yeah, a mouthfull....

I've been scanning posts to get answers to fuel mileage concerns...

Basically, my 2000 SC 4x4 auto 5.4L 3.55LS is getting:
14.5 mpg w/no tonneau cover, gate up
15.4 mpg w/ no tonneau cover, gate off
16.5 mpg w/tonnneau cover and gate up

This is daily driving, mostly highway to work and back, and I am a very carefull and easy-on-the-gas driver.

I have a K&N, no other engine mods, and keep my oil changed. Run 87 octane gas, keep my tire pressures up. My truck has 36,000 miles on it, and I've had it 8 months and just over 10,000 miles.

I have read that some of you get different mileage depending on what brand of gas you use. Com'on, ethylbenzene is ethylbenzene! The additives (and, water content ;-) ) is different....

1) are you getting different mileage using different brands of gas?

2) what fuel treatments/engine treatments work?? Do they help improve mileage? I have seen positive comments on seafoam and redline, and a product ford wrenches use referred to as "scrubbin' bubbles". Mostly I would like to clean the throttle body, etc.

3) what kind of mileage do you get on a SC 5.4 4x4 auto 3.55 LS?

--karl

 

I have found that my truck runs best on Chevron 87 octane. It runs best, as far as performance, engine knock / ping, etc.

I have gotten my best mileage while back home in TX, on SAM's Club 88 Octane. Their version of Mid-Grade. I actually received 21+ mpg, at 75 mph, with a slight tail wind, and running factory 5w20 oil.

My best mileage in MS, has been from Chevron 87 octane, which netted 18.7 mpg, at about 72 mph average. I make alot of trips from the MS Gulf Coast, to Memphis TN, and Terre Haute, IN. I always get better mileage going North, than when I return, going South.

I think it all boils down to the refinery in your area. How good is the quality control at that refinery.

Why is it, that I always get better mileage in TX, than in MS. Is it the difference in altitude? Sea level VS. 2K feet. Don't know???

Only thing I can say, is to keep it running good. Service at regular intervals. Tire pressure, fuel filter, air filter, etc. I honeslty do not like the idea of 100K mile plugs. YES, they will still fire at 100K miles, but it will not be an efficient spark, due to the erosion / wear of the plug electrode. I will have my plugs changed at 50K miles. Also, fuel injector cleaners will erode / wear out your plug electrode faster, than not using any at all.

Chevron fuels have an Techron fuel cleaner additive. Make sure you run a name brand fuel, that has detergent / cleaners in the fuel. Cheap, no-name gas stations run raw, Unleaded gas, No detergents or additives. This is very bad on your engine...

You ask, where I get my info on this gas subject. Had a co-worker, whose father-in-law owned a gas station. And, knew a person who worked at a local gas refinery.

Just my $.02

I average 12 mpg City, and 17 Hiway, on 87 Chevron.

Have a good weekend, R1968

 

mine seems to run best on citgo 87. i use cheveron techron additive once every 15000 miles or so.. i seem to average around14 mpg. ( highway of course). 12 mpg around town... 2000 f-150 supercab 4x4 lariat 5.4l 3.55

 

I agree whole heartedly on the Spark Plugs, if you were to wait until 100,000 miles the might be welded into the head. I replaced mine at 60,000 and plan on it again at 100 or 110. We run a blend of Chevron fuel in our big tanks that gives an octane of around 88--this keeps our 460's from pinging all the time. Since my Superchip install my MPG has increased to 15 and even 16 from my usual 14.

 

I seafoamed my engine today, we'll see if that makes any difference. And I put a can of it in my tank.

I usually run costco gas. I'll try running a gas brand I know has a good additive package like texaco or chevron or cononco. We have tesoro here now, anyone know anything about their additive package?

--karl

 

I use sams club 92 octane in the city and shell 87 when i go on the highway. Now you probly are thinking to your self "high grade?",well it burns slower and thats what you need at low rpm,s plus its the same price as the mid grades at the big boy stations.And then when i hit the highway i step down to the mid grade because it burns faster than premium and thats what you need at high rpms, and shell is one of the better gases. now there,s been dicussions about oil but i use quaker state 5w30 in the winter and step up through 10w30 then 10w40 as it warms up down here and havnt had any problems. i average about 18.5 on the highway and 15 in the city(as long as i dont go into regression and act like a teenager and start hot rodding it). so the choice is yours and a little experimentation doesnt hurt. p.s. if you have a 2000 you shouldnt have to worry about cleansers and block cleaners, routine maintenance should keep everything nice and bright and the fuel filter should trap enough but the worry about gas cleaners is that it will break down the contaminates trapped by the filter and release them down the line. good luck

 

Well, one thing I do know, the dlr service reps are adamant about NOT using anything but 87 octane in these engines. Not sure exactly why, but I guess they had someone who did and wrecked their engine because of it.

I'll have to ask for more details.

Oh, forgot to mention I changed my plugs at 30,00 miles.

--karl

 

Nice to hear from a fellow Texan. My parents run Sam's Club Mid grade in Amarillo. I happen to be from Abilene, where all I ran was Conoco 87 Octane in my '95 F150.

