I bought a gas hog. What can I do to it

That truck came with a 4.9L which is a 296 not a 360

the truck is rated for a mixed driving of 16 MPG

What were you expecting when you bought it?

Something else. Tire pressure, clean air filter, grease, and driving habits. These are things people dont think about. Everyone hollers tune up! Plugs, wires, etc.

Tire pressure needs to be at the tire manufacturer spec on the side of the tire to create the least amount of rolling resistance. Less resistance better mileage.

Air filter needs to be clean. If your choking it then it cant breath and works harder. Also same with exhaust. Needs to breath. If it can breath it wont work as hard and takes less fuel.

Grease everything. If everything moves freely then theres no friction. No friction means freedom of movement and saves fuel. Needs to be as slick as greased snot.

I know yes again driving habits is probably the most important. Reread post 12 above.

I agree it is not a 360, but I think in 96 it was the 4.9L? 300 straight 6cyl, 302 5.0L v8, and the 351 5.4L v8. I think the 4.6L? v8 was only in the mustang that year, but I could be wrong.

There is no cheap answer. Taller tires get's you a small increase. Do you have an overdrive transmission? As another asked, what's the rear end ratio?

I've got a Chevy half ton with a 3.08 rear and 4spd manual. The 4.3 6 cyl. is a 262 cid engine. It bumps 20 mpg. Going with a higher ratio rear end would help. With an auto trans, that makes pulling iffy. Adding an overdrive gives you the best of both but costs quite a bit just like changing out the ring and pinion.

Depending on the age of your Ford, I'd look at the spray pattern on the injectors. If they're bad you might replace them and improve the mileage. You may be able to find injectors that flow less. It turns out the injectors for a Chevy 5.7 supposedly flow less than those for 4.3. You might check Ford injectors for different engines for compatibility and see if you can install injectors with a lower flow rate.

For the money, I think you're better off finding a car that gets 40 to 50 mpg and parking the truck until you need it. If you drive a lot, the car will pay for itself.

I sure am gonna be hating driving my truck back and forth to WV for the next year and a half... Last trip was $120 in fuel..

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Look into a tornado fuel saver which should increase you gas mileage by 15 percent the cold air intake should save 30 percent.

Bill, did you figure out what you have there yet?
Engines available in 1996 were 300ci, (4.9L) inline 6 cylinder or the 302ci (5.0L) V8, or the 351ci (5.8L) V8.

Auto transmissions available were the old 3 speed C6 which was the strongest of the bunch or two different 4 speed overdrive transmissions.
the E4OD and the ER70W

The axle code found on the label inside the drivers side door jamb of '92-'96 F-Series is relatively easy to decipher each digit means something. The first digit in the axle code tells you if it's Limited Slip (Posi) or not, and it's (the rear end's) weight capacity. Deciphering the weight capacity code is too complex to explain, but whether or not it's Limited Slip is easy. If the first digit of the axle code is a letter, it's Limited Slip. If it's a number, it's a one-legger. The actual letter or number specifies the rear end weight capacity. The second digit tells you the gear ratio.

All that have a second digit that is a:
8 have 3.08 gears,
7 have 3.31 gears,
9 have 3.55 gears,
5 have 4.10 gears.

Now you did state it was a V8, so if you have the 351 with the C6 trans and the 4.10 rear gear you got yourself a mule of a truck and the gas mileage is going to suck forever. What kind of mileage are you getting?

I'm of the mindset as others have stated as I drive a Focus 85% of the time and my F250 15% of the time when needed.

[QUOTE=FarmboyBill;6193032 Its a gas hog. Is there anything I can do to thin it down?[/QUOTE]

Do you need that big of a pickup? Trade for a smaller one. Suprising what a small pickup and light trailer can do. Good mileage empty, better than the gashog when loaded and about the same when pulling a trailer. If you don't pull the trailer much your mileage will be good....James

I think you have watched too many info-commercials, neither one of your statements are correct.

If the Tornado gave even a 1% increase in MPG every car manufacturer would have build one into the intake.

So i found this video from mythbusters, best gas mileage was actually from the mesh tailgate.
Tailgate up and tailgate off were the same, tailgate down worse but only by .2 gals per hr.
So , not a big deal how you do it overall.
They use a reg cab truck, my F-150 is a ext cab and probably less vulnerable to drag and turbulence behind the cab, shorter bed and all, why i get better mileage with tailgate OFF ,taller tires and no pre-cat converter.

If you can watch video and give a crap here is the video:

I used to drive a 2006 f350 dually disel crew cab longbed got about 13mpg in city and about 16on hwy. The best way to save gas is driving habits. You can also look at the site called ecomodder.com.

You got a brute there but you got to feed it. Park it out front, leave keys in the ignition and dome lite on. When it is stolen, give the thief plenty of lead time before calling cops and insurance co. I have a truck like that, It is used once a month.....to haul a trailer of hay (just what I bought it for). Use insurance money to buy gas sipping shoebox..... Oh by the way. Who needs flaps, just "kick it and slip it"

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A roller skate with a cab that gits 26mpg hwy?Not me..

I usually recommend:

- cold air intake - SPECIFICALLY one that will ensure the air is taken from just behind the grille, away from the engine

- less restrictive (not necessarily louder) muffler, if not an entire cat-back system

- chip it out if possible

I've done the first 2 to my F150 4.6L, and I regularly get 20 to 21 MPG - on a V8.

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"I pursue my faith with a lack of remorse; I stand resolute to embrace the cause." -- Project 86

Put the corn to it and then off to the butcher.

And that's a gas hog. Do what you will, and it'll still drink thirstily. If it's really a problem, change trucks. Otherwise, pretty much minimize the driving of it.

Some interesting claims regarding ecomodding, in particular with undercarrage smoothing vai coroplast, but doubt you actually want to get into playing that.