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Old 06-20-2021, 09:28 AM   #1
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F150 gas mileage

I have a 3.5 eco boost Ford F-150 super crew with topper. Towing a 6000 pound trailer when fully loaded. My gas mileage was 7-8 mpg driving on i90 in flat south dakota. A mostly headwind and crosswind of between 15-20 mph. Does this seem about right? I was using premiim gas.
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Old 06-20-2021, 09:48 AM   #2
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With those kinds of headwinds, that's not bad!

I'm betting the premium gas had little to do with it.

Driving around Wyoming, in head/crosswinds, we average about 6, and on a recent trip - 4! Of course, Wyoming isn't the flattest state: except in the Basin (Continental Divide between Rawlins and Bitter Creek)

We tow with a Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
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Old 06-20-2021, 10:14 AM   #3
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Yes, that sounds right….that is what I used to get when I had an F150 EB…
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Old 06-20-2021, 10:14 AM   #4
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We have a 36 gallon tank. When do you decide i better get some gas. I was always pulling a pop up so never worried. Now i feel like i have to seriosly plan the gas. I just drove through the middle of south dakota and north dakota. Very rural and didnt see a gas station for 200 miles. We finally wwnt off corse to get gas and i fillrd with 30 gallons. Felt loke this was way to close a call.
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Old 06-20-2021, 10:31 AM   #5
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We start looking when tank reads 1/2 to 3/8. Do you use any gas apps when travelling?

We use Gas Buddy for prices in the areas where we are (although not all stations are reported all the time, but it will tell us where they are) and iExit. If you're on an interstate, it's a great app. Tells you what's up and coming for the next few exits.
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Old 06-20-2021, 10:46 AM   #6
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I have the 2.7 liter F150 pulling a similarly sized trailer. Overall I average around 9 mpg towing over the last 12,000 miles, but have been as low as 6 (over a tank of gas) when traveling interstate speeds against a head wind.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan Man View Post
We have a 36 gallon tank. When do you decide i better get some gas. I was always pulling a pop up so never worried. Now i feel like i have to seriosly plan the gas. I just drove through the middle of south dakota and north dakota. Very rural and didnt see a gas station for 200 miles. We finally wwnt off corse to get gas and i fillrd with 30 gallons. Felt loke this was way to close a call.
I try to fill up around a 1/4 tank... But in Wyoming last year I was trying to make time, and found a gas station at '5 miles until empty.' Turns out it was closed on a sunday! The next one was fifteen miles away. As I was getting off the interstate exit to the next gas station and going around a small traffic circle, it ran out of gas and the engine cut out. I put it into neutral and coasted into the gas station (that was JUST past the traffic circle), stopping just short of the pump. I wasn't sure if the gas hose would stretch all the way to where I came to a stop, but it just barely did. THAT was cutting it too close! lol

This being said, I always carry a 5 gallon gas can in the bed of the truck, so I wouldn't have actually been screwed if I had ran out.
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Old 06-20-2021, 11:09 AM   #7
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Sounds right. I got almost 10.5 last trip but had 20 mph tail winds.
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Old 06-20-2021, 11:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan Man View Post
I have a 3.5 eco boost Ford F-150 super crew with topper. Towing a 6000 pound trailer when fully loaded. My gas mileage was 7-8 mpg driving on i90 in flat south dakota. A mostly headwind and crosswind of between 15-20 mph. Does this seem about right? I was using premiim gas.
You didn't mention your speed.

Not to start a Ford Vs Gm Vs Ram.....Butt

A few weeks ago in the flats of I-95 in Florida. Towing a 2020 Surveyor at about 6700 lbs trailer not including hitch. I experimented with different speeds and with no wind. Using the trucks calculations. For about 5 miles each time. I came up with 11 -12 MPG at 61 MPH. Any higher or lower it would drop off immediately into the 9s.

Your mileage may vary.
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Old 06-20-2021, 12:15 PM   #9
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We also have a 3.5l EB but tow a 3500 pound TT. Across the plains with heavy headwinds be get between 8 and 11 depending on wind direction and speed. When we have no wind and driving 60 mph we can get up to 13.
I don't think 1500 pounds makes much difference, it is the frontal area and speed that kills mpg.
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Old 06-20-2021, 12:39 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bzac1954 View Post
We start looking when tank reads 1/2 to 3/8. Do you use any gas apps when travelling?

