Hello, this is my first time posting. I have a 2000 F-150 4.6L with 103,0000 miles. About a couple of months ago, my gas mileage dropped from around 14 miles per gallon to 10/11. There have not been any errors codes; It runs fine. The only thing I have noticed is that I have to give it gas when I first start it otherwise it will die, especially when it is cold. Any ideas? Thanks!!!

 

Winter fuel?
We all see a drop in the winter in areas that winter fuel is used. It has less energy.

 

I would also replace the fuel filter if you haven't done so in a while. Cheap and relatively easy to do. Autozone sells the tool (about $5) and the filter itself should only be about $15-20, maybe less. It certainly wouldn't hurt. I saw a slight increase when I did mine.

 

welcome to SVT gas milage

 

It's the Winterblend fuels... and the cold. I'm still around the 20 to 22 mpg mark... but I got 22.8 mpg the other day for about 150 miles on semi-hilly terrain.

The most I've ever gotten was 23.4 mpg, and that was on a flat stretch of road, for about 35 miles doing 55 mph with cruise and defrost on.

For some reason my latest stats are 18.8 mpg... but that because of the 100% city driving I've been doing... which for a 6000 lb truck... that's damn good.

The worst my truck has ever got was like 16.2 and that was because I put premium unleaded in. Won't do that again.

 

Its the cold that does it more than anything. Winterblend fuel is more of a myth to be truthful, a buddy of mine in the oil business says theres so little difference its really not that much, just the fact of the winter temps.

 

Winter gas, and with that many miles I'd say clogged cats. Had the same problem with my 1999 4.6. MPG dropped from 15 in the summer to 11-13. Gutting the kittys helped a lot.

As for the dying problem, I had that too when I first bought the truck. Try cleaning the throttle body. That should help some with the MPG too.

 

Clean your IAC, replace it if that doesn't help with the cold stalling.

 

"Clogged cats"....Good Lord!



Zman, PLEASE quit posting that BS!

 

This tells me if you have to give it the gas that your IAC is in need of a cleaning if not a replacement, clean first cuz they aren't the cheapest part to replace. Search IAC here to learn more. Throttle body, MAF, EGR all in need of a cleaning more than likely. How's the plugs? New one's would help alot if they haven't been changed. I should hope you'd be up in avg 13 mpg then, 12 at least, but winter time is no good for guaging mileage. If this only helps a bit, look to see if you're e-brake is stuck on a bit, things like that. Believe it or not too, air pressure now is crucial to keep up on. Try this crap out and let us know if anything fixes it.

 

My gas mileage has gone to hell also. Found out that the local gas stations have started selling E-10 fuel. Would have known sooner, except the crooks are still charging the regular fuel price for it. All but one station has the E-10 here now, and a LOT of people have complained about gas mileage going to crap.

 

Zaairman, how do you go about "gutting the kitties"??

 

The first step is to have her shave her kitty.

 

You'll need to remove the cats from the truck, then you need to take a long screw driver, crow bar, pipe, etc, and knock out all the honeycomb material.

Go drive a Prius. I kept track of my MPG of every tank in that truck, doing the same driving. My MPG slowly went down. Gutted the cats, and my MPG went up without changing anything else. Call BS all you want. I have no reason to make **** up.

 

Zman, gutting the catalytic converters is just plain bad advise. Stop giving it. Your pet answer is "clogged cats". You didn't have clogged cats, you've never seen clogged cats, and most likely, you never will.

Regardless of what increase in mpg YOU'VE noticed after gutting them, you're just covering up another problem. And creating more, to boot.

The OP does not have clogged cats. Should he, or anyone else, take your ill advise and gut theirs will only create more problems. And in some cases could be breaking the law.

Save your bad advise for the General Discussion forum. It blends there.