First 700-mile tank of fuel

[VA Flash]

Good afternoon, all.
This little truck keeps impressing me with its fuel mileage, smoothness, and handling. This week I decided to push it a little to see if I could get 700 miles on a tank of fuel and did so with 48 miles to empty. These miles were mostly driving around town with about 8 to 10 30-mile trips on I-64 for work. What's also amazing is that you can get this kind of MPG's while hauling around approx. 500 lbs. in the bed. The weight might be why it rides so smooth.

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[VA Flash]

Impressive. How's it handle the hills of I-64? I haven't headed west yet so no grades to climb so far.

It pulls strong going up Afton Mountain without straining at all. I love the approx. 5-miles of coasting going back to Charlottesville from Waynesboro. The route from C-Ville to Waynesboro and back is usually my highest fuel consumption trip, but I still net about 44 mpg. on those days.

 

[WJOHNM]

Good afternoon, all.
This little truck keeps impressing me with its fuel mileage, smoothness, and handling. This week I decided to push it a little to see if I could get 700 miles on a tank of fuel and did so with 48 miles to empty. These miles were mostly driving around town with about 8 to 10 30-mile trips on I-64 for work. What's also amazing is that you can get this kind of MPG's while hauling around approx. 500 lbs. in the bed. The weight might be why it rides so smooth.

Good afternoon, all.
This little truck keeps impressing me with its fuel mileage, smoothness, and handling. This week I decided to push it a little to see if I could get 700 miles on a tank of fuel and did so with 48 miles to empty. These miles were mostly driving around town with about 8 to 10 30-mile trips on I-64 for work. What's also amazing is that you can get this kind of MPG's while hauling around approx. 500 lbs. in the bed. The weight might be why it rides so smooth.

I don't know what am doing wrong, I have about 2500 miles on a new Lariat best I got was 38 and that's on the highway at speed limit, I get 32 local driving, its getting better was 28, it's not that big of a deal for me more of a game only drive mostly locally 10/15 miles a day, I'm not a aggressive driver just the opposite. Is the truck too new yet or am I not driving enough it's been 5 months and 2500 miles. I changed the oil at 2k like I always do on new vehicle, even though the Hybrid is running around 50/50, will it get better?

 

[jedkins]

Did you remove the bed liner to install all extras, such as the rail? My bed liner from FORD covers all the holes.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I don't know what am doing wrong, I have about 2500 miles on a new Lariat best I got was 38 and that's on the highway at speed limit, I get 32 local driving, its getting better was 28, it's not that big of a deal for me more of a game only drive mostly locally 10/15 miles a day, I'm not a aggressive driver just the opposite. Is the truck too new yet or am I not driving enough it's been 5 months and 2500 miles. I changed the oil at 2k like I always do on new vehicle, even though the Hybrid is running around 50/50, will it get better?

Turn climate control off completely now in a mild time of year and see what happens.

Air conditioning and heat both lower MPG a surprising amount.

Make sure all four tires have AT LEAST 35 psi of air. 40 is safe, you'll hardly noice, but MPG will go up.

 

[VA Flash]

I don't know what am doing wrong, I have about 2500 miles on a new Lariat best I got was 38 and that's on the highway at speed limit, I get 32 local driving, its getting better was 28, it's not that big of a deal for me more of a game only drive mostly locally 10/15 miles a day, I'm not a aggressive driver just the opposite. Is the truck too new yet or am I not driving enough it's been 5 months and 2500 miles. I changed the oil at 2k like I always do on new vehicle, even though the Hybrid is running around 50/50, will it get better?

38 MPG's is great! I'm sure you're not doing anything wrong. Unless, if you see a red light up ahead, do you try to coast to the light or do you drive like my wife and floor it and jamb on the breaks.

If someone's behind me, I try not to drive too slowly and piss them off. But as you know, these days, no matter how you drive, you're going to do just that.

The day I drove my truck home from Staunton VA I was getting 48.5 MPG and I thought, somethings wrong, there's no way. But 7 months later the truck is still getting great MPG's. It also very much depends on the roads you're driving on and how much you can coast. I find for myself, that driving in Normal mode net's me the best fuel mileage.

 

[VA Flash]

Did you remove the bed liner to install all extras, such as the rail? My bed liner from FORD covers all the holes.

No, my Lariat came with the spayed in bed liner and rails. I purchased the Ford adjustable bed divider, 4 Kobalt plastic crates from Lowe's and the Rough Country pullout truck bed storage box without the lid.

 

[WJOHNM]

38 MPG's is great! I'm sure you're not doing anything wrong. Unless, if you see a red light up ahead, do you try to coast to the light or do you drive like my wife and floor it and jamb on the breaks.

If someone's behind me, I try not to drive too slowly and piss them off. But as you know, these days, no matter how you drive, you're going to do just that.

The day I drove my truck home from Staunton VA I was getting 48.5 MPG and I thought, somethings wrong, there's no way. But 7 months later the truck is still getting great MPG's. It also very much depends on the roads you're driving on and how much you can coast. I find for myself, that driving in Normal mode net's me the best fuel mileage.

