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Old 07-17-2017, 01:21 PM   #1
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16' 24MBH + 17' F-150 3.5 EcoBoost = 5.8 mpg??

Went on a 100ish mile trip last weekend and ended up with an average MPG of 5.8 mpg. This is my second trip with this truck and the first time out it was closer to 10. Wondering if there is anything I should be worried about or anything worth looking at? Sure makes cross country traveling more difficult if I have to fuel up every few hours.

More info in case you need it:
  • Truck has max towing package with the biggest gear ratio (3.55?)
  • Without the trailer I'm getting 19-21...which is what I'd expect.
  • Using an equilizer hitch
  • Trailer was pretty much empty (one night of gear and no water). Dry weight spec'd at 5500.
  • It rarely wanted to shift out of 8th gear...my first trip out it seemed to use 10th gear on the flats.
  • Terrain certainly wasn't flat but didn't go through any mountain passes. Just rolling hills of Southern Idaho.
  • Trailer pulled fine. Barely noticed it was there.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:34 PM   #2
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Dang, 5.8 is pretty bad. I have a 264BHW and TV is a '17 Silverado Z-71 with a 5.3 L V8. I usually get between 10 and 12 mpg when towing depending on terrain. How is the air pressure in your tires? What type of weather were you towing in? Was it windy? I've found that a strong wind can really make you suck gas if you are driving headlong into it.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:38 PM   #3
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Wind resistance gobbles up lots of fuel. So head winds from Mother Nature and head winds you create by going faster are the first two suspects.

Did you hand calculate the mpg in both cases? Differences in fuel station pumps and different fuel filling techniques may also play a role as well as distance measuring variances.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:55 PM   #4
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I never went much lower than 8 mpg in my ecoboost, when I did it was going over a mountain pass. 9 to 10 mpg was more typical for us on average.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:57 PM   #5
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Tire pressure was to spec...just filled it before the trip. It was probably around 95 degrees out and a little bit of wind...maybe 10-15 mph?

I'm just going off of the digital mpg display on the truck...but the way it was sucking fuel I'm thinking it was pretty accurate. Around a half a tank for 100 miles. 36 gal tank.
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Old 07-17-2017, 06:38 PM   #6
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Same here; the worst I ever got was in the high 7's, towing into a strong headwind. Normally it's in the 8 to 9 range while towing. 3.5 Ecoboost, 6 speed and 3.55 rear. The trailer weighs around 6,000 lbs.

I use an app on my smartphone to keep track of the mileage. It's a little more accurate than the lie-o-meter on the instrument panel display.
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Old 07-17-2017, 06:50 PM   #7
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I agree with Bansai - I got 10+ most of the time 9 at my worst. Are you going by the dash computer showing fuel economy or are you calculating it yourself? When I towed, my dash readout was never accurate. Just food for thought.
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Old 07-17-2017, 08:03 PM   #8
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I actually did hit 4 mpg for a good stretch of road, but that was climbing from 6000 ft elevation to 11,000 at 65mph mostly. This is one reason, among many, I miss my 3.5... 'It wasn't supposed to be able to pull that much weight up the spine of north america at interstate speed' anyway, I digress.. I never get the EPA's mpg ratings on any of my vehicles thanks to altitude... to the OP, there's something wrong with your truck if you don't have anymore data points to offer... i.e. headwinds, maybe you locked out 5th gear (on purpose or otherwise) 5.8 is really bad otherwise... I think.

I would imagine though that if something really was wrong with your truck, you would have thrown a code (check engine light or something)... Unless you're a gear head, like I aspire to be, I'd take it to the dealer if you see that again and can't logically explain it.

I take it that your unloaded MPG hasn't changed noticeably?
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Old 07-17-2017, 08:25 PM   #9
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My 2016 EcoBoost runs 10mpg average while towing a 30ft 5th wheel. So I would say you've got a problem. I suppose if you had a brake dragging it would have overheated enough that you would have noticed the smoke.

