Sneem
Kansas
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Joined: 02/23/2004
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I have a 2004 F-150 with a 5.4L Triton. It has about 50,000 miles on it. I've used it to tow my 26 foot TT for three seasons. Prior to this year I would get about 9.5 miles per gallon. Lately that has dropped to just over 7. Tires are inflated properly, bearings greased, etc. Any ideas or suggestions on why this would happen and any fixes?
Thanks, Sneem.
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toolman1
Cerritos, CA.
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Joined: 07/10/2004
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Do you guys also get that "summer blend" that we in CA. have to put up with? It's pure junk, and mileage suffers accordingly.
See ya out there!!
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eaherrmann
Central Va
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Is your gas station adding "10% Ethanol" ? Try another gas supplier.
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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Sure it is not ethanol, read just yesterday that there is a 20 to 30% reduction in mileage with that junk.
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Ductape
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Alky in your gas?
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You can't take the Fisherman out of this Camper
Ontario, Canada
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Replaced your air filter lately? If it's dirty your mileage will suffer. I've also seen a situation where a plastic bag got sucked into the air filter... boy, does that ruin your mileage in a hurry!!
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rtate
san marcos Tx
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You are getting ethonal blend. Saves you 5% On price and causes a 10% drop in mileage. But the corn farmers are happy.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Sneem wrote:I have a 2004 F-150 with a 5.4L Triton. It has about 50,000 miles on it. I've used it to tow my 26 foot TT for three seasons. Prior to this year I would get about 9.5 miles per gallon. Lately that has dropped to just over 7. Tires are inflated properly, bearings greased, etc. Any ideas or suggestions on why this would happen and any fixes?
Thanks, Sneem.
Have you been doing like MOST of us and continually adding morel gadgets to the trailer? Extra weight MIGHT cause that kind of problem but it would have to be a LOT of extra weight to make that much different. When looking at fuel mileage it is ALWAYS necessary to measure it over a long period of time and not make the mistake of taking a mere "snap shot" and thinking that is what you're getting. I've used my Ford to tow for over 70,000 miles and have gotten about 8 MPG over all with about half of the miles being with a 6500 lb. trailer and the other half being with a 9,000 lb. trailer. On an individual days travel I've gotten as high as 12.5 MPG (level highway with strong tail wind driving 65 MPH) and as low as 5.5 MPG (rolling hills with 45 MPH head wind driving 65 MPH) mostly depending on wind direction and speed. If I'd have used just either of those exceptional days as a measuring point I'd have a very skewed idea of my mileage.
Over-all I have not seen any reduction of fuel mileage from when the truck was brand new to the last days travel, with 105,000 miles on the clock.
Probably hasn't helped you much but maybe given you some things to think about. Good luck / Skip
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crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Is your mileage based on HAND CALCULATIONS or the overhead console?
Have you engaged 4 wheel drive lately? On my Excursion...the Super Duty inspired 4 wheel drive HUBS are vacuum operated and prone to issues. One of the failure mechanisms is NOT to DISENGAGE...not sure if your F150 has a similar potential...but if you have a stuck hub...you could be getting poor mileage.
Also have you done any tire SIZE changes lately? Going BIGGER on tire diameter would equate to LESS miles registered on your odometer and thus when you calculate the mileage...it would 'appear' lower unless you compensated for the tire diameter difference...
My first thought was like you_can't_take's in that the air filter could be dirty if you haven't changed it...your F150 should have the same cone filter I have on my V10...I recently changed my air filter to a K&N drop in for ~$40 shipped to my door from Ebay...but I was SURPRISED how dirty my filter was when I changed it...but I tow many miles and suck lots of air into the motor...so I shouldn't have been surprised.
While I changed my filter...I also cleaned my MAF sensor as well...I then disconnected the battery and turned on the headlights to ensure complete reboot of the PCM...to pick up on the new MAF sensor readings...
Are you towing at the same speed?
Are you towing similar roads?
The fuel companies have replaced the MBTE additive with ethanol since MTBE was linked as a carcinogen (sp?)...so the ethanol may be affecting your mileage some...certainly not the 30% you are seeing though...full E85 if you used that if your 5.4L is a Flex-Fuel motor...COULD certainly produce that ~30% DROP in fuel mileage though...are you burning E85???
EDIT: Had another thought...have you checked your trailer brakes recently?...could you have one dragging?END EDIT
Just a couple of thoughts..
Good luck,
joe.
* This post was
edited 05/07/08 04:22am by crappie_fisherman *
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weathershak
Delaware
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tvman44 wrote:Sure it is not ethanol, read just yesterday that there is a 20 to 30% reduction in mileage with that junk.
DITTO. Boat motors don't like it either
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