Truck trends one year with ecoboost 14 mpg average

I remeber a test on the F250 I have now. The magazine only got 8mpg. The only time I have done that badly was when hauling a very large slide in camper and pulling a 22' salt water fishing boat simutaneously. I don't pay much attention to what the magazines get. Every owner I have talked to has been very pleased with the performance and economy of the engine.

I've had mine almost a year now and have about 13,500 miles on it. Until 10K, it's lifetime average was 17.1 mpg (only 600 or so miles towing). Then I dragged the TT on a 3K roundtrip to Florida. That knocked the lifetime average down to 15.0 mpg. In general, it gets about 10 mpg towing the TT, about 21 mpg empty, babying it at 55 mph on the highway, and about 18 mpg on the highway at about 73 mph. My normal around town driving is about 17 mpg.

I'm still pretty darned pleased! : ) Did I mention that it has WAY more power than the 5.3L Chevy it replaced in my garage?

carringb wrote:

Redsky wrote:
Ford is even worse as they use very tall gears to get an extra 1 MPG highway that no one will ever see in real use.

:h

Huh? Even with the tall rear end ratio, the EcoBoost pretty much stays in 6th all the time on the highway.

I think maybe he means they are always quoting the EPA ratings for a truck with their highest possible gear ratio, while the volume sales leader is probably equipped differently. For example, I was on a Ford lot the other day, and pretty much all of the EBs I looked at had the 3.55 or 3.73 ratios.

But it isn't just Ford that does this ...

Redsky wrote:
Ford is even worse as they use very tall gears to get an extra 1 MPG highway that no one will ever see in real use.

:h

Huh? Even with the tall rear end ratio, the EcoBoost pretty much stays in 6th all the time on the highway.

The manufacturers use the EPA numbers which are measured indoors with no air drag, much less towing or hauling a load or even with all the seats with passengers. Ford is even worse as they use very tall gears to get an extra 1 MPG highway that no one will ever see in real use.

It takes a fixed amount of work to move a weigh across the pavement and even more to move it up a hill and this includes the weight of the truck which is going to be about 6,000 lbs. for a 1/2 ton and 8,000 lbs. for a 3/4 or 1 ton. That work requires burning fuel. There is no magic here and there is no free lunch unless you are a billionaire and making use of government subsidies.

Well, in my mind, a 14 mpg average for a truck for all uses over the course of a year is pretty good. Especially if it isn't being driven for mileage, but rather being flogged for testing purposes.

For comparison, my Suburban has averaged 13.7 mpg over the last year. That includes everything from a few 9 mpg tanks towing the TT, a few 13 mpg tanks towing the scout's gear trailer loaded with 7 people, plenty of city driving, and even a few 21 mpg tanks taking it easy on the state highways.

But that mpg for the performance the Ecoboost delivers is pretty impressive -- like Skip said, that seems to be the best part about the EB. I've driven a couple EBs this week, and it makes my '10 Suburban feel pretty slow. If I can have that performance, and match the economy of my Suburban, I'll take it!

We have NEVER averaged 14 mpg and we have had our EB for almost 2 years. Towing, we get 10.2 to 10.8 mpg. Around town, we get around 16, give or take .5 either way. Highway, non-towing, we are getting 18.5 - 20.

I have the 2012 EB, Max Tow, Crew Cab, HD package, 4WD.

skipnchar wrote:
Ford doesn't talk much about it's being the most economical truck to drive. Their wording is the best COMBINATION of mileage and power. Lots of trucks may get better mileage with small V-8s or 6 cyl engines but certainly can't tow 11,000 lb. over 7% grades at over 12,000 feet elevation and do it in 4th gear.

My 2013 2500 Cummins can??

Ford doesn't talk much about it's being the most economical truck to drive. Their wording is the best COMBINATION of mileage and power. Lots of trucks may get better mileage with small V-8s or 6 cyl engines but certainly can't tow 11,000 lb. over 7% grades at over 12,000 feet elevation and do it in 4th gear.

As a GM fan, I appreciate the fuel mileage I get out of my 2000 suburban 5.3 with 200,000 miles. This engine will not beat the ecoboost is 0-60, but does the job towing our tt very well. I am sure that the fuel mileage of my 13 year old truck can beat the new high tech ecoboost. Wonder if the new 5.3 direct injected will give me even better that my old truck ??