Bought my 04 new and she's a garage Queen. I've rarely seen 15MPG and don't worry about it much. Had a 99 L with the taller RP and could get 17.5 pretty often.

Anyway, I saw this Shamrock gas station had 91 premium for $2.97 a gallon....(3 years ago never thought I would be happy to pay that hehehe)
So I filled her up and went to get my son in Denver who was here on vacation for a visit. The next day we just cruised around and did some shopping and some sight seeing up in the mountains. Of course I drove the 04 L and had to show off the power. heheheheh

So a few days later it's time to say good by and take him to the airport which is about 100 miles round trip. I decide to go back to the same station to top off the tank. (don't usually go to that station). I run the MPG numbers and I'm at 15.70 MPG. WOW I'm thinkin that can't be right but I'm happy.

The sky looked like rain and we had all his stuff in the back. I put the Tonaue cover on for this trip to keep things dry. I get on the interstate and cruise control is set at about 69MPH. Traffic is nothing and I turn around and come back to the same pump and set the trigger in the same spot and run the numbers to check. I had to do it 3 times to believe it 18 MPG on the dot.

Soooooooo I'm wondering if this is typical for a stock 04 with stock air cleaner no mods? Is there a difference in fuel? Can the tonneaue cover really make that much difference?


I figured you guys would be all over the boards with the E-85 ethanol fuel.
I read it runs cooler and makes more power along with being cheaper. Anybody running it in there L? Any EFI programing changes required?

Sorry if you guys wore the toppic out and I missed it. I haven't been around here much this summer.

Thanks in advance for comments or suggestions.

 

E-85

makes LESS power.....

and uses 30% more for the same distance as gasoline....

 

I got my best mileage (20mpg) with a 50" tv box stood up just in front of the tailgate (tonneau rolled up abviously)... I wasn't going very fast (55-60mph) but it's a heck of a lot better than the 12-15mpg I normally get. I still don't understand it to this day.

,Marc

 

Marc- I hear ya- Maybe the star were just algined right. I just wish we new enouph to duplicate that when in the need?????? I can just see us both lined up at the strip with TV's in our beds and wearing crash helmets.

Kwik- Thanks for the info. I heard about the less MPG but I didn't know it made less power in the L. My other hobby is a VW sandrail and those folks are raving about it as having higher Octane and power and them little air cooled VW engines are running cooler. I guess its hard on certain kinds of rubber parts like 0-rings and fuel lines but the turbo guys like it.

 

Hey G glad to see your putting miles on her again
When you dam near died on us there last yr Pal I and starting talking all WEIRD (and schitt) U had me worried, BUT I think I kick started you in the right direction, AMOF I know I did now ; o )

15 MPG, 18 MPG, 20 MPG : o ()
GEEZE WHAT DO ALL OF YOU DRIVE LIKE 100 YR OLD MEN WITH HATS ???
(evey notice when you got a slow Mother F@$@$ in front of you he is always wearing a hat) Baw ha ha ha ....

My SRT8 maxed out @ 16-17 MPG on road trips, hell even this 6 cyl Ford Sport Trac I bought only gets @ 20-22 MPG (which is like heaven compared to the jeep since it's a 1/3 better and takes the cheapest crap you can find)
As for my L actually it does get crazy good MPG but mostly because I cant step on the dam pedal in any gear without leaving 100 ft of my tires on the road and waking up the entire neighborhood

 

This was my milage before I got a pully and chip on my '00..(and look, gas was below $2.00 a gallon for 94 octane!)

 

I drove mine to Dallas and averaged 19 on the way back, and 20.4 on the way TO dallas. I thought that was pretty good...

but it was on a fresh tune up (plugs, filters, oil, etc) and the tonneau was off. I drove 65-70 most of the way there, 75-80 most of the way back until I got close to home..and I had to pee. Then it was 80+.

 

So you get 19mpg at 75-80mph?????

EPA rates a stock Lightning at 13/17 (as indicated on every Ford brochure) which is highly optimistic with the highway portion never exceeding 50mph.

My 2000 V6 Explorer in perfect tune barely gets 15mpg on the highway when driven at 60mph.

The Pawn's 12mpg average is far more realistic. You need a new calculator.

 

on a trip out to eastern oregon I averaged 18mpg crusing at 95, with a brief WOT dash to 135... still kind of confused as to how that happened?

 

if its all highway, its possible.

The one 18mpg blip in there was a long drive down to delaware.

Otherwise in daily mixed use, I average 12mpg.

 

I swear these trucks get better gas mileage the faster you cruise. I've gotten better gas mileage cruising at 70mph versus 65mph.

 

bet i ever got was 19mpg when i took a trip to a dyno day at troyer performance in virginia. i knew id regualarly get round 15-16 mpg most of time. i filled up and checked on way up and back and was bout a consistent 19. that was with a 4lb lower. now since the 6er and port, im lucky to get 15 lol but dang is it more fun.

 

My 06 F150 5.4L V8 with 3.73 gears will get 20 on a good highway trip cruise at 65-69 MPH... and I dont even have a tonneau cover! I get 15-17 driving to work (like ****, 70-75 mph) on back roads everyday!

I cant believe how good the mileage is even when the pedal is to the floor.... its surprises the hell outta me!

Im gonna miss the mileage when I get my 08 super duty! lol

Anyone else get this?

EDIT: So now I feel like a dumbass.... I was searching and browsing the forum...came across this posted and NOW I realize its the lightning section...lol. DERR!!!

 

Actually E-85 makes more power, and if u have ur L tuned for it, it does not use as much fuel . If u turn the timing down u wont require so much injector duty cycle. But if u want power u tune for it. Think about it, when E-85 burns it burn cool, cooler the motor runs the more power it makes.

 

Actually, from all the research I've read in equivalent quantities, E85 makes more power but is less efficient in a standard engine. (read: higher consumption rate or lower MPG)

Here's one study:
http://aaae.okstate.edu/proceedings/...ticles/556.pdf

This is generally because most motors are not designed for E85 alone, they are designed for a mix (FFV vehicles, etc), where the compression ratio is not high enough to take advantage of E85's higher octane (104).