Power reset for better MPG

[Timuh60]

I have read many posts on here where many of you are enjoying great MPG. I average between 19-20 MPG regardless if I am city or highway which is not bad for the average truck but nowhere close to the 24 combined MPG advertised on my window sticker. I did have the dealer install a 2" front level kit but did not see a noticeable difference before or after (and I doubt that would account for over 4 MPG). I am definitely not an aggressