F250 5.4 gas mileage

[KICK]

But hey,its not a 4 cly. Tacoma,these things do weigh quite a bit,and
lets face it ,there not really built for mileage.

its actually acceptable fuel mileage for a vehicle of that type, JC I can remember my 66 F 250, 352 V8, 4:10 gears getting 10 mpg at best.

had a 92 Chebbie dually witn big block gasser, that sucker wouldn't get 9 mpg if you coasted downhill with the engine off.

from personal observation, I think GM's are a little better on fuel than Ford or Dodge, don't know why, just they seem to be better considering have had all 3 brands in relatively the same configuration.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

2005 F250 x-cab 4x4 w/ 5.4, Torqueshift, & 3.73 - avg. mpg unloaded = 11.8. Pulling a small trailer (3-4k) about dead on 10mpg and cannot imagine anyone pulling 10k with this truck even though it is rated as capable for more.

I have pulled 10k with the 4.6 F-150 (heavy duty suspension), 5.4L F-250 and 6.0L F-250. I choose which truck I use depending on where I am going. The 6.0 handles that weight with ease but the 5.4L handles it also rather well but it goes places the the 6.0 won't (Pirelli all season tires are worthless in wet grass let alone mud). The 4.6 is a nice truck as it will pull the weight and can get into tighter spots then the F-250's. If I am pulling any hills though I will not take the 4.6 and would much rather have the 6.0 but if my destination requires me to pull that load up a ice covered driveway up a hill then I use the 5.4 F-250. These trucks can handle the weight and can pull it rather well. You are not going to win any race using a gasser to pull this weight but if you use common sense you will do just fine. The longest and heaviest haul I have used the 5.4 for was pulling 6 ton back from West Virginia. You slowed down some going up hill but that was ok. I didn't have the 6.0 back then but now I would just use that truck. It can be done safely as long as people don't expect too much out of it.We use the 5.4 all the time as it is the main work truck so there are a lot of short runs to lumber yards and job sites that suit a gasser more so then the diesel.

 

[gemini5362]

I have pulled 10k with the 4.6 F-150 (heavy duty suspension), 5.4L F-250 and 6.0L F-250. I choose which truck I use depending on where I am going. The 6.0 handles that weight with ease but the 5.4L handles it also rather well but it goes places the the 6.0 won't (Pirelli all season tires are worthless in wet grass let alone mud). The 4.6 is a nice truck as it will pull the weight and can get into tighter spots then the F-250's. If I am pulling any hills though I will not take the 4.6 and would much rather have the 6.0 but if my destination requires me to pull that load up a ice covered driveway up a hill then I use the 5.4 F-250. These trucks can handle the weight and can pull it rather well. You are not going to win any race using a gasser to pull this weight but if you use common sense you will do just fine. The longest and heaviest haul I have used the 5.4 for was pulling 6 ton back from West Virginia. You slowed down some going up hill but that was ok. I didn't have the 6.0 back then but now I would just use that truck. It can be done safely as long as people don't expect too much out of it.We use the 5.4 all the time as it is the main work truck so there are a lot of short runs to lumber yards and job sites that suit a gasser more so then the diesel.

Very good post robert. You match the truck to what the largest requirement for it will be.

 

[om21braz]

Very valid points Robert. The only thing that I am very unimpressed with about it is taking off. It's just not got as much gusto as I would think with the Torqueshift over a previously owned 2500HD 2WD w/ 6.0L & 4.10 rear w/ reg. 4spd. auto. A little more room is required before pulling out into traffic. But the 250 has a solid suspension, good brakes and was a fair amount cheaper than an equal 2500HD with 4WD. Just can't have it all when bargain shopping.

 

[BTI]

Could be my buddies 96 7.5 (460) F350 with 4.10 gears and an auto.
5 MPG towing or not.
My 97 F250 5spd got 10mpg.
Dodge Diesel 2500 4wd QC 3.73 6spd SB 19-21 drivin back and forth to work and 13 with a good sized load on it.
Seems to be that for any gas truck with 3/4 or 1 ton suspension the best you will ever do hovers around 12 to 15 MPG.
Some will baby them and squeak a little more out.

