Just turned 20 k on my 09 Plat F150, 5.4 with 3.55 axle, 4x4. Fuel mileage seems to be lower this winter. Last year averaged 14 around town, 18 + on hwy. Lately 12 to 13 around town and 16, 17 on highway. Nothing really different, same drive to and from work, not talking about bad weather times, just normal cold weather driving.

Just a little disappointing. Fuel mileage should be stable by now. Hand calculating is still about a mile off of computer (lower).

 

Probably the ethanol that is now blended in the gas now. All of my vehicles have lost some mpg since we got the junk down here in Florida.

 

Temperature?

 

It's definitely the winter blended gas. Numerous posts on here about. Unfortunately, I'm not the exception to the rule, mine has dropped 2-3 miles per gallon. Can't wait till warmer temps.

 

This is mainly the reason. Ethanol is now mandated in all gasoline and it lowers fuel economy. So thanks to the gov't, we pay more for fuel because of ethanol and get worse mileage requiring us to buy more fuel.. 10% ethanol is required in California and it sucks!!!

 

mg5Ford,

I feel your pain man. I have approx 16.5K and 3.55s on my Plat and it is still churning out some terrible numbers. 12.4 City and 14.2 hwy. The best I ever got on a 15 hr road trip was 14.5 mpg at 75mph. I don't know how these guys on here are getting the numbers they're reporting but if there's a secret please let me know!

 

Change your air filter. When my 4.6L 3 Valve engines filter started to get dirty in my Sport Trac, my mileage went down. Also the gas filter can gets plugged as well. When I replaced both, mileage went up 2.5 mpg and I had my race car performance back.

 

I dont think I have ever heard someone use the phrases "Sport Trac" and "race car performance" together before.

 

cold temps make it run richer and the ethanol as noted before. I keep track of my MPG for every fuel up and I average 19.5 over the summer with the A/C and its dropped to around 18.5 over the winter. With it warming up here recently to 60-70 degrees I've been back up to get 20mpg again.

 

Yeah, I would say ethanol too. A dirty air filter will decrease your MPG, but not the 15% you are seeing. You think this is bad, my other truck is a diesel. Thanks Obama.

 

1. try driving the posted speed limit
2. use Shell, Chevron or Conoco gas
3. run tire pressure at 37 psic
4. check air filter
5. use 5W20 oil

 

States That Mandate the Use of E10
By Lee Morgan, eHow Contributor
updated: September 3, 2010

Gasoline in some states must contain 10 percent ethanol by law.Every state in the U.S. sells gasoline mixed with ethanol. This corn-based alcohol additive is meant to burn cleaner and reduce the overall consumption of oil. Gasoline with 10 percent ethanol, known as E10, is sold in many places, but only a few states have passed laws mandating the exclusive use of E10 at the pumps.

Minnesota
Minnesota is a front runner in the move to mix ethanol with gasoline. Drivers in Minnesota have been buying E10 for several years because it was the first state to introduce ethanol at gas stations. Legislation in 2005 mandated a move to E20, gasoline with a 20-percent mixture of ethanol, by 2013, pending federal approval.

Ethanol also is a part of the state's financial health, providing more than 5,000 jobs in 14 ethanol plants and contributing $1.3 billion to the state economy, according to the New Rules Project website.

Missouri
Missouri was the second state to pass a mandate on the sale of E10 at its gas stations and the third state to mandate the blended fuel. Only Minnesota's E10 mandate and a similar 8.5-percent mandate in Hawaii came before the 2008 Missouri Legislature's decision, according to the High Plains Journal website.

In Missouri, as well as Minnesota, it is not required to label gas pumps where E10 is dispensed. However, many gas stations still label the pumps regardless of state requirements.

Montana
Montana is among the states attempting to be a leader in the ethanol industry. Its E10 mandate was enacted in 2005 but will not be put into action until the state reaches ethanol production goals set by the Legislature. Montana must be able to produce 40 million gallons annually before the mandate kicks in.

Montana law also requires that all gas sold in the state should include 10-percent ethanol, with the exception of 91 octane, according to the All Business website.

Other State Mandates
Minnesota, Missouri and Montana are not alone in the quest to transition America into a nation that uses renewable fuels made domestically. But other states do not mandate the 10-percent blend.

Hawaii has an 8.5 percent ethanol mandate, although many stations sell E10. Oregon and Washington also have mandates for ethanol at 2.5 percent and 2 percent, respectively.



The Conoco and Conoco-Philips stations have 100% gas in my neighborhood.

 

E10 is also mandated in the Chicago metro area, and has been for longer than the MN state mandate.

 

http://www.fueltestkit.com/state_gui...anol_laws.html

The following link is to a site I found this afternoon. The EPA website doesn't mention anything about states mandated to sale E10 fuels. Anyone know where I can find this information? It also looks like E15 fuels are just around the corner.

 

The EPA won't have that info because the state mandates are made by the states, not the feds.