Fuel mileage

[slim]

Any tips on better habits for a mpg increase? 03 5.4 K&N air filter. I can only go like 260/280 miles till the fuel light comes on. 25 gallon tank. I have 4-5 gallons left when the fuel light comes on.

[Raptor05121]

14 mpg....ouch. What percentage city/highway driving do you do?

Do you have any mods? The air filter doesn't help at all.

[slim]

No mods. Never done anything under the hood. Just get my oil changes and fuel filter changes. 33/12.50/17 mud grapplers. Most of it is "city". city to me, is basically in and out of the throttle. So yeah. Never on the interstate/highway.

[Raptor05121]

The mud grapplers are going to be the main reason you lost a mpg or two. for a 5.4, I think 15 would be normal for everyday city driving. Combined with E10 fuel, you're right on the money for a 5.4L city driving with larger than normal tires

[slim]

So nothing I can do to gain mpg?

[Raptor05121]

Get rid of the mud grapplers and put stock tires back on. you'll gain maybe 1mpg. Or go spend $500 and get an econobox like a 90s Civic or something.

[slim]

No chip would help?

[Raptor05121]

It would change the shifting and give you a couple of extra ponies, but for $400, that's 120 gallons of gas.

[slim]

Hm

[RhinoZ24]

Electric fans maybe a minor increase, dump any excess weight like the spare tire since you current tires are way bigger, and drive with a light foot.

[slim]

Yeah I might do the E fans. Already dumped my spare tire too. Are those fuel chips legit?

[RhinoZ24]

Fuel chips? Hahahaha no, what they are is a waste of money. A programmer/tune might help if you have one customized for just economy.

[Jersey_Joe]

Yeah I might do the E fans. Already dumped my spare tire too. Are those fuel chips legit?
Junk. And before u ask. So is a throttle body spacer lol

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Dude. Me and u have the same ride. My first motor 2v motor had 425 hp with no supercharger. U can do a lot. Just gonna pay lol. Sad truth. Land if the free and home if the expensive. Lol

[slim]

I understand ha. Hey there's a reason those 5.3s get a little better fuel economy.. weaker!

[RhinoZ24]

I understand ha. Hey there's a reason those 5.3s get a little better fuel economy.. weaker!

Lmao

[Raptor05121]

Well I actually believe their trucks are lighter. But anyways, the efans are a good start, but you're talking maybe saving $10 in gas a year. You won't notice a difference.

[btoolguy1]

I try not to run low ever, but what the fuel light come on at? % of tank level? Some x gallons left? I have the larger tank 30 some gallon tank and i think something was always off with my fuel gauge. Usually 15-16 mpg mixed driving 2006 5.4. I get my mpg by running to 1/4 tank left and fill up. Usually get 20 gallons, around 300 miles.

[Raptor05121]

It depends. I think mine comes on with 3 gallons left. I get ~45 miles before I run out.

[btoolguy1]

Guess i have to run it down and see what it takes

[RhinoZ24]

It depends. I think mine comes on with 3 gallons left. I get ~45 miles before I run out.

I have the 27 gallon tank and the one time I ran it until the light came on I think it still only took like 23.5 gallons, so around 3-3.5 left or with my city mpg about 40 or so miles till empty.

[btoolguy1]

I will check it. Now that i am thinking i have a buddy with a higher trim level than xlt. I bet he has the miles to e gauge and will know.

[RhinoZ24]

That's just a computer estimate based off of driving habits. If you drive all city and then one day take a highway road trip it's going to tell you that you have less miles left before empty than you actually do. Don't go off of that reading.

[btoolguy1]

I dont have the trip meter in my xlt, just was wondering what it would be. Seems like when i fill up it is less than what is expected by a few gallons. 35.7 gallon tank and never out more than high 20s in it. I am not a fan of going below a 1/4 tank.

[Ford Fan]

I dont have the trip meter in my xlt, just was wondering what it would be. Seems like when i fill up it is less than what is expected by a few gallons. 35.7 gallon tank and never out more than high 20s in it. I am not a fan of going below a 1/4 tank. a bed cover might help

[slim]

I believe going below 1/4 tank is fine. I have a 25g tank and my low fuel light comes on at the 20g mark. I've ran out to where it was sputtering and pulled up to the pump and put a max of 24g and some change. So a solid 4g for me on reserve. (After fuel light comes on)

[btoolguy1]

Always worried about "bottom of tank gas" running through the injectors. Do fuel filter every 30k as required. Prob not the end of the world

[slim]

I know but 4g is a lot and I'd say the "bad gas" is closer to the 2g mark. Ever seen the inside of our tanks?

[RhinoZ24]

I dont have the trip meter in my xlt, just was wondering what it would be. Seems like when i fill up it is less than what is expected by a few gallons. 35.7 gallon tank and never out more than high 20s in it. I am not a fan of going below a 1/4 tank.

You can go lower, for instance my fuel gauge will register I have a 1/4 left and when I fill up it only takes around 18 gallons, but I have the 27 gallon tank. My gauge only registers to about 24 gallons. It's like that in all modern Ford vehicles I believe, it just means when your needle is on empty you have a few gallons left but you need to get your @$$ to a gas station. I've ran mine down to the top of the red empty mark and the fuel light came on but I've had no fuel issues like sputtering or anything.

[btoolguy1]

K. I got it now. Makes sense.