How to Improve Gas Mileage in Your 2000 or Newer Ford F-150

Your Ford F-150 may be a stylish machine, but at the end of the day, its V8 powerplant just might be the thirstiest machine around. Ford makes some of the best full-sized trucks around, and they are infinitely upgradeable with as many Ford performance parts as there are actual aftermarket parts. There are lowering and lift kits available for your F-150, running boards for both standard cab F-150 and crew cab, and stereos available at numerous retail outlets throughout the United States.

One of the major concerns with these trucks is fuel economy, though. No matter how you slice it, you're still paying a serious amount of scratch at the pump to keep that truck on the road. There are some things that can minimize the impact to your wallet, of course, most notably running all your tires at an equal pressure and at the specified pressure according to Ford, and making certain that your gas cap is on tightly after each fill up. Some lesser known ways of increasing gas mileage may in fact seem like little more than medicine show trickery, but in fact, they really do work. Take for instance the cold air induction air filter. The stock airbox in your F-150 is meant to work at the optimal range for the engine, provide a water-resistant place for the air filter to live, and provide air to the engine. That's about all that it is designed to do. By switching to a free-flowing air filter, you not only kick up your horsepower levels, but also you will see your fuel consumption decrease.

Next on the list is the rear end. The gears in the rear axle of your F-150 are chosen according to the package you purchased the truck with. A towing package will net you gears which are chosen to increase the efficiency of the engine in using its torque band. Thus, you see less fuel economy, but increased ability to haul heavy loads. Sport-themed Ford trucks are still capable of pulling, but that torque band is weighted more heavily to the upper end of the powerband, allowing the truck to cruise steadily on freeways and provide a certain amount of get up and go off the starting line.

The exhaust system is another of those infamous power adders which is often overlooked as a means of improving fuel economy. While it will not do as much as you might expect on its own, the combination of an exhaust system and cold air intake can mean serious increases in gas mileage whether you've chosen the V8 Ford F-150, or even the V-10 F-250.

Fuel economy isn't a matter of smoke and mirrors. It is true that you will be hard pressed to up your fuel economy by serious numbers with just add-ons, but keeping your F-150 in top shape and always keeping the tires filled up to their max pressure is a great way to start noticing real world gains in fuel economy.