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Old 07-11-2008, 03:24 PM   #5 (permalink)
Jim Allen
5.4L Econo Box
 
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 36

Plugger - '05 Ford F-150HD 4x4 XL
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Been driving the '86 F-250 4x4 for 21 years and the best it's ever done was 16 mpg at 55 mph. Were I to spend 3 grand and install an overdrive trans, I could scratch at 20, but it would take a long while to recoup my costs. Add that diesel is almost a buck per gallon more than gas and that I can squeeze 18+ from my F-150. Plus, that truck is semi-retired now. Now running that old truck on veggie oil... that's a possible plan. Not really a practical one for me, but possible. I have been filtering my used motor oil and running it in small amounts in that truck, as well as my two farm tractors. No gains really, but a little less fuel to buy. Bear in mind that my truck sees only about 7K average annual miles. The Accord about the same, maybe up to about 8K. Everything I do is based on those annual averages, so me spending big buck to gain 2-3 mpg won't amortize. I'll be dead before the payoff comes!

The '86 F250 HD 4x4 just turned 135K. The '05 F-150HD 4x4 is at 12K. The '00 Accord V6 is only 62K. We don't crank on the miles... which is conservation in a way, huh?

The Accord is a V6 but driven well and good on fuel for it's power output. I have seen 30 mpg on level ground, highway. 28 is more typical highway, with 25 in mixed rural/city driving out here in the country. Never lived in town with it really, so don't know what it would do in a commute situation. Probably high teens, low 20s.

BTW, thanks for the welcomes. Look forward to adding Ecomodder to my daily forum perusals!
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Jim Allen
The Frugal Four Wheeler and Farmer

My ultimate goal is not necessarily the highest mpg but to make my trucks more efficient configured as I need them.

Old Reliable '86 Ford F-250HD 4x4, 6.9L diesel

Red '00 Honda Accord Coupe, 3.0L V6, automatic

The Plugger '05 Ford F-150HD 4x4, Regular Cab, 8-ft bed, 8,200# GVW, 5.4L V8, automatic, 4.10:1 ratios, 285/70R-17D tires

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