Wants to run!

BlackSTX · #1 Sat, May 22nd, 2010, 11:10 PM

I don't know if many of you have ran your trucks all out before, but I had an opportunity a while back to let it stretch its legs a bit and was really surprised.
We got stuck behind some sight seers and were running a bit late getting to the in-laws. I convinced my wife I could easily make up some time on the back roads but I guess the sunday drivers ahead of us thought the same thing too.

Anyway, when I had an open road ahead of me, and it was completely clear ahead, I nailed it and made my pass. I usually will let off a bit and watch my speed so as to not over indulge; and let off a touch this time too, but I couldn't resist it's willingness to keep going.
As I was about to look down as check my speed, my wife already had started to notice it

; I was just hitting 110 mph and it still wanted to run. Here I was expecting to see 80-85. I guess I forgot it wasn't set at the stock limiter anymore.

Sure, I'm a bit curious to see where it could have gone if I stayed on it; especially since I know I had more room for the tach to climb, and a little bit of pedal under my foot. However, we all know what curiosity did to the cat -- and I'm not that curious anymore.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is how impressed I am with how well these trucks will run when you are have some steam. The 4.6L, for being a small motor will still get you up there, even if it can't get you started all that quick.

***Longshot270*** · #2 Sun, May 23rd, 2010, 12:39 AM

I know what ya mean even though I try to stay out of the triple digits, my tires aren't in the best of shape.

BlackSTX · #3 Sun, May 23rd, 2010, 08:36 PM

Yeah, I know what you mean. I usually don't run that high, but it was a nice straight open road; and sometimes you just can't resist.

I know these like to run pretty good at higher/highway speeds, but mine really likes running higher. Not to mention, it was continuing to pull like a freight train; even at that speed.

***Longshot270*** · #4 Sun, May 23rd, 2010, 08:40 PM

Yeah, I've been suprised at how quick my little 4.6L can be. Lately I've been able to go 70+ and still get 18+ mpg. And I have people harassing me because my truck get bad mileage...its because they dont let me go fast enough!

BlackSTX · #5 Sun, May 23rd, 2010, 09:30 PM

I hear you on that. It seems once I get out of the stop and go traffic in town; even if I still don't get into a higher speed zone, the mileage starts to take off. Then when I get into the country a bit and can crank it up, the mileage keeps going up. It seems to keep going up even if I'm really giving it a beating too.

Around town, back and forth to work, which is only 3 miles one way, I average about 13.5 mpg. Give me a chance to get onto some roads with a couple fewer traffic lights and the mileage can jump 2 or 3 mpg easily. Then let me hit the country and in no time I'm up over 17 and continue creeping up. Even if I'm launching it from stops and cruising at 70, it continues to go up higher.
On that day I ran it over 100, my average mileage reading was almost 20 mpg; the highest I think it's ever read.

***Longshot270*** · #6 Sun, May 23rd, 2010, 10:46 PM

You should look into installing a vacuum guage like I did. About $15 and I can fine tune my highway driving to easily get over an extra mpg. Pretty soon I'm going to do some experiments with the converter lock points by comparing to the guage. But even without it I get about 13.8 city and ~20 highway mpg. I've been seeing 20 mpg on country roads I used to see 18. The best part was that there was no drilling besides the installation of the guage.