I'm looking at a 97 4.6L V8 Reg Cab Short Bed 4x4 with about 100k miles. I believe it has 265's on it. Assuming it was maintained properly, what kind of gas mileage can i expect, and how can i improve it (what will intake, exhaust, and chip add?)

 

Expect to get poor gas milage, esp if its a 4x4

Do not expect to get any great improvements in milage

This is the real world...and those are the real facts.

And it's all from real experience...sorry

 

I'd say expect about 16-18 mpg on straight highway mileage and about 11-13 mpg on straight city mileage...... Figure about 15 mpg overall........

That's about what I get with a 5.4.... I don't think the 4.6 is going to be significanly better just because it's a few cubes smaller.....

Mostly it'll depend on your right foot.... Keep the speeds down to around 60-65 mph on the highway and don't always try to be the first one across the intersection at stop lights. Keep the tires up a little bit on the pressure and an aftermarket muffler won't hurt any, but won't give all that much either......

Good luck!

 

Yea, that's about what I figured... Well Ive been getting about 15-16 mpg with an old 1500 350 im working on. I'm getting a pretty good deal on the truck though, so if it becomes a major issue, I can always sell.

 

I have a f 150 with a 4.6l 2 wheel drive with 205,000 miles on it and I am still getting 18 on the freeway. Keep it at around 65 and use the cruse. A tonneua cover gives you around 1.5mpg on the freeway. Good luck

 

That's close to the setup I have except I'm not a 4X4. I get right at 17mpg in mixed driving. 80% highway/ 20% city and I am a fast driver, so highway speeds are around 70 - 75mph. Hope that helps a bit.

-Brian

 

My 2003 4x4, 4.6 gets 15 city and 19 on the highway. Just what the sticker said it would.

 

Mine is not the 4X4 but I beg-to-differ about increasing the mileage. A while ago I went from a 3:55 rear to 4:30 gears (didn't like them) then to 4:10 gears. I run 275/60-17 tires. I lost a little mileage after the tire and gear change. Last fall I installed Troyer Electric fans and this past weekend I drove from Baltimore to New York round trip all highway and all 70 to 80 MPH. I got 20 mpg. This is the first time I have gotten over 17mpg since changing the gears.

I average 15-16 most of the time but I have a VERY heavy foot.

Electric fans are not cheep but are effective at improving mileage and freeing some horsepower at the same time. I imagine pulleys will do the same thing for the same reason. That may just be my next modification.