Terrible Choice for Hypermiling
 

Howdy!
I'm Xaq - I drive about 120 miles a week it is a 75/25 highway & city streets split but not during rush hour. For a long time getting good mileage was easy, my daily commuter was a modified 250cc dual sport/supermoto motorcycle that ridden carefully would do 75MPG, even hooning it hard I would get 45.
Unfortunately, my bike is out of commission and I am left with my truck - a 1995 4X4 V8 Automatic Ford F150. I bought it as secondary transportation and to use it as truck - trips to the hardware store, the dump, an occasional tow, and on the very rare occasion to transport the bike. The previous owner warned me that he rarely got more than 12 MPG.

Now that it is my daily (unless I can borrow my wife's car) I've been working on improving my mileage. Through careful driving & not running the AC I've averaged 16.49 MPG across 2 tanks, 17.89 on the last one, my goal is 20 MPG. This tank is just started, but I added almost 15 PSI to each tire (48 PSI hot/44 cold per manufacturer recommendations), finally got cruise control working, and sea foamed the injectors so I should see a bump next visit to the pump.

I've ordered a vacuum gauge once it comes in and I have a day when it isn't in the 90s or storming I'll install it as well. I have a toolbox that has to stay with the truck but need to build a partial tonneau. I also hope to get the bike back on the road - instantly tripling my mileage :thumbup:

So, is the truck fitted with the 302 engine?

Yes, the MAF version, it is well maintained but bone stock. Eventually, I'd like to do some light tuning (Timing bump/ignition upgrade, full exhaust, cold air intake, etc.) but those aren't happening anytime soon - too many other projects.

The only gasser available at that time for an equivalent model in my country was the 300cu.in. Truck Six, but I used to see some privately-imported ones with the V8. Haven't seen those for a while though. But anyway, maybe the lower ethanol content in the gasoline there becomes favorable to your mileage goals despite the automatic transmission and the V8, at least on highway.

Looks like a KLX 250. I’m assuming that is the older carbureted model. 20 mpg sounds doable, but I bet that truck doesn’t even have the usual 13 city 18 highway ratings of most modern V8 trucks.

Yup, 12 city, 17 highway with the ‘little’ V8. Ouch.

That 300i6 was a heck of an engine, even after Ford stopped using them in their trucks they remained popular for industrial and fleet use. My kid brother's '82 F150 had one as well.

There are a few gas stations around here that sell ethanol-free gas but it is expensive and not nearby, most everything else is 10%.

Yeah, The carbed '09 KLX250SF - the supermoto version (17-inch wheels, a stiffer suspension with reduced travel, bigger brakes, and normally street tires but I play in the mud enough that I run knobbies) - the carbs are rejetted to work with the FMF headers, exhaust, and modded airbox with Uni filter.

And THAT was over 190,000 miles and 24 years ago!

In my country it's now around 25 to 27%

OUCH!

Did 18.34 MPG on the last tank, Installing the vacuum gauge this weekend.