Uncle Sam has me for another 4 years, then hope to be back in Texas. My brother and Sister-in-law run Costco Gas, they are in Fort Worth. Guess it runs ok for them, not sure. Go with what works best...

Have a good weekend all...

R1968

 

from the flat lands to the gulf shores, must of been quite a culture shock,anyway a big' how do'

 

I don't want to pick on anyone in this thread directly, but I have something that bugs the heck out of me about these gas mileage conversations. Yes, it is my problem and not anyone else's, but hear me out, I at least have a point.

Every time we "talk" in a thread some one posts data from one tank full of gas. It's actually less than one tank full because it likely wasn't actually "on fumes" empty when re-filled.

First, all gas pumps are not equal. The small tube that senses when the gas is filling the filler neck and the related shutoff system is not calibrated to give the same fuel fill. The parts in the pump are really intended as a safety/convenience. It is completely possible for one pump to “click off” a gallon or more before another pump (plus level, fuel foaming, rate of fill, …). This means that if you only use 20 gallons of that 25 gallon tank many F150s have (about 1/8 left, plus the 2.5 gal behind E) you are already off by 5%. For me that would mean my typical 20 gallons would cover about 300 miles (15 MPG guess). Now here I am on F150online saying I get 15.75 MPG. Now add to that my “one direction only” wind at my back, dropping 3000 ft in altitude, steady speed driving scenario. Now I am on F150online claiming I once got 56 MPG on one tank. Which is completely useless, although really fun to talk about.

The 14 to 16 MPG numbers originally posted look fine to me. They are what I discovered when researching my new F150. I only looked at long term fuel mileage logs however. I refused to listen to any one without a log. There are just too many people talking about one or two tank fills of mileage, or are just plain lying.

No amount of fixes, magic juices, air filters, exhausts or anything else will make the thing go significantly further on a tank of gas. I’m sure some things help a bit, but the overall efficiency of the beast cannot easily be significantly changed with simple add on parts or fluids.

If you are like me you might have fun trying. I’ve tried K&N air filters, exhaust systems, tire pressure, and a tonneau cover. To my delight all of them helped a bit except the exhaust.(evaluated over many, many than fills). I’d love to tell you I have a mileage log that says I have a secret formula that gets me great mileage tank after tank. Instead, I am getting 17.8 on a 10 tank average (since the last modification).

 

in the past i read a post about using bosh plat 4,s and having a hole burned through the piston top, well using to low of a octane grade will cause predetonation and ultimatly a hole burned through the top of the piston. when you go to accelerate and you here that rattling sound ,like marbles in a can, thats exactly whats happening and thats telling you to go up a grade. your service rep may of told you that just to get you to do just that and pop you for a cool 4000 to recan your engine. i look at those service reps as the devil in the discise,wanting to take your soul, or your truck,which ever comes first. anyway to each thier own.

 

whatever

 

LOL

 

I heard you coming a mile away. I was wondering who was going to bring this up.

First of all, I always top my tank off. When I do let the pump shut off by itself, and then do not top it off, I always get FORD's guesstimated sticker mileage of 15/20.

There are so many variables, you could drive yourself crazy. Personally, I do not mind talking about the mileage subject.

We are all, most of us anyways, F-150 owners. I think it is OK, if we decide to talk about something, on this site.

I have averaged my fuel on every vehicle I've owned, New or Used. My FORD's have always gotten 2 mpg less City/Hiway than the suggested mileage sticker on the window. All 3 trucks, Ranger, and 2 F-150's. The 3 GM products I've owned, always seemed to get the mileage estimated on the window sticker.

Everyone have a Great Weekend...

R1968

 

I have an 01 4.2, manual

I was running Citgo gas 87 octane for approx. 6 months, many, many tank fulls so gas mileage figures are quite accurate approx. 15.8 to 16.3 mpg

The past 3 months I have used Texaco 87 octane, approx. 16 tank fulls, again mileage figures quite accurate approx. 17.2 to 17.9 mpg.

I changed to Texaco when after reading a few different articles about higher energy content of their fuel. Please don't ask how that is done because I am not sure. What I do know is from that you have more fuel burnt in the combustion chamber or more efficient combustion. I may not be completely correct, but I believe the average auto has a combustion efficiency of approx. 80% (thus the need for catilac (sp?) converters for the unburned fuel). When you rise the combustion efficiency it takes less fuel to travel the same distance (thus higher MPG) you can also look at it like a “very slight” increase in horsepower.

Just another note I learned when working with a friend and his dad drag racing his built camaro. They would run
the fuel line curled up inside a coffee can (about 8 – 10 turns of fuel line in the can) can under the hood which was filled with ice. This would bring down the temp. of the fuel before entering the carburetor. Colder fuel equals higher combustion efficiency and more horsepower when racing. If you don’t believe me and have access to a dyno try it yourself and report back, you’d be surprised.

NOTE: When using Citgo gas I used the same station and same pump all the time. When using Texaco I use the same station and same pump, so no error with the nozzel calibration for shut off or what ever.