,424
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From: Motor City
I'm not surprised the L got better MPGs... only 80 more ponies and about what... a TON less weight? Easy with the right foot and no problem-o.
A tuner won't help. Hasn't helped me yet... my PCM is still in its learning curve and I'm mashing my foot through the floorboard every chance I get!
We'll see when things level out... I WAS getting about 15-15.5 in the cool summer/fall temps. Winter milage is around 14mpg's. I'm still on my first tank of premium w/ the new tune. Readout says 11.5mpg...
A tuner won't help. Hasn't helped me yet... my PCM is still in its learning curve and I'm mashing my foot through the floorboard every chance I get!
We'll see when things level out... I WAS getting about 15-15.5 in the cool summer/fall temps. Winter milage is around 14mpg's. I'm still on my first tank of premium w/ the new tune. Readout says 11.5mpg...
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
My Lightning got better mileage
LOL! My '03 L gets about the same mileage as my '04 reg cab FX4 if I drive both about ther same! I drive the L on nice sunny days and the FX4 the rest of the time. The tires are wearing much better on the FX4. I just can't figure that out. Ha! Life is good!