We use Gas Buddy for prices in the areas where we are (although not all stations are reported all the time, but it will tell us where they are) and iExit. If you're on an interstate, it's a great app. Tells you what's up and coming for the next few exits.

I agree 100% -

When I towed I was towing across HWY 46 in CA to Hearst Castle. its only 25 miles to civilization, and I had 1/4 tank showing & the idiot light said I had 50 miles till empty. No sweat!!
Well I got to the top of the grade and the idiot light said 20 miles to empty and the nearest gas station was 18 miles away. (and yes still towing so who know when I would go empty)

I was so nervous and actually ran out of gas as the truck & camper coasted into the gas station. NEVER AGAIN

Moral of the story (I now have a class A) I agree 100% with you I start to look at a 1/2 tank and actually never let my rig get to 1/4.
Both for the reason you never know when you will find a station &
there is something psychological about filling an 80 gallon gas tank vs 40 gallons at one time.
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Old 06-20-2021, 01:54 PM   #11
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I have a 2014 3.5 Ecoboost with Max Tow package. I tow a 26ft 6500lb loaded TT and I live out West.
I generally average 9-11mpg towing BUT I keep my foot out of it and keep the speed around 62mph. Nothing kills towing mpg faster than towing faster, due to frontal air resistance.
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Old 06-20-2021, 02:16 PM   #12
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sounds right...I towed a cargo trailer from Michigan to Las Vegas and was getting 6-8mpg if I remember right. we literally stopped every 2hrs for gas with the 26 gal tank in the work's 3.5 ecoboost.....as they say you cant eco and boost at the same time.
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Old 06-20-2021, 02:55 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by U.S.ArmyVeteran View Post
You didn't mention your speed.

Not to start a Ford Vs Gm Vs Ram.....Butt

A few weeks ago in the flats of I-95 in Florida. Towing a 2020 Surveyor at about 6700 lbs trailer not including hitch. I experimented with different speeds and with no wind. Using the trucks calculations. For about 5 miles each time. I came up with 11 -12 MPG at 61 MPH. Any higher or lower it would drop off immediately into the 9s.

Your mileage may vary.
I was driving around 60 mph
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Old 06-20-2021, 03:03 PM   #14
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I tow a 6000# tt with a 3.5 eb and so far have averaged between 11 and 12 mpg. Never towed into a 20 mph head wind and I keep it light at about 62 mph.
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Old 06-20-2021, 04:22 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan Man View Post
We have a 36 gallon tank. When do you decide i better get some gas. ...
As you observed few gas stations in rural areas, that depends on where you are. I start looking at 1/4 tank (36 gallon) which should be 80-100 miles before fumes. If I were out West or in very rural Midwest, I might be more conservative.
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Old 06-20-2021, 07:45 PM   #16
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Irrelevant, but does that vehicle require premium? I always get a kick out of people who fill up vehicles with premium that do not benefit from high compression engine fuels, but do so because 'it's premium, it's the best, right?'
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Old 06-20-2021, 07:49 PM   #17
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I did find this: https://fordauthority.com/2019/08/is...st-ford-f-150/
Apparently it does give better performance at high speeds. But you only see a 0.6 mpg improvement in mileage, not worth the premium price.
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Old 06-20-2021, 07:56 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJKris View Post
I did find this: https://fordauthority.com/2019/08/is...st-ford-f-150/
Apparently it does give better performance at high speeds. But you only see a 0.6 mpg improvement in mileage, not worth the premium price.
That is because when the engine is under boost they can alter spark timing for more performance with premium fuel. You cant be as aggressive with regular 87. But as you see the difference is negligible.
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Old 06-20-2021, 08:52 PM   #19
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I did a couple of tanks of gas premium to compare fuel mileage. It did not improve enough to spend the extra $.70 per gallon. I have towed up most of the tough pulls in the Rockies running 87 octane and have never run out of power while towing with my current tow vehicle. I don't burn 85 octane that many stations in Wyoming sell.
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Old 06-20-2021, 09:12 PM   #20
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On my recent excursion out west towing a 4,000 lb. Wolf Pup with a 5.0 F-150, I would fill up at 1/2 tank. 36 gal. tank. Later in the trip I would often fill up at 3/4 just to be sure. There sure are some long stretches between gas stations out there, and the next one in 150 miles may not be open! I was getting 10 - 12 mpg.
I also made sure to avoid the 85 octane, but used the recommended 87 octane the whole trip.
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