I posted earlier about interior stuff on my 1982 f100 flareside. Thanks to everyone who helped out. My next problem is my mileage. The truck has 82,000 original miles. It sat up for seven months before I bought it. I've run about 4 or five tanks through it and used octane booster twice because it had 3/4 of a tank that was already in the truck. I figured the gas was pretty stale. I'm getting 11 mpg. That's horrible, right? I did not know what to expect to get. Any ideas? I figured maybe carb. I do see an occasional puff of black smoke. I did not know if spraying carb cleaner would do the trick. Any input would be of great help. Thanks again guys.

By the way, the truck is a very strong runner.

Calvin

 

Calvin - I had a 1983 F150 with the 300 straight six and a four speed overdrive automatic. I put 75,000 miles on it in three years. The best I could do was about 14 mpg mostly highway driving keeping strictly at 60-65 mph. I put a new carbeurator and EGR valve on it, tuned it up, (fuel filter, cap, rotor, plugs and wires) and 14 was the best I got. Just thought you might want the info.

Have a happy holiday season.

'95 Power Stroke F250 extended cab long bed 5 spd 99% stock - why try to improve on perfection?

 

Believer45,

Thanks for the quick reply. Everyone keeps telling me to keep the six, but I can get equal mileage on a 302. I have a built up 302 in the shop and keep debating on what to do with it. I may have just decided. Thanks again. You have a great holiday yourself, my man.

Calvin

 

Hi, you can check the carb and the cats I had a 84 with a c-6 auto got about 13 with it gutted the front cat replaced the back one and got about16-17 made a big difference, o-yeah.... take the muffler off and put on a straight thru glass pack doesn't make it that much louder but improves the mileage.
John Sugden (fatforty)

 

When I bought my truck new I was getting a good strong 20 MPG on the highway, then when I had over 100k on it, the mileage was down to 14 or so. I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, plug wires and plugs, and my mileage jumped up to 20 again.


LeRoy Wolff, original owner of
1984 Ford F150
300 six 3 speed with overdrive
optional dual rusted out fenders
truck's nick name "Old Red"

 

3 weeks ago, I went to the Gulf Coast of Florida in my '94 E-150 Conversion high-top van from Maryland. I'm the second owner and it has 68,000 on it with a 4.9 six.

At highway speeds anywhere between 60 to 75 mph, I got 12.43 miles per gallon.

For the trip back, I installed a K&N air filter in place of the Motorcraft filter, hoping it would increase my mpg.

The trip back resulted in an average of 12.56 mpg. Not much of an improvement with the K&N. The above figures are on-the-road miles, no local driving.

Driving around home, I get just shy of 14 mpg.

This is about the same milage I got on my previous van, an '86 Club Wagon with a 5.8.

Needless to say, with today's gas prices and you take a long ride, better dig deep in your jeans for the gas pumps.

 

Seems my old '84 F150 300 I6 (about 175,000 miles) got around 13 mpg, but my '95 F150 300 I6 gets around 16 (more if I lighten up my foot). Is it the EFI on the '95?

 

I have an 89 F-150 4.9 with a c-6 auto. On a good day i'll see 13MPG, so i'd say you aren't doing too bad. I used to have a 86' F-150 with the 4.9 and a 3-speed overdrive. That truck would get much better mileage, more in the range of 16 in town or 20 on the highway. Overdrive really helps!

 

Well ill throw my 2 cents in . I was only getting about 11 with my 92 4.9 4x4 4 speed. I had the motorvac put on my truck and i also replaced the EGR valve, because the computer showed a faulty EGR valve . I checked my mileage today and it was 13.9
Trouble

 

 

my dad has a 1979 f-600 with a 300 straight six and a four speed no overdrive i dont know what it gets for mileage but it seems better than my 2005 silverado the f-600 is a great truck hauls fire wood like you wouldnt believe

 

Do a full tuneup and also check that power valve in the carb, that will go bad and cause the engine run rich(black puff of smoke...) My 84 F250 4x4 300/np435 with 3.55 gears gave me around 16 to 19 mpg, then down to 12 to 14mpg when that power valve started leaking! After many times rebuilding that carb I got pissed and put on factory EFI, now I get around 16mpg, but no more hard starts now too!

 

Hasn't anyone else noticed that this is another conversation from
almost 10 years ago?

 

What do ya expect?? His screen name is "Chevysbetter", He is obviously quite confused....

 

im not the one wearing a bra, who is confused? maybe i am but i know WHAT i am some people should learn to think and type for themselves my first reply was my brother trying to get to people when i wasnt paying attention and in this economy how many of us can afford to pay anything i came to this sight hopeing to find out some answers about my dads truck but like every other fanatic site no one has a sense of humor