I just purchased a 2000, 4x4, 5.4, F-150, XLT.
I,m getting 10city and 12-13HWY, I've been told that this will get better after the first 3000 miles. Is this true and how is it possible. Also, I've been told that dual exhaust, K&N air filter, and chip will help milage? true or false

[This message has been edited by jland206 (edited 07-14-2000).]

 

I can only comment on the first part of your question. Yes, if you continue to drive your truck in the same manner, your mileage will improve all the way thru 10,000 or so miles. Like I said, that's only IF you drive the same way. My experience is, as the engine loosens up, I tend to be even more lead footed because I just love that surge of power.

 

I've got the same truck...2000 as well. Now with over 23k I get 18-19 highway all the time. Got a little over 19 last trip north....but that was the first time.
Between 70 and 75 ...air on and cruise set.
Tonneau cover and tires pumped up. The secret is stay out of the throttle and anticipate stops/slowdowns. City driving is hard on these beasts, but I still get better than you. My worst mileage so fay on this truck is 13 pulling about 2500 pounds on a 300 mile trip. Tis 5.4 is way better than my 4.6 ever was.

-jeff b.

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2000 F150 4x4 SC/SB 5.4 Auto, Tow Package, ORP (with the sticker for 2000), Cab Steps, Lariet.
Oxford White/Harvest Gold 2 tone.

 

I guess the loosening up story is true. I've been running the same route for a year and a half.
New, I got 17.4 mpg. That lasted about 9,000 miles.
Then winter set in and I dropped to 16.3.
Now that's its warm again I jumped to 18.5, at 21,000 miles.

That's about 75% highway mileage. I'm at sealevel and there's no hills around here.
I always set my trip meter when I fillup and when my 'low fuel' light didn't come on at 374 miles, I thought something was busted. I ran it up to 410 miles and could only squeeze 22.2 gallons in. I was happy.

I've towed my boat (3300lb)on one long trip last summer and got a flat 14 mpg.

The 2000 must be better, because FarmBoy is doing a little better than me with a 4x4 SC.


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1999 F-150 Lariat 4x2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55LS
Dark Toreador Red/Gold
VentShades
Tow Pkg
Line-X

 

I can back up what Raoul states, I have virtually the same truck as Raoul. I started about 1mpg lower at 16 when new, then dropped to 15mpg in the winter. Now with nearly 18k on it I am getting 18.5 on my daily commute to work, about 80% highway.

On my trip to the Outer Banks in N.C. this June I averaged 19.5mpg.

Hang in there, it shoul improve.

Also, I have not done anything but change oil and filters with my motor, it's completely stock.

Jeff

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1999 F-150 Lariat 4X2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield
VentVisors
Class III hitch
Ford molded mud guards
Soft tonneau cover
Factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty)
Tinted windows
Factory fog light kit

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html

 

New exhaust and K&N does help for some people. But unfortunately, not for me. I average 11.3 city and 13.0 for hwy and the truck has 19500 miles. Even with a complete tuneup (spark plugs and synthetic fluids) and all the extra go fast mods I did, I still didn't get any increase in mileage, but I did get better performance. I guess only time will tell.

1999 F250 lightduty S/C XLT 4x4
5.4L, 3.73, 4R100 trans.
Poweraid, K&N, Flowmaster 40, Superchip


[This message has been edited by Jupiterak (edited 07-14-2000).]

 

That's a nice truck and a nice motor but remember that truck is big and heavy. Also it's got an extra gear box and axle to cope with. What people forget is that this truck only DRIVES like a small truck. It is in fact very large and very heavy. City driving will kill the milage. Wait for it to break in, stay out of the throttle and keep in mind it's size and you will be happy.

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Black 1997 F-150 Supercab Flairside. 4.6L with Jocobs DIS, K&N Generation II, Cat back Exhaust (my own, nice rumble). 17" Off Road wheel pkg. Lots of body mods. 4 yrs old and still turns heads...

