2013 Ford F150 Ecoboost
 

Ok... I know it's not a tiny mpg efficient car, but I need a truck and the last one did a BEST MPG of 14 (ugh !).

So now I am going to see if I can get this new truck up over 25 mpg regularly (I have had it to 26 mpg on the highway, but want to get it over 25 mpg averaged).

Wish me luck !!!

:turtle:

(for those extreme hypermilers amongst you... look away now....)






http://coho911.smugmug.com/Cars/Truc..._7369105-M.jpg

Good luck! There are some guys around here getting impressive numbers with trucks.

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Two questions:

One, did you do some serious weight shedding?

Two, how are you getting such poor mileage with a lite weight vehicle?
or
Two, is it difficult to achieve the EPA numbers or is there another factor?

1) I have not shed any weight - I do run it empty (not adding toolboxes or jack-alls, bed is empty, etc., etc.)

2) The mileage is below EPA as a) I live at 3500 feet altitude (so I will have to work harder), b) the truck is BRAND new & from all the reading I have done other owners report at about 5000-8000 kms on the engine it suddenly increases a few mpg's when the engine is fully broken in and you get the first oil chane - so until then I am doing what I can and using this time as a baseline to learn better driving habits :)

3) Yes, the EPA IS hard to reach on these trucks people say as the EPA is derived off an engine being run on a Dyno - not real world driving.

I am not trying to turn this truck into a an ultralight electric boxfish wannabe and make it drive 1000 miles on 2 gallons of fuel, I believe there is a place in fuel economy for everyday people with common changes and great habits to get better gas mileage. The adaptive transmission has already learned my smoother driving habits & has made adjustments.

My intentions are to take a regular vehicle, make some affordable & sensible everyday changes, focus HUGE on driving habits, maybe try some things like grill blocks, tonneaus etc. & share the data/results I get with other people who may be in the same situation as me.

I will have this truck over EPA ! :D

Well right off the bat, forget the tonneau. Everything I've seen here and elsewhere says they cost MPG's, not save. Something-something air swirl something-something.

Tonneaus are dependant on truck cab design & bed length.

I am always up to the new information & will adjust my perspective accordingly, but all I have read and researched so far leans in favor of a tonneau to decrease the 'high pressure' volume in the bed = less secondary turbulance = less air resistance.

I have one advantage already - I bought a 5'7" bed (the short bed) which along with my supercrew cab actual offers the BEST aerodynamic signature for a fullsized truck with an open bed. Ford designed the rear of the cab to pull air down into/over the bed of the truck, but in a smart move - they actually have it 'aimed' to flow over the bed and flow over the top of the tailgate. as soon as you go to the 6.5' bed, it does start to JUST catch the back end of some of that overcab airflow - the mid length & long truck beds always benefit from any form of bed cover. Even only covering the rear 1/2 of the bed to aid with rearward airflow. :)

F150 Aerodynamics;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0RVd-nbDXI

Truck Tailgate Up/Down research;
Ecomodder thread :) http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...down-3904.html
Pickup Truck Tailgate Up Or Down Aerodynamics Tested | New Industry Products | Trucking Times Magazine Trucking Times
Driving With Tailgate Up Is Fuel Efficient : Discovery Channel

Canopy test;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYO21Frl9Vc

If anyone has any new information - feel free to share it as I am trying to both help myself and anyone else who's interested. So far I think my research about which truck to buy and adjusting my driving habits is just a start :) .

I was jokingly trying to hint at the weight posted for the truck on its page.

I look forward to following your developments!

Around/Across town today, finally 22.3mpg at home but does well on the road in traffic.

http://coho911.smugmug.com/Cars/Truc..._8097438-L.jpg

For the 'its just a picture- could be anything' doubters, here is a video as I was almost home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2GkHoVtIoc

This truck does well for a new, un-broken in Fullsized 4x4 with a towing -3.73:1- rear differential in it & 35 gallons of fuel in its belly.

That beast ain't gonna sip but let's see what you can do with it.