I'll second the comment about wind - it makes an amazing difference. We went from Texas to the Black Hills a few years ago. The prevailing winds were from the South and VERY strong both going up and coming back. Going up I was running 15 to 18 MPG and thought "Whoo Hoo!!". Coming back against the headwinds I was getting 6 to 8. It all evened out over the trip to my usual 10.
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Old 07-17-2017, 08:40 PM   #10
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As mentioned, speed and wind are huge factors for fuel mileage. When I travel West across southern Idaho it seems like the wind never lets up.
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Old 07-17-2017, 11:31 PM   #11
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Speed makes all the difference in the world pulling. You're mileage will go down significantly over 70mph. Not sure if you're doing that but worth mentioning
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Old 07-18-2017, 06:41 AM   #12
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17' 24MBH behind a 13' 3.5EB non-max-tow (3.31) SCrew loaded for bear and averaging about 9.3 over about 800 miles in Ozark hills, running 62-65 mph. Stays in 5th most of the time in tow/haul mode; down to 3rd on some hills. I average closer to 17.5 not towing. Something is off with your setup if you weren't in a wicked headwind or running 70+. I second the opinion to check your trailer brakes. I carry a non-contact thermometer and check the trailer drums when I stop to fuel.
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Old 07-18-2017, 08:04 AM   #13
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-Fill up with 91 or 93 octane fuel
-Inflate truck and trailer tires to max cold inflation pressure printed on tire
-Tow under 60mph
-Tow on a no-wind day, or if there is wind, note where it's coming from
-Ensure your hitch is set up properly weight is being adequately distributed

Try these things and if you're still not getting at least 8mpg there is a problem.

I tow 7K lb with a slightly lifted truck on 33in tires and get an average of about 9.5mpg
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Old 07-18-2017, 12:23 PM   #14
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Rarely wanted to shift out of 8th?

I may have missed it, did you have Tow/Haul Mode on? I know I sometimes forget to re-engage it when I start the truck.
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Old 07-18-2017, 12:45 PM   #15
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Another thought on gearing... Sometimes I get better fuel mileage running in 5th with slightly higher RPMs than running in 6th. It seems like the engine is throwing more boost and fuel into the cylinders when the RPMs are that low, almost like the engine is lugging and struggling to make its power. The 400ish RPM increase towards peak torque makes it a little easier for the engine to expel power. Just a thought. Maybe try locking out the top gears and run in 7th?
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Old 07-18-2017, 01:01 PM   #16
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, I was probably going a little faster than I should have...maybe 78? Speed limit is 80.

I'm headed out again next weekend on mostly highways (65 mph) instead of interstate. I'll see if that makes a difference.
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Old 07-18-2017, 01:11 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kjandb View Post
Thanks for all of the suggestions. Yes, I was probably going a little faster than I should have...maybe 78? Speed limit is 80.

I'm headed out again next weekend on mostly highways (65 mph) instead of interstate. I'll see if that makes a difference.
That made me cringe a little.

Are you running the stock tires?

You've confirmed your tires are rated for more than 65mph? Most of the tires that Jayco puts on are not... I'm not sure about the Good Years they started using recently. I know the China Bombs on my camper will self destruct at those speeds. No offense intended if you already have this covered.. 2 of my friends, both with different campers have had really bad blow outs this year on the interstate and they had no idea they couldn't take those tires faster than 65 without negative consequences.

The worst part though is when these tires go, they usually cause a ton of additional damage to the camper. Just looking out for ya
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Old 07-18-2017, 01:32 PM   #18
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Wind and Speed

Wind is always blowing in Declo. Just a matter of which direction and how hard. It is Declo. May have been upwind both directions for your trip.
I try to keep my speed below 65. If I try to go above 70, then the gas mileage drops dramatically. I shoot for 62 MPH but it sneaks up on me once in a while.
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Old 07-18-2017, 03:24 PM   #19
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78MPH! Wow. That will suck fuel for sure. As Bansai mentioned your ST trailer tires are rated for 65MPH max speed. Unless you have upgraded you are asking for a blowout.

Tow around 60MPH and see if your fuel mileage is more inline with others.

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Old 07-18-2017, 04:33 PM   #20
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I have a 2017 284bsse and tow with a 2017 f150 I am averaging 9.5 mpg on 3 trips 1 to northern mi and 2 to Beaver Falls pa. I would be concerned about your drop in mpg
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