to much gas
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Madisonville, KY
jland206,
I guess I can quit complaining about my 16 city/19 highway mileage. I can hardly believe some of the low mileages some of you guys are getting, even out of 4x4's. I have a '97 SC Lariat SWB 4x2 w/ a 4.6 auto and 3.55 gears and I don't baby it much. I have a soft tonneau cover on the bed, a Flowmaster single exhaust, and until recently a K&N drop-in filter. A little over a month ago I installed a Powerdyne supercharger (still in doubt about its performance, but that's another story), and I've noticed no significant mileage difference. I am still running original plugs and wires @ 73,000 miles and have no ignition upgrades. I never noticed an improvement after a 'break-in' period (bought it new). The tonneau cover, K&N filter, nor the Flowmaster ever seemed to improve things either. There is a 300 mile trip I make several times a year over a mostly two-lane, very curvy/hilly road (no cruise control) and through over a dozen small towns (lots of stop lights), and, believe it or not, I will get 19 mpg on that trip, and I drive it at 70+ mph where I can. Doesn't make sense to me, either, but I sure don't knock it. I couldn't afford to drive it at the mileages some of you report @ $1.69/gal for 93 octane (thanks to my new Powerdyne). Wish I could help you, but it just seems like there's no rhyme or reason to the various mileages these trucks get. Best of luck, and if you can afford to feed him, don't give him up.
I guess I can quit complaining about my 16 city/19 highway mileage. I can hardly believe some of the low mileages some of you guys are getting, even out of 4x4's. I have a '97 SC Lariat SWB 4x2 w/ a 4.6 auto and 3.55 gears and I don't baby it much. I have a soft tonneau cover on the bed, a Flowmaster single exhaust, and until recently a K&N drop-in filter. A little over a month ago I installed a Powerdyne supercharger (still in doubt about its performance, but that's another story), and I've noticed no significant mileage difference. I am still running original plugs and wires @ 73,000 miles and have no ignition upgrades. I never noticed an improvement after a 'break-in' period (bought it new). The tonneau cover, K&N filter, nor the Flowmaster ever seemed to improve things either. There is a 300 mile trip I make several times a year over a mostly two-lane, very curvy/hilly road (no cruise control) and through over a dozen small towns (lots of stop lights), and, believe it or not, I will get 19 mpg on that trip, and I drive it at 70+ mph where I can. Doesn't make sense to me, either, but I sure don't knock it. I couldn't afford to drive it at the mileages some of you report @ $1.69/gal for 93 octane (thanks to my new Powerdyne). Wish I could help you, but it just seems like there's no rhyme or reason to the various mileages these trucks get. Best of luck, and if you can afford to feed him, don't give him up.
Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Native New Yorker in Cary NC
When I bought my truck, I did not realize it had a hole in the gas tank, I am filling it up three times a week. Even with all the add ons I have put in, the mileage still sucks. I knew this wasn't an economy car when I bought it, and did not think I would be saving any gas with this truck, but, you can't beat the power when your pulled back against your seat, as you hit the gas pedal and pass all the other cars on the road. I can't talk about the chip, I don't have one, but, I have heard it is not much of an improvement.
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99 F150 SC,5.4L,4x4 ORP,TTP,Gibson Single Side Cat-Back Exhaust System,Airaid,Duraliner Bedliner,Lund Bug Deflector Shield, SmittyBilt Outland Sport Bumper Guard in SS,A.R.E. Cab High Bed Cap,Valentine Radar Detector,ICOM 2M/70CM Ham Radio,R.F.Concepts Linear Amplifier,2watts in,170 watts out,Diamond SG Series Dual Band Antenna.
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99 F150 SC,5.4L,4x4 ORP,TTP,Gibson Single Side Cat-Back Exhaust System,Airaid,Duraliner Bedliner,Lund Bug Deflector Shield, SmittyBilt Outland Sport Bumper Guard in SS,A.R.E. Cab High Bed Cap,Valentine Radar Detector,ICOM 2M/70CM Ham Radio,R.F.Concepts Linear Amplifier,2watts in,170 watts out,Diamond SG Series Dual Band Antenna.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: MS
I happen to have a 97 5.4 that gets over 18 mpg. My best is 18.5 on the interstate @ 70 mph. Consistently between 17 and 18, highway driving and on the interstate. Now when I am offroading pulling trailers it does drop to 14-15. This is using chevron 87 octane. Only modification is a k&n filter, but the best mileage with k&n is 18.2. This past weekend I made the same trip using shell gas and I noticed my needle was lower than when using chevron. (haven't checked this tank yet)
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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT
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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT
