I just bought a 02 F150 Sport with 6 cylinder and 4 speed/overdrive. It has 22000 miles on it Anyway what can I do to get better gas milage? Replace tailgate? Drive slower? Use synthetic oil? Just looking for some ideas, dont want to spend a ton just to save a few dollars

 

you could spend a ****load of $$ on mileage enhancing stuff but most of it will never pay back. 3 things can help the most and cost zero money. 1) limit your highway speeds to 65 to 70 mph. 2) maintain your momentum whenever possible in city driving. coast up to red lights and try not to stop if you can help it. getting all of that weight going again is where the fuel goes. 3) moderate acceleration rates; short shift (don't wind it out)

 

P.S. I gained half a mile per gallon when I switched to synthetic oil. doubt that that pays for the increased cost of the oil though. I use synthetic for the cold flow characteristics in Minnesota winters.

 

What about a bed cover?

 

you could install electric fans and gain some MPG, but you are looking at bout 200 dollars. Bed covers help in long drives on the freeway, but you are adding 20-60 pounds of truck to move in the stop and go of city driving.

Garrett

 

Stay away from reformulated fuels if you can.

 

How do you know if the fule has been reformulated? I live in Texas so I dont think we get cold weather fuel.

 

Synthetic oil, underdrive pulleys, and electric fan. This works but is not cost effective for mgp; more power + mpg is nice though.

 

Reformulated fuel is mostly used to reduce air pollution in big cities. You would know if your area is using it. I don't believe Texas does. It's not weather related. They use it out in Phoenix also. The gas pumps have stickers on them indicating you may be buying fuel with up to 10% other products(usually MTBE or alcohol) for cleaner burning.

 

Buy a mountian bike and don't drive.


J/K, but it is a good way to save gas.

 

Buy a v-8, thats what I wish I would have done. The v-6 isnt enough engine for this truck.

 

according to Ford the 4.2 w/ 5 speed get another 2 MPG. I really think it has plenty of pull. It is not like I will ever haul anything or pull a trailor. Just had to buy one being in Texas and all

 

I disagree about the V6 not being enough engine. I have the V6 and it has done everything I've asked it to do. No it's not fast in V8 terms, no it can't pull what a 7.3 diesel pulls. But it will absolutely pull the 4200lbs that the manual says it will. It will get 17 mpg in town and 23 on the highway. That's what the sticker said on the driver's side window and that's what it does.

 

right on the money pops. the 4.2 works great. there is no need for a V-8 unless you regularly pull more than 4,000 pounds.

 

is your truck a reg cab or a supercab? the v8 4.6 isnt much diff from our trucks besides 30hp and of course 2 cylinders but there not as beefy as u might think.. the real difference is a 5.4l v8 but I dont think you will really get great gas mileage with a 5.4l , my dads 5.4l gets pretty crappy gas mileage, on my reg cab 4.2 i can go over 400 miles on a tank with combined freeway and city driving. I also really put that pedal to the ground though a lot and im still pretty surprised by the gas mileage i get. but then again im a reg cab 4.2 which is lighter than the supercab.

-TJ