I got a 4.2 5-speed and average between 15-20mpg depending on the season. Winter is gets worse but thats because the crap they put into the gas. So winter is about 15-17mpg and summer is about 17-20mpg and I do have a lead foot at times.

Theres many things that can affect gas mileage like properly inflated tires, alignment etc. You didn't mention any of those things so if your only getting 15mpg average all the time you might have some other issues you need to get corrected.

I get an average of 15mpg when towing my racecar which the weight of it and trailer are approx. 3,500 - 4,000lbs (that is in the summer when I get approx. 17-20mpg with no weight or towing.

 

happy , I beg to differ , like I said in my 1st post my previous truck was a f150 supercab short box xlt lariet , with a 302 EFI V8
the last 3 trucks have had the 302 in them , they ran great , no water gasket problems or BS , and I consistantly got 17-18 mpg on a trip to Tenn. I got 19.2 at 65mph , the early 90 's Ford where heaveir too. It is either poor engineering , or maybe it is so underpowered ,like most have said , that it just use's to much fuel to keep it up to speed anyone with 4.6 L got any input on milage??

 

I really enjoy reading some of post on this website. It has helped me when researching other Ford Truck products. Like you, the worst thing about my truck is the poor gas mileage. And, everytime I ask someone how to get better gas mileage with my V-6, they give the same redundant response... K&N air filter, superchip, different exhaust. You're kidding me, right? I can afford the air filter, it pays for itself over time, but the costs of chips and exhaust do not pay for themselves, nor, do I have the money to add them to my truck.

The big issue I have with my truck now is getting rid of it, although, I have extremely enjoyed driving it over the past 6 1/2 years. My wife thinks I should trade it in, but the trade-in value is worthless, and my integrity is too high to sell to an unknowing buyer. I guess the best thing...I can write it off on taxes if I give it to charity. They can sell it.

I would hate to buy an import right now with the economy and war going on, but they do seem to last a lot longer than the domestic vehicles. (I have same problematic stories for Chevy and Dodge trucks)

Good luck to those of you keeping your faulty V-6. My advice, if they don't help you now, they never will. Don't let them get you twice, they have already made a fool of you once. Every vehicle has problems, especially the first year model, but a faulty gasket?

More important things to think about right now...God bless and pray for the country.

Gig'em,
Blue '97

 

Yeah, I've also noticed that the gas mileage with the 4.2 is poor. MY 97 XLT has a 5 speed so I figured the gas mileage would be slightly better than the auto. I'm averaging about 15 mpg on the highway and maybe a little bit worse in traffic.

 

Well with my 2000 supercab with auto, 3.55 gears and 255 tires i have averaged about 19.5mpg mostily country driving with some city. My first V-6 was a 1997 supercab with the 235 tires, auto, 3.08 gears had averaged a hair over 20 mpg this is tank after tank of gas. My brothers 1997 V-6, auto with 235 tires, 3.08 rear end only averaged 17.5 mpg but his driving style is hard on fuel economy. Sorry to hear some people are getting bad mileage. Spark plugs good, air filter clean, tires properily inflated? Just wondering as these things can add up. Also i use my cruise every time I drive except in the city. I know one man with a 2000 4.6l and he claims right at 20mpg average. But like I said we live in the sticks with just an occasional stop sign. Are we suppose to stop for them? Glenn Taylor.

 

Thanks for all the response's , It is obvious that this is a real issue
even more so with gasoline nearing 2 bucks a gallon , the fact that import vehicles have a longer life seems to be true , My wife's family all buy Toyota products , one has a 2002 full size , ext cab pickup with a V-8 and is getting 19 and 22 highway , plus factor the life of those vehicles at over 200k miles with no downtime , I cant understand why companies like Ford , GM cant make a product of superior quality to the imports , and rember the price's oooh yea the price's , of these vehicles , and then look at there profit , these companies are making huge profits on selling us these vehicles. as for the gasket issue , I would not buy another product from that Company again , this will get in there pocket , I own 4 Ford vehicles an F-350 4x4 , F-150 4x2
Escort and a Windstar , the Windstar just required a Trans, at 80 K , to the tune of about 3000$ plus a new rack and pinion.
And I am thinking maybe it is time to look else where for my vehicles
Just my feeling's

 

Well, Ford is now saying "Look Again"

 

My 4.2 has 130k and I get about 12-15 around town delivering pizza but I get 20 on the interstate travelling.