Hmmmmmmm
How about a 2wd reg cab diesel standard runnin airplane gears...... 28mpg???

BTI

 

[Bob_Young]

Well since this thread has turned into the "Mileage Report", I might as well chime in.

My '95 F150 Ext Cab 4x4 has the old 4.9L straight six, 5 spd. stick and 3.08 gears. Daily driving in warm weather it gets 17 to 18 mpg. Towing the 2000# Walleye boat (in 4th gear, not O.D.) it gets around 14mpg; but can't get out of its own way. On a highway trip from Glasgow, KY to Marion, Indiana with a heavy load in the bed and cruise set at 70mph it got a solid 21mpg and did it twice. I figure the driveshaft angles straightened out due to the load.

The old 2WD Reg. cab '94 Dodge CTD with 3.55 gears and 5 spd. stick I just inherited, used to get 26mpg for my Dad and commonly got 24 to 25mpg for me running around empty....this was before ULSD. Towing 7000# with another ton in the bed at 75-80mph on I90 across Ohio gave me 18mpg repeatedly. From what I've seen the ULSD has knocked mileage down about 3mpg.

I think the gears determine the mileage. Keep the engine RPM down to squeeze the miles out. This includes the shifts. Still, I understand why you guys go to 3.73 and 4.10 gears. The Ford with its 3.08 gears is maxed out towing 2000#. If it weren't for the fact that the Dodge has trouble on wet boat ramps, I wouldn't tow at all with the Ford.

Compared to everyone else, my trucks are definitely "old school". But both are low mileage and, from what I've just read about the newer stuff, I'm in no hurry to trade.
Bob

 

[deere755]

A friend of mine owned a 79 f-250 4x4 it got 7mpg of course gas was a little cheaper then. My uncle has a 96 chevy dually he bought new 2 wheel drive 454 that gets 7 mpg loaded or empty. I think 12 to 14 with your 5.4 sounds pretty good. That is coming from a Chevy man

 

[dogranch]

get a v10, 03 f350, single rears, crew cab, 8ft bed 285 75 r16 bfg all terrains, 6.8l v10, 3.73, xl model (power nothing--the way I like it less to tear up) 4x4. I get 12.5mpg daily driving 30 miles to work outside atlanta, ga. pulling branson 3820 tlb 6150lbs plus trailer only get about 9mpg. hovers around 11 on freeway doing 70-80. lots of people scared of the mileage they think you get with v10 but i think it does fine comparing the extra power that is there when i need it compared to 5.4 v8. and i imagine the overall strain on the engine is less over time not having to work as hard. I always ask how many miles people have on thiers when i see one and many have upper 100s and over 200k. i have 60k so far and i love it. couldnt justify the extra money for the diesel because i just dont tow all that often.

 

[knoble]

Is your truck 2wd or 4wd. I am looking at purchasing a used F250, 4x4, crew cab with 80K and the 6spd man. Any comments?

 

[newbury]

My 1997 F150 had a 5.4 auto, regular cab 4x4. I'd get 12 or 13 mpg with a tailwind. Hugo Chavez loved me.

Last September I bought a 2004 F250 with the 6.0 diesel. [Something about the tractor made me want an oil burner BAD.] It is a regular cab 4x4 w/ 3.73 gears and the 5spd auto. It gets 17.5-19 MPG on my 100 mile a day commute.

Well since someone else mentioned diesel, my 2002 F350 Crew Cab dually with 4.10 gears is getting a little better than 15mpg on the highway with my home built box on it filled with a moderately heavy load of books and furniture.


"Deadheading" back without the box I got 17.

All keeping up with traffic on I81 etc. going down to Missisippi, so about 70+ mph.

That's one of the things to pay attention to is the speed, I know out west there are a lot of people posting of averaging 80+ mph.