2015 F150 Tow Test vs. Dodge and Chevy

[fordmantpw]

It is true because the V6 will be using a lower gear than the V8 while towing, hauling, passing, driving up slight grade or into a headwind.
When you step on the gas to pass with a 3.7L, it will drop into 2nd gear bringing the RPM up to 6000.

He didn't specify that it was towing.

But granted, if you are towing, going up hills, sure, you will see an increase. But typical driving down the highway, they will be in the highest gear purring along most of the time, and the differences will be rather minimal (unless you are towing in the mountains obviously).

It's pretty much a given that towing near the V6's max capacity, it will use more fuel than a V8. But, if you are towing well within the limits of the V6, the fuel economy will typically be close the same, with a slight advantage to the V6. Empty, the V6 will win.

BTW, I'm not talking turbo V6 here, just N/A V6. The turbo V6 in the Ford will actually downshift less than a V8 due to the lower and broader torque curve.

 

[workinallthetime]

time to hit unsubscribe this is like talking to a fence post

at 80 mph you will be going in and out of tcc lock up in a v6 to keep the engine at the right rpm's, you will also do the same in a v8 but not near as much. take the tcc lock up out of the deal put both in tow/haul and the v8 will still do better due to the engine isnt working as hard. towing has nothing to do with it but the speed does. when pulling a slight grade you will slip in and out of tcc lock up, bigger grade or the need to pass someone you get a down shift.
real world story then im outta this mess - wife drove a grand prix 120 miles a day, sister inlaw drove a civic the same route every day the same speed (they didnt get along well) the grandprix made way better mpg's than the civic, both were new cars and no i dont know what gear ratio the transaxels had in them but that 80 mph drive okc to tulsa and back cost the civic way more fuel. wife mad the comment that the gp was turning about 1800 rpm's and the civic about 2800 rpm's.

 

[jejeosborne]

Way too many variables in play to say what gets the best mpg. My smaller V8 powered dodge Dakota got almost exactly 3 mpg less than my full sized F150. Logic would say a lighter truck would do better but that hasn't proven true with the Dakota or my jeep wrangler. Why do wranglers get such crappy MPG?

 

[TomSeller]

time to hit unsubscribe this is like talking to a fence post
.

This fence post does not recall you ever clarifying if you are talking about the 3.7 non turbo or the 3.5 turbo in your work truck, both V6s. Makes all the difference in the world to this discussion.

 

[HHR]

Way too many variables in play to say what gets the best mpg. My smaller V8 powered dodge Dakota got almost exactly 3 mpg less than my full sized F150. Logic would say a lighter truck would do better but that hasn't proven true with the Dakota or my jeep wrangler. Why do wranglers get such crappy MPG?

I think Wranglers get bad fuel economy because they started putting minivan motors in them with absolutely no low end torque. I'm sure a 5.7L Hemi would get the same if not better fuel economy than a 3.8L or 3.6L.

 

[jejeosborne]

Double post

 

[jejeosborne]

I think Wranglers get bad fuel economy because they started putting minivan motors in them with absolutely no low end torque. I'm sure a 5.7L Hemi would get the same if not better fuel economy than a 3.8L or 3.6L.

Mine is a tj with the 4.0 inline six. Haven't seen the torque curve but it is know to produce decent torque down low. It lugs around pretty good. It must be the design of the engine and drive train. Something that light should get at least 20 bopping around town.

 

[Fordman1981]

Mine is a tj with the 4.0 inline six. Haven't seen the torque curve but it is know to produce decent torque down low. It lugs around pretty good. It must be the design of the engine and drive train. Something that light should get at least 20 bopping around town.

My sister had the old 3.8 in her last unlimited and she kept the fuel mileage between 19 and 20.6 mpg she has a new unlimited with the new 3.6 it has more power and with only 4,000 miles on it is already getting 22 mpg on her daily commute. I think for a 4x4 4 door vehicle that is running 32" tires that is dang good.

 

[jejeosborne]

My sister had the old 3.8 in her last unlimited and she kept the fuel mileage between 19 and 20.6 mpg she has a new unlimited with the new 3.6 it has more power and with only 4,000 miles on it is already getting 22 mpg on her daily commute. I think for a 4x4 4 door vehicle that is running 32" tires that is dang good.

Mine is a 2 door with 31 inch tires. Get about 13-15 around town when correcting the odometer for the bigger tires. The good thing is the 4.0 liter motors run forever.

 

[sld]

It just boils down to the sophistication of the engines. I remember 5.0 Crown Vics that might get 20 on a good day on the highway. The 4.6 that replaced it could easily see mid 20's doing the same thing.