I think what we are missing here is what size tank you have.

You should post: engine, model, year, and tank size.

Me: 5.4 xlt 99 25 gal

If I drive till the light comes on I can squeeze out about 350 miles on winter gas.

 

I get like 400 miles to a tank, a 4.2l v6 5MT 27 gal tank... drive like grandpa.

I had a Dodge Dakota stuff itself up my Escape... I had a Reese class III receiver, with a 3" drop chrome hitch... this dude in a Dakota rammed me at a stoplight and it went right through his transcooler, radiator, engine fan, and pushed his engine block up 2". After reading your post, I think other cars like those Reese hitches just like I like my Reese's Pieces...

 

Does the muffler and exhaust system you have make a difference in gas mileage? What do you guys think. Because Mine has the converter but the muffler is temp off the truck? Is that killing my gas mileage?

 

I've got a 2004 Screw 4x4, 5.4, 3.73 gears and getting a constant 13-14 town and 17-18 hwy. A lot better than my first F-150 2wd, 302 with a C-6 3-speed auto, I only got 10 city and 13 to 14 hwy. Trick is to cruise at 67 to 70 hwy and take it easy in town. Yeah, drive like a PawPaw!

 

2001 SuperCrew, Lariat, Off Road Package, 17" wheels with 265/70 tires, 5.4L, 4x4, 3.55 LS axle, 25 gallon tank, and 120,000 miles on the odometer. I can get 400 miles to a tank, only fumes left though and praying you see a gas station real soon. It gets 17 mpg at 75 mph with the cruise control on. But thats prue open road here in Wyoming. So I don't have to mess around with traffic. In town she plummets to about 12 or 13 mpg. Towing just about anything it's down to 10 mpg. That's just the facts of owning a 4x4 pickup, live with it or sell it. I really don't think it's that awful. If you are getting much less than that, then it has to be your driving and traffic conditions or something is wrong with your truck.

 

It's a Ford, get used to it.

The 5.43v is not one of Fords better engines for truck applications, If I were to go back into a Ford, the 4.6 would be my choice.

The Hemi in my 06 2500 reg cab 4x4 has more power, better mpg than any Ford 1/2 ton I have ever owned, and the hemi is only 345 cubic in, the 5.4 330 cubic in.

Ford is really messed up when you get the 4.6 in a Explorer that pumps out 300 H/P = to the 5.43v 300 H/p and yo can get a 5sp automatic in a Mazda/ranger.

Ford is not interested in the F-150, the F-250 and Super duty trucks have turned the F-150 into sub standard when the new Gm and Toyota Tundra out class, out perfrom and get better milage than the F-150.

The F-150 will not be arround in it's current configuration, Ford has lost.

 

Your comments about the hemi are totally oposite of others on this forum. The hemi is notorious for poor fuel milage. The 5.4 is a great truck engine. It makes so much of it's torque at a very low rpm... perfect for towing. Unlike the hemi which makes only slightly more torque.. but at a lot higher rpm. What is this "it's a ford get used to it" crap? your the one who bought the loss leader in trucks... crapy quality and all..geez BTW... the 4.6 in the explorer is 292 hp and 300 ft. lbs. torque. the 5.4 is 300 hp and 365 ft. lbs of torque. That is a big difference.

 

I have an 05 F150 extended cab 4X4 with the 5.4 I got 450 to a tank when I took a trip from Virginia to Indiana I set the cruise on 75. I get about 300 on city driving.

 

Buying a vehicle is a choice. That's why there are at least 8 full-sized pickups for sale in the US. Each ones has its pluses and minuses. No one can refute that. People on this forum tend to like Ford the best. The 5.4 has been around for 10 years and has made steady improvements along the way. Is it a perfect engine? No. Then again, no engine is perfect. Part of what makes the 5.4 a desirable engine is that it HAS been around. It's easy to get after market parts that fit. It's easy to find companies like Troyer that can modify to your desire.

I find it funny that you chose Dodge to compare to. Ford has consistently doubled Dodge's pickup truck sales. I mean if you wanted to point out Ford's lack of recent innovation, you could have used GM's newest pick up or Toyota's excellent offering to compare it to.

What has been lost is your point. If you dislike Ford so much, maybe you should find a Dodge truck forum and you would find a lot more individuals that share your opinions than you will here.

 

I can make around 400 miles before my low fuel light comes on, more than I expected out of a large truck. As far as Dodges go the engines seem to be way ahead of the body quality. Last Dodge I had was falling apart in the first year. 3/4 ton conversion van. At least Ford has thicker plastic!

 

I get 11 mpg, And sure I wish it got better but then I am driving a truck!! And it's the only kind of truck I have ever had.

 

2001 F150 XLT SuperCrew 5.4
25 gallon tank, Last tank got 11.5mpg. 60% highway 40% city. Have e-fans and DiabloSport programmer. E-fans and programmer did not seem to affect my miles per gallon at all... oh yea oversized tires too. Anyone think that new upstream o2 sensors will help the mileage a little?

 

+1 , great post and true!!

 

I also get 9-11 mpg....I just dumped my 5.4 L F250....I think it got better mileage....

I also have 285/75R16's.....drive like a maniac....and a shell....but I was hoping for better mileage.

1997 5.4L....don't know the gears......118k on the momo.....glad to see others get crappy mileage, was beginning to think it was me.

 

The Hemi needs midgrade to get the higher h/p numbers and my 5.7 2500 has a 6sp manual, thats were My saving's in mpg come from, I do agree that the 5.4 is built for torque at a lower Rpm than the hemi but at highway speed H/p is what keeps you going and creates better milage, not a engine built for low end torque.

If Ford had a extra gear in the 4sp automatic, F-150 owners would get a lot more mpg.

In 6th gear, 1800 Rpms at 60 mph, empty, I can get 22 mpg in a 06 2500 Reg cab 4x4 373 ltd slip, My last 04 F-150 reg cab 4x4 with a 5.43v and 355 ltd slip could not break 17 mpg..