38 was highway one time, 32 is locally, for first 2k at 28 it has gone up to 32 the last 500 miles.

 

[VA Flash]

38 was highway one time, 32 is locally, for first 2k at 28 it has gone up to 32 the last 500 miles.

If you're not already doing so, please try what Mavster Mechanic suggests. Turn off the A/C and run 40 psi in your tires.

I very seldom run the A/C even in the summer unless I'm on the Interstate.

 

[WJOHNM]

Turn climate control off completely now in a mild time of year and see what happens.

Air conditioning and heat both lower MPG a surprising amount.

Make sure all four tires have AT LEAST 35 psi of air. 40 is safe, you'll hardly noice, but MPG will go up.

I have my tires at 35 cold will go to 40, I read the ac shouldn't effect mpg and heat will, am no expert have been on the line back in 80s for 10 years then managed 30 years great with carburetors.(Joke) Retired 9 years, no experience with hybrids and never thought I would own one.
Wanted to get one in 21 but the wait was crazy so got a eco XLT FX4 was a great little truck waited 8 months for that.

Turn climate control off completely now in a mild time of year and see what happens.

Air conditioning and heat both lower MPG a surprising amount.

Make sure all four tires have AT LEAST 35 psi of air. 40 is safe, you'll hardly noice, but MPG will go up.

I appreciate the advice and it worked, I filled the tank set tires at 40, turned everything off except radio and reset trip I, drove my normal day and hit 40.5 in 12 miles of local driving, how could it be that easy.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I have my tires at 35 cold will go to 40, I read the ac shouldn't effect mpg and heat will, am no expert have been on the line back in 80s for 10 years then managed 30 years great with carburetors.(Joke) Retired 9 years, no experience with hybrids and never thought I would own one.
Wanted to get one in 21 but the wait was crazy so got a eco XLT FX4 was a great little truck waited 8 months for that.
I appreciate the advice and it worked, I filled the tank set tires at 40, turned everything off except radio and reset trip I, drove my normal day and hit 40.5 in 12 miles of local driving, how could it be that easy.

To prove a point and verify my sanity, I recently did this:

Leaving work I always take the same route.
I climb a big hill (750 ft elevation) then coast mostly down the back side. Then always come to a full stop where I check my trip MPG before entering a freeway.

For weeks and weeks, tires set to 39psi and no climate control just windows down:

55 to 59 MPG. Record was 60 MPG once.

To experiment I lowered tire pressure to 33 psi. Immediate and obvious difference. For a week straight only 52 or 53 MPG.

This week I added air back. 40 psi Front and 42 psi Rear.

Going down my hill I exceeded 60 MPG twice. And by more than a little. And without doing anything differently. As close to a lab test as reasonably practical.

8 psi boost = 16% fuel savings in my test.
Significant and conclusive even if off by a little due to wind or some other force.

Air conditioning lowers my MPG by 20%.

High Heat use lowers my MPG more than 25%.

 

[VA Flash]

To prove a point and verify my sanity, I recently did this:

Leaving work I always take the same route.
I climb a big hill (750 ft elevation) then coast mostly down the back side. Then always come to a full stop where I check my trip MPG before entering a freeway.

For weeks and weeks, tires set to 39psi and no climate control just windows down:

55 to 59 MPG. Record was 60 MPG once.

To experiment I lowered tire pressure to 33 psi. Immediate and obvious difference. For a week straight only 52 or 53 MPG.

This week I added air back. 40 psi Front and 42 psi Rear.

Going down my hill I exceeded 60 MPG twice. And by more than a little. And without doing anything differently. As close to a lab test as reasonably practical.

8 psi boost = 16% fuel savings in my test.
Significant and conclusive even if off by a little due to wind or some other force.

Air conditioning lowers my MPG by 20%.

High Heat use lowers my MPG more than 25%.

This is great info and very interesting. Getting that kind of mileage, have you pushed it to see how many miles you could get out of a tank of fuel?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

This is great info and very interesting. Getting that kind of mileage, have you pushed it to see how many miles you could get out of a tank of fuel?

I have gone over 800+ miles twice.
700+ miles per tank is typical.

Great weather conditions and 35 to 45 MPH roads yield fantastic results day in and day out.

Almost zero elevation change.
But my home is a little higher up than my work. Maybe 50 feet. This was going home last night. The slightly uphill route.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Without much tweaking, (Ford) could make this a range extended EV.

It's close to that now. That's how I drive. Mostly EV. And by mostly I mean 60%. Gas to recharge. Gas used only at speeds above ~ 45 MPH.

 

[HeyBales]

I have gone over 800+ miles twice.
700+ miles per tank is typical.

Great weather conditions and 35 to 45 MPH roads yield fantastic results day in and day out.

Almost zero elevation change.
But my home is a little higher up than my work. Maybe 50 feet. This was going home last night. The slightly uphill route.

I'd be very curious what you'd get in a 25MY that seems willing to push the EV line to abouts 15% instead of 10% Power.

Or is that merely because of the bigger traction motor, but same amount of current applied?

Either way - would be interesting.

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