F150

[Barony]

I posted about a month ago about the 4.6 v. 5.4 F150. I ended up getting a 2005 5.4 that to date, gets about 14 mpg. I realize that running the AC doesn't help, but it's been mostly highway miles and a little driving in town. I had the boat out yesterday and got 13 on that tank. My question is can the dealership modify the computer so I can squeeze a few more miles out of a gallon or is it just the nature of the beast?

[Wade Joseph]

My '98 F150 4x4 with 4.6 gets 15-16 mpg on average with a mix pf city/hwy driving. I have a topper on it. Towing the boat is more like 13-14. BTW, it has 171,000 miles and other than brakes and spark plugs, has never had a part put in it. I also use a KN air filter and either mobil1 or amsoil.

Last year on Winnie I pulled out a new chevy and a new dodge. Mostly it was that I had better tires, but its sure nice to see that the blue oval is in FRONT of the tow strap.

[BobT]

My point is that they can be. Those things are not necessarily brand name specific and most of them are not significantly different from one make to another. In other words you don't have to buy a Ford to get more ground to frame clearance. Ground to axle clearance is relative to the tires one puts on, not the make of the vehicle. Limited slip/locking axles are available from any of the makers. Power to the ground is the result of many factors of which again is a matter of individual design and the variations are pretty much available from any of them. Order what you want and it can be delivered.

Stock vehicles are designed for different purposes. For example many seem to have been designing their stock trucks to cater to the less adventurous croud so they soften the suspension to provide smoother, more comfortable ride, change the transmission shifting sequence, drive train is designed to lower engine rpm on the road for quieter ride, and put highway use tires on. As a result they don't ride like a truck but it's a sacrifice because it's also a disadvantage in most off-road situations. That doesn't mean you can't get a truck built and designed for off-road use. One maker might be trying to design their vehicle to please more of the rough croud whereas another may be designing theirs for the pleasure ride croud.

Getting a vehicle to perform in powder snow is different than hard wind-blown snow, which is different than ice, which is different than mud, which is different than hard gravel, which is different than soft sand, which is different than climbing over rocks, etc. It depends on what the vehicle was designed for and even more importantly, who is behind the wheel.

I still say the nut behind the wheel is the primary factor. If one doesn't know how to drive under the conditions presented, it won't matter what he's driving.

Bob

[knoppers]

my 04 gets about 17 in summer and 15 winter. when towing, it all depends if I have overdrive on or off. off towing my boat I will get about 11 MPG, on I will get about 13 MPG.

I have gotten 18 MPG on this truck, it also depends were you get gas, I have gotten bad milage from one vender, and much better at another. I know I will never bye gas at little dukes again.

my last truck I did get 20 MPG from BP in mcgeoger.