Automotive

[CAyers]

I have a 2005 Ford F450 V-10.  I had purchased the vehicle used with a little more than 26,000 miles.  I had driven the vehicle city and highway and was getting 13 miles to a gallon.  I had taken a trip using cruise control most of the time and was driving speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour on flat land.  I had gotten 11 miles to a gallon.  On my return trip I decided to drive between 55 and 60 miles per hour using cruise control hoping to get better gas mileage.  At that time I had gotten 8 miles per gallon.   I had replaced the air filter but it wasn't bad enough to cause all this problem.  So I'm thinking it is something else.   Do you have any idea as what to look for?  And no I haven't taken it to the Ford Dealership yet. You can send an email to me on suggestions:  www.swampchick@aol.com

Thank you or all your help! 

[AAAPete]

Were you calculating the fuel economy or were you relying on the information from the vehicle? There could be a few factors that will cause the economy to vary such as type /brand fuel. Road and weather conditions, driving habits, vehicle load, etc.

[CAyers]

Pete:I generally use whatever gas is available at the time for filling when traveling out of state.  I take the differences of miles from previous ticket to the newest ticket and divide total of gallons of gas and this is how I got my mileage per gallon.  I'm older than 60 and I don't put the pedal to the metal. So we can omit that scenario.  This particular  time of traveling was on flat ground on I-10 and I-20.  The oil had been changed before leaving town.  Anyway, I just thought that I would ask you being that you would be more familiar with vehicles.  I feel the truck is to new to have problems like this.  Thank you and have a great day!

[AAAPete]

Being as you did not mention any issues with the way the vehicle performs, no mention of a check engine light on, nor any mention of reduced economy since the trip, it may just be that one of the brands of fuel you burned either had a higher than normal amount of ethanol or it wasn't as compatable with your vehicle as other fuels may have been.

[CAyers]

I haven't had the truck back on the road since I had returned home.  I didn't have any check engine light on, so I'm taking it that Ethanol isn't good for a vehicle.  It sounds like we don't have too much of a choice being its sold every place that I know of.

Anyway, thank you for all your help and ideas. Maybe I'm thinking that I have a mechanical problem that really doesn't exist.  Perhaps I need to take another trip and use better quality of gas and see if it improves the gas mileage.  I can see the gas could be a big problem!  I know that traveling in other states and thinking that you are stopping at a good place, might not be good at all.

Thank You!