Thinking of Purchasing Ford F-150 - Some Questions

[Domush]

Discounting the brand debate, I've learned a lot from this thread. Thanks fellas.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using TractorByNet

 

[RollingsFarms]

I have heard good things about the 6.2L GM. I even have one in my boat and for what it is I am very happy. It does a good job of replacing the old Big Block motors with equal power and torque and a nice weight savings.

Are you checking the dash computer to the real numbers by hand calculating the MPG at each fill up? I know my Nissan and Ford are very very close but I have seen some trucks off 3-4 mpg when hand checked. My neighbors 07 Dmax has always been off about 2.5 mpg.

These new 6.2L motors from both Ford and GM are winners. Its really making he argument for a diesel a tough one now days.

Chris

honestly, I've only gone by what the on dash computer has been reading. I'd been reading on a GM truck forum that many owners of the 6.2 were experiencing close to the mpg I was getting and some were a bit below it. i think some of the ones that hand calculated to compare to the computer were about 0.2-.08 difference. i'll need to hand calculate mine for about 5 tanks in a row and see how close mine is. i don't know if your truck has this option or not, but my truck will tell you how many gallons you've used in a tank and the most I've ever been off with that is .6 gallons. I'm sure i fill my truck up more then what the thing is meant to read because I'll keep clicking it until the gas starts running out the top of the fill. i really love this feature because i can do the math in my head and know how much cash to walk in and pay, and not have to make several trips to give them the pre-pay, go back and get my change, etc.

There are two stations that sells pure gas in my town. I purchase it for all my aircooled engines and motorcycles, and boat. I tried one tank through the ecoboost and came up inconclusive with that tank. It is hard for me to compare with my driving habits. Each tank is too variable, I have three trailers and never get completely through a tank without towing one of them. Ethanol free is about $0.35 more per gallon and ruled it out as being cost effective.

around here, ethanol free is usually 93 octane and they'll have it advertized on the tank. usually it's compared to other 93 octane prices that have ethanol, but it varies a few cents depending on the gas station. what has been aggrivating is the charging me $.06 for using my debit or credit card. that's the new game, to find the stations with a DECENT gas price that DON'T charge that fee.

 

[jejeosborne]

honestly, I've only gone by what the on dash computer has been reading. I'd been reading on a GM truck forum that many owners of the 6.2 were experiencing close to the mpg I was getting and some were a bit below it. i think some of the ones that hand calculated to compare to the computer were about 0.2-.08 difference. i'll need to hand calculate mine for about 5 tanks in a row and see how close mine is. i don't know if your truck has this option or not, but my truck will tell you how many gallons you've used in a tank and the most I've ever been off with that is .6 gallons. I'm sure i fill my truck up more then what the thing is meant to read because I'll keep clicking it until the gas starts running out the top of the fill. i really love this feature because i can do the math in my head and know how much cash to walk in and pay, and not have to make several trips to give them the pre-pay, go back and get my change, etc.

around here, ethanol free is usually 93 octane and they'll have it advertized on the tank. usually it's compared to other 93 octane prices that have ethanol, but it varies a few cents depending on the gas station. what has been aggrivating is the charging me $.06 for using my debit or credit card. that's the new game, to find the stations with a DECENT gas price that DON'T charge that fee.

If you have a smart phone, there are some apps that make it easy to track and they provide interesting statistics on what is happening to your wallet. Easy to populate while pumping. I also update fuel cost on gasbuddy too to help others on fuel prices at different stations. I also enjoy watching the gallons used in the trip computer. Just don't like converting that to $.

Our ethanol fuel says 90+ on the pump and is provided by a local refinery. Not sure the exact octane and you are correct, not much different in price to other premium fuels.

You might want to research your filling methods. Filling your tank using your method may damage your evaporative system on your vehicle and damage it. I always let it shut itself off, wait about 10 seconds and let it shut itself off one more time. I have read where it is possible to add 3-4 more gallons by repeating over and over but again it can damage your vehicle. I had no idea this could be a problem until recently so don't feel bad because it isn't common knowledge.

 

[jejeosborne]

Mine does the same based on the computer. I have yet to run a tank of gas through with the truck empty and not towing anything on the highway. In town I have gotten 17 mpg back and forth to work about 4 miles each direction if I baby it. I get about 15.5 with a heavy foot.

