I have heard that winter fuel functions just like E85. It can give you more power if your engine is designed to take advantage of that fuel but you will take a large hit on MPG. I normally get 15-16avg MPG around here in summer. I am getting 13-13.5 doing the exact same routes.

 

My mileage has dropped lately as well. I am chalking it up to colder weather. I average about 14.4 MPG normally and it has dropped to 14.1 suddenly. My driving is mostly short trips (4 miles to work) with longer trips on the weekend when I go riding.

I'm not complaining though, my '05 averaged 12.5 at best.

 

This probably goes without saying, but when you idle the truck it is factoring 0 mpg into the equation. So if you go through allot of drive thru's or idle the truck allot you will need to reset more often.

 

I was getting 15.4 (99% city driving) in my '09 Plat until around Turkey Day myself, and now it's down in the 13's. I just chalked it up to winter gas, never even thought about idling, but I do remote start mine every morning as well. Didn't realize that would affect MPG?

My 2004 averaged 14.4 during the summer, went down around the 12's during the winter. And yeah, I imagine the more stuff you have, like a loaded-Plat like mine, will be heavier than other models affecting MPG a bit too, although I don't think Ford shows any difference on their window stickers between different trims for MPG numbers. I think they all say 14/18 for 4x4 5.4L.

 

I'm lucky if I get 9 MPG. Yesterday, filled up hand calculated at 7.6!!!! That is the only complaint I have with this truck. But 95 % in town. So the wife and I are taking a road trip tomorrow and see whit does. It's only got about 1300 miles on it and don't think it's got out of third gear maybe fourth 95% of the time. My 04, 5.4 got at least 12 MPG or better, same conditions.

 

It sounds as if winter gas may be the culprit.

 

Cold air is more dense and therefore, harder to plow through, but I don't think that's the only issue.

 

Damn! Something has got to be wrong with your truck! Either that or your wife is suicidal and making secret midnight trips to the garage without waking you up before she changes her mind, shuts off the truck and climbs back in bed.

You should figure out what's causing the excessive consumption before gas goes back to $4.50/gallon. I get better mileage than that towing a two horse trailer in city traffic! Which, coincidently, I just did last month in your city of Great Falls. Maybe you are getting stuck idling behind those long freight trains that pass through the city?

 

I just filled up... just under 18mpg on winter blend

 

7mpg My 5.8 get's about 17-18 in the summer and with the winter blend anywhere from 12-15. Even when towing I never see any less than 12. I towed a Pontiac Grand-Am 250 miles and got 13mpg. That was all highway though.

I blame the bad MPG in winter on the winter blend and idling. For instance in the mornings I let my truck idle for 10-15 minutes and before I leave work I start it up about 10-15 minutes before I leave. So that's an extra half hour of running a day. So say you fill up every 5 days. That's 2.5 hours of the engine running without going anywhere. It adds up quick.

 

I don't know Real, Tail pipe is clean as new, idle is smooth and plenty of power, lot more than my 04. Acceleration is amazing for a truck with this weight and no codes. I am going to talk to dealer about it. I guess it's my short trips, not getting it up to operating temps. Took it on a short road trip and watched the gage go up a point about every mile at 70 MPH. After about 60 miles it was up to 12.8. Coming back, went to 15.6. MPG. It's amazing how close the dash indicator is to hand calculated. So I suppose I should get rid of the 3.55 ratio since most of my driving is stop and go, in town.

 

dang i towed a 28 ft toy hauler pull behind loaded with 20 gallon tank for toys and 10 gallon for generator with bikes and water for the shower and got 7 mpg doing 80mph.