I know everybody knows this works so nothing new here, but I did some testing over the past 2 weeks and found that being very careful driving my mileage rose from 14.5 to 18.4.

I a) kept the revs below 2000, b) kept my right foot steady going up hills, even though the truck slowed down it has enough torque to keep going, c) anticipated stops and let it slow down gradually, and d) used the cruise control when on the highway.

Basically the same route for each of the two weeks, and it definitely paid off! 70% highway, 30% in-town driving.

Truck: 2005 Scab 4x4 XLT. Stock except it has a hard tonneau on the back.

So... use a light right foot and save yourself some $$$ if you want!

 

That's why I love manuals... you can easily save yourself gas when you want to without being careful with the foot. This is what I do in my manual:

a. Keep below 2000 in all gears.
b. Keep it in O/D (5th) and let it go up the hill (I've let it stay in 5th going 40 mph in a 55 mph), even though people might get ticked off, I don't care, I'm watching some guys with other trucks floor past me and you get that nasty sulfer smell. While I'm saving myself some big bucks.
c. No down gearing, take it out of gear when slowing, watch the traffic lights for the delay patterns and keep rolling.
d. Use cruise on highway (if equipped), mine is, and I've gotten 500 miles out of a tank on a trip recently staying at 63 mph in 5th (O/D).

Watching how you drive is the best for fuel economy big time.

 

i always try to do that....until someone pulls up at the light trying to rev their engine and crap....then i find myself having a heavy foot.....just so they can see the ford logo on my tailgate....lol

 

this sounds like boring drive. I can not drive on low rpms all the time.

 

Ya me either. I find that I am almost always going to at least 3k from stop lights and usually 4k. And I get around 13mpg. I know i could do better its just not as fun though.

 

I'm going to add another tip:

Stay out of 4 wheel drive. It tends to burn quite a bit of gas.

 

where else can you get a 4mpg improvement for free?

One other thing I do it let the auto tranny shift up early... you can actually lift (very gently) your foot and the tranny will upshift... and this engine (4.6) has so much more torque than the high-revving Honda motors I am used to (lots of power at 7000 rpm but torque is non-existent). She'll just go, in overdrive, no problem.

 

same here

 

that isn't over drive you feel kick in... it is the lock up torque converter. I drive like you also most of the time back and forth to work and get 17.3 mpg in mixed driving with my screw 5.4 lariat. The torque converter in mine locks up at 42 mph so I get up there quickly then let it lock.. then slowly accelerate to the speed limit.

 

My last tank I actually did the speed limit for about 3/4 of the tank and then drove normal for the rest and ended up getting 15.9mpg but good god that sucked. i just have to go at least 5mph over the speed limit

 

Gas mileage doesn't mean as much to me as the rest. I bought a 6000+# 4X4 truck on my own will. I knew gas mileage was gonn suck. But, since my company pays for all my fuel, even more reason to drive it like i stole it. I'm surprised gas mileage is even much of a topic here. We all know we could do better, but I fly by those driving like grandma.

 

i drive like a bat out of hell every where i go

i just dont have the patience to get good gas mileage... i may get a small beater one day to save gas if prices get out of hand, but it still wont change my driving habits:o

 

Well I too knew what I was getting into when I bought my 2005 FX4 Screw with the Roush supercharger, and let me tell you I love to hear that little aluminum black box scream like a banshee out of hell lol. Every now and then people try to launch before I do so I stop on it and the wheels brake loose and everyone just backs the F**K off lol. about 11 12 13 mpg when I play around 15 goin to Chi-town doing 70mph.