 

How did you guys get that high gas milage when your trucks were new? 16-17 MPG seems like a dream to me. Mine has about 2K on it and I'm getting 11-12 MPG in city and so far the best was 14.2 with about 60-70% highway. I'm not driving or accelerating fast and I still can't get any better than that. Am I doing something wrong or there is something wrong with my truck? Does it have anything to do with the big tires?

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2000 Supercab XLT 2WD 5.4L 3.55LS White w. grey interior, spray-in AND plastic bedliner, hitch
Jeff Emig Special Edition
Picture of my truck

 

You guys gotta be pulling our leg.

My '97 got around 14.8 -- and with 10K on Nick, he still drinks at the rate of 13-14 MPG. Michigan is not noted for it's mountains -- and I've never treated a vehicle nicer in my life than I have treated Nick.

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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

New5.4 and all, I noticed a drop in fuel economy from 17 HWY to 14 HWY when I installed my michelin tires. They are the stock size for my truck (255-70-16) however thay are quite a bit wider in actual tread width. I also notice that they seem to have a long tread patch too. I do drive it faster than ever and that is partly to blame! I may try to fill the tires to 40 PSI or so (36 now).

Stock (worthless) tires were Goodyear wrangler HP's.

Chris

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98 SC 4.6L stepside, Gibson headers, Gibson single exhaust, superchip, Intake mods, Piaa's, high end audio stuff.

 

I don't post about my gas mileage too much because I've have seen what others have posted and I could understand the frustration if the situation was reversed.

I can assure you I can't see anything to be gained by lieing about this. My truck is 2wd, a short bed and a regular cab. At the dump scales it weighed about 4350 with me and a tank of gas. Most people who have the 5.4 either have a SC or 4x4 or both. I'm sure that if JA_Stang86 and myself dumped 800 lbs in the back, our mpg would drop.

From what I've read, an SC will cost you 1 or 2 mpg and 4x4 will cost you the same. Throw in some hills, some altitude or a more youthful driver and OUR numbers do start to look ridiculous.


------------------
1999 F-150 Lariat 4x2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55LS
Dark Toreador Red/Gold
VentShades
Tow Pkg
Line-X

 

Y2K and the rest,

Ditto on what Raoul said. Nothing to be gained by lying. I've checked my mileage almost every tank full on my 2000. I *know* that I get about 17 mpg back and forth to work in the summer, and I know I get 18-19 in the summer while driving up to our cabin...200 miles one way. No reason for me to lie. In the winter mileage drops off by 1-2 mpg at least.

MPG is *very* subjective. Has a lot to do with driving style, conditions, and area where you are driving. I have never had trouble meeting the estimates on the window sticker in any of the 7 new vihicles that I have purchased.

I'm in MI as well......you are right, not many mountains around here.

-jeff b.


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2000 F150 4x4 SC/SB 5.4 Auto, Tow Package, ORP (with the sticker for 2000), Cab Steps, Lariet.
Oxford White/Harvest Gold 2 tone.

 

I too kept mileage records every tankfull for about the first 8 months. I have never weighed my truck, but it must be within a couple hundres pounds of Raouls.

Y2K 7700 4X4, as Raoul mentioned 4x4 and sc add weight, and the 3.73 gears also work against mileage.

Jeff

------------------
1999 F-150 Lariat 4X2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield
VentVisors
Class III hitch
Ford molded mud guards
Soft tonneau cover
Factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty)
Tinted windows
Factory fog light kit

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html

 

"it must be within a couple of hundred pounds of Raoul's"

Just what in the heck is that supposed to mean?

(I'm starting my diet tomorrow.)

 

Hey, fellas,

All you guys with the 5.4's getting better than 17 MPG on the highway--the one thing in common is, your trucks are all 1999+. Have you ever heard of a '97 or '98 posting that kind of mileage?

Mine is a '97 3-door 4.6L 4WD. My best freeway ever is 15.49 MPG at 70 MPH over flat ground (with 2 gear shifts in 75 miles). 33,000 on the truck. The thing's a gas pig. I have to swap the motor because of the slap. I have a chance to upgrade to the 5.4L engine.

If my only concern is gas mileage, what would you suggest? (I suppose at 15.49MPG, I have almost nothing to lose.)

Thanks for your input. fish.