I am making a road trip at the end of the month but will be towing a camper with 3 motorcycles on it with my payload maxed out. Sometime I would like to see what it will do empty. I will be going through the mountains of West Virginia camping, white water rafting, and motorcycle riding. Anxious to see how it does towing in the mountains.

Well we took the road trip but left the camper at home. Here is a screen picture of my trip computer on the way home. This is between Lexington kentucky and Evansville indiana. The terrain is very hilly with some long up and down grades. I had the cruise set on 70 and we made one bathroom break which is what brought down the calculated mph to 66 (waiting at a stop light back to the highway. 21.3 is pretty good considering 4 people, and three bikes hanging off the receiver hitch. Probably 200 lbs of luggage, coolers, etc in the bed.
Going out I got 19.4 with a 10 mph headwind cruising at 73 mph. My truck has the max tow with the 3.73 rear.

 

[TheGoose]

That's pretty good mileage. I have been able to get about 19 mpg in mostly highway driving on the last tank, probably 60% hwy and 40% city.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well we took the road trip but left the camper at home. Here is a screen picture of my trip computer on the way home. This is between Lexington kentucky and Evansville indiana. The terrain is very hilly with some long up and down grades. I had the cruise set on 70 and we made one bathroom break which is what brought down the calculated mph to 66 (waiting at a stop light back to the highway. 21.3 is pretty good considering 4 people, and three bikes hanging off the receiver hitch. Probably 200 lbs of luggage, coolers, etc in the bed.
Going out I got 19.4 with a 10 mph headwind cruising at 73 mph. My truck has the max tow with the 3.73 rear.

That is right at what my fathers will do with the 3.73 gears also. I saw mid 20's once at 60 mph.

Chris

 

[jejeosborne]

That is right at what my fathers will do with the 3.73 gears also. I saw mid 20's once at 60 mph.

Chris

I think 60 mph is the optimum speed for mileage on this setup. I agree, I think I could get 23-24 mpg if I could set the cruise at 60 or find a 2 lane without stoplights. The hard part is going 60. I had enough trouble setting at 70 for my 3 hour test and getting passed by everyone doing 75-80. For some reason I like to be the passer not the passee.

 

[TheGoose]

I find that in my EB I driver slower than I normally would just because I know the mileage is going to go way down. Nowadays I try to go no faster than 65, which is mostly the max speed limit here. But I would normally go about 70 because most cops look the other way at 5 mph.

On long trips I still go 70+.

 

[deerefan]

I find that in my EB I driver slower than I normally would just because I know the mileage is going to go way down. Nowadays I try to go no faster than 65, which is mostly the max speed limit here. But I would normally go about 70 because most cops look the other way at 5 mph.

On long trips I still go 70+.

From reading this, in normal driving, the eb is getting 2-3 mpg better overall than my 2011 Silverado 4x4 with 3.42 gears. Pretty decent. I feel you will see a nice gain towing a load vs older trucks/older tech due to the fact most folks tend to drive slower towing and you will be keeping closer to its 60mph sweetspot when towing. I am trying to get info on a local drag racer that put one of the eb motors from a wrecked F150 into a 90 Mustang. It has been tweaked a good bit but word around town is he is running high 10s on the stock bottom end and cams. The turbo are boosted up a good bit and has a nice tuned exhaust system, but that is all I have heard about the car so far. It has me real curious....

 

[jejeosborne]

From reading this, in normal driving, the eb is getting 2-3 mpg better overall than my 2011 Silverado 4x4 with 3.42 gears. Pretty decent. I feel you will see a nice gain towing a load vs older trucks/older tech due to the fact most folks tend to drive slower towing and you will be keeping closer to its 60mph sweetspot when towing. I am trying to get info on a local drag racer that put one of the eb motors from a wrecked F150 into a 90 Mustang. It has been tweaked a good bit but word around town is he is running high 10s on the stock bottom end and cams. The turbo are boosted up a good bit and has a nice tuned exhaust system, but that is all I have heard about the car so far. It has me real curious....

I will be the first to say that the ecoboost will not have much improvement in mileage vs any other v8 when towing anything greater than 5000 lbs. maybe slightly better mpg with less than 5000 lbs. Too much physics working against that much weight. I will say that it will hold gears and motor up the hills and mountains better though.