2015 - 2020 F-150

Help with 2015 Gears

Old Oct 23, 2015 | 12:03 PM
  #1  
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Help with 2015 Gears

Looking to trade my 2014 Fx4 Eco with 3.55's in for a 2015 version of pretty much the same truck. Problem I am having is around here there aren't any left with the 3.55's and the options I am looking for that are in my price range.

I am very concerned dropping down to 3.31 gears. I don't tow a lot, but I do tow my boat, which is around 4k pounds. I know that's not a lot of weight for these trucks, but when I traded my 5.0 with 3.73's for a 5.0 with 3.55's, I hated the 3.55's. The 3.55's in the eco seem fine though.

So I guess I am looking for advise on if I should consider taking a 3.31, or hold out? I don't want to get into another situation like the 5.0 with the 3.55's where I hated how it performed, especially towing.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
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Old Oct 23, 2015 | 08:36 PM
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I have the 3.31's with my 5.0 and really wish I had the 3.55's. It gets great highway mileage, which I do a LOT of, so I can live with it
 
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Old Oct 23, 2015 | 10:42 PM
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I think the low end torque and the low 1st gear in the tranny in a EB would help a lot to compensate for 3.31's. You should be fine towing only 4k but if you got a much heavier trailer that could be a different story.

Why not pick one out, and before you pull the trigger bring the boat to the dealer, hitch it up, and try it?
 
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 07:31 PM
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New dilema

So I found the one I want for the price I want. Only problem is it has the 23 gallon fuel tank. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Afraid I will get annoyed by having to fill up more often since I have been used to 36 gallon.

Thanks!
 
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 08:16 PM
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Right now I am getting about 250 miles per tank. All city, some idling. Wish I had the bigger tank but this truck had all the other options, kinda like the one you are looking at.

It really isnt a big deal. Although on the highway if these trucks get the mpg advertised it would be about 750 miles between fillups if you were on a road trip and had the big tank.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by joe t.
Right now I am getting about 250 miles per tank. All city, some idling. Wish I had the bigger tank but this truck had all the other options, kinda like the one you are looking at.

It really isnt a big deal. Although on the highway if these trucks get the mpg advertised it would be about 750 miles between fillups if you were on a road trip and had the big tank.
I cannot understand how, under any circumstances, you are getting 250 miles per tank, that's less than 10.5 MPG...
 
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 09:17 PM
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Around 12.7 i think is what i am calculating by hand.

Also remember the fuel light comes on before the tank is actually empty.


I am only on 3 tanks of gas now. Just bought the truck. Seems like it is using less than my Tundra.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 10:45 PM
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Are you driving around in 4x4 all day fully loaded?

Super Duty's with the 6.2 get better than that
 
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 08:51 AM
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Unloaded mainly city driving. Like downtown houston type of stuff all day. It has 1000 miles on it and probably 100 of that is on the freeway but always traffic around here.

I have a super duty 6.2 regular cab 2wd 3.73s and the mpg says 10.6.

As a note the gauge in my f150 says it is in the 14s. I think it is off. Seems like I am putting around 20 gallons in it around 250 miles when the fuel light comes on. I will keep checking and post up. Dont think the truck is "messed up" so dont take it the wrong way.

It was like this with the stock tires and the toyos, the toyos only weigh 3 lbs more per tire. I actually think it went up with the slightly taller toyos, probably because they geared it up some or maybe the truck is just breaking in.

So if it you do a lot of city driving get the bigger tank maybe. I do about 400 miles of driving per week and it hasnt annoyed me yet.

Also if you do a lot of city driving get the lower gears if possible. Helps get it up to speed easily. Wish my super duty had 4.30s but I couldnt find one.
 

Last edited by joe t.; Oct 26, 2015 at 08:55 AM.
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 09:56 AM
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Something is wrong with your truck if you are getting such crappy gas mileage. Even 100% city.

Some other observations.
1. The gas light shouldnt be coming on when you have 3 gallons left in the tank (~20 gallons used), should be around 2 gallons, when mine comes on, I usually see the "miles to empty" read around 35 gallons.

2. if you have driven 250 miles when you fill your truck up and put 20 gallons in it, that means you are getting 12.5 MPG. Which is HORRIBLE. And something is wrong with your truck. Under no circumstance should any 2015 F150 be getting that kind of mileage, even 100% city. Even with extensive idling.

The worst I have gotten with my 5.0 with 3.31's is 16.5 and I drive 46 miles per day, 33 of which is city and 13 of which is highway.

My Highway only trips I get 18-20 depending on where I set the cruise control. I have done "back country driving" and gotten 22, when I have the cruise set to 60mph. But on the highway I am doing between 75-85mph
 
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 11:51 AM
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No clue Ill see if it goes up. I will test it a couple more times and see. Runs fine.


As a note my tundra got 11 and it is rated for like 14 city. So maybe it is my driving habits.


Back to the subject at hand, if you do a lot of city driving get the deeper gears. 3.55 or 3.73. I think 3.55 is the lowest you can get on the 3.5 eco.
 
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by joe t.
No clue Ill see if it goes up. I will test it a couple more times and see. Runs fine.


As a note my tundra got 11 and it is rated for like 14 city. So maybe it is my driving habits.


Back to the subject at hand, if you do a lot of city driving get the deeper gears. 3.55 or 3.73. I think 3.55 is the lowest you can get on the 3.5 eco.
You can get 3.73's on all trucks but the chances of finding one on the lots is a different story

I wanted 3.55's in my truck, but one didnt exist in the config I wanted (5.0, screw, 6.5' bed, 4x2) in the entire state when I bought it (July 24), so I got what they had. I did not have time to wait and special order.
 
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 01:55 PM
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With the smaller tires on the 2wd you are probably ok with 3.31.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2015 | 01:12 PM
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Well, I did it.

Here she is, went ahead with it because they gave me a deal I couldn't refuse. Hope the 23 gallon tank doesn't end up being a regret, but also hoping Ford gives a reasonable option to upgrade at some point.

2015 Ford F150 Lariat FX4 502a package:

 
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Old Oct 27, 2015 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by piercede
Here she is, went ahead with it because they gave me a deal I couldn't refuse...
Congrats, piercede! She's a beauty!

Crystal
 
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