 

No.......... thats with the blower whining

 

i gotta 1997 4.2 4x4 5spd get about 16mpg driving to work [about 20 mi. round trip] . my best 20 mpg on a trip from md to fla.

 

Superhero, my wife's uncle has a Tundra supercab with V-8. First he paid more for his and it was a program truck than I did for mine brand new. Second with 19k miles on it it has been in the shop twice for warrenty repairs with the second something to do with the intake manifold that the service man told him would have cost a fortune if the truck was not under warrenty. Third the truck has only a piece of a bed in back and a rear seat suited for toddlers. Fourth he gets exactly 2 mpg less than mine but he does have a V-8. Fourth he is not happy with the truck having to be repaired twice in 20K miles and told me he wouldn't be buying another one. I still think, and of course this is my 2 cents worth, that their has to be something wrong with your truck to get that kind of mpg. The wind has never kicked my two Ford trucks out of overdrive and the 2000 takes moderate hills in overdrive with no trouble at all. And finally my brother put a little over 140k on his 97 V-6 that he bought new with only replacing the spark plug wires at 110K, front brake pads at 120k and the water pump at 139K. He hauled a car hauler frequently on 90 mile round trips to the car auctions. I think that is pretty good service. Glenn.

 

Thanks for the info , there very well could be something wrong with my truck , I dont really know , but with most other replies here it seems I am getting the average MPG as most , probbly will have to put new plug's and wires on and some other minor tune ups see if it helps , got an appoinment for new meats tues
they will be all season 235/70 R 16 , so they will be Original
equipment , as for the Toyota Tundra , I hear ya loud and clear
It seems most manufacture's are selling us things so we can test them - for them , at our exspense

 

I hope that you find some low cost solution to your fuel usage Superhero, I don't think your mileage is average for your driving style. I base this on the fact that you are able to get 16-18mpg with a 5.0 truck. You must have good roads and a good driving style. The 100k plugs in my opinion are crap. At 50k my wife's Mustang developed a slight miss, pulled the plugs and two were partially incased in this gold colored crap, put in coppor core autolights and miss dissappeared. I will not put platium plugs in anything I own though my 2000 still has them in due to only having 22k. If you are not able to find anything out of the ordinary at the shop like plugs, air filter etc. Try dissconnecting your battery to reboot your computer and maybe some good fuel injector cleaner. Good luck Glenn Taylor.

 

98, 4x2, Reg Cab, Short Bed, 3.08 rear, 5 speed, 235/70/16 tires, 4.2L can get 20/21 hwy depending upon season (winter/summer) and 17/18 city (winter/summer). Cannot really complain about it.

In comparison my 98 Ranger, 4x2, Reg Cab, Short Bed, 4.10 rear, automatic, 235/75/15 tires, 4 cylinder is averaging right at 19.7 (48,000 miles of fillups/documentation) getting 23.5/26 hwy (winter/summer) and 18.5/20 city (winter/summer).

 

Hey guys, just thought I would offer my 2 cents. I recently had to have the heads and everything done on my 4.2, but the mechanic also told me they had to replace the O2 sensors in the exhaust because they were fouled up. You would not believe how much better my gas milage is now. I went from about 10-12 around town back up to 16-18 in town! The guy told me when the sensors start to get worn, it REALLY kills your gas milage. Don't know if its true for everyone, but it seams to have made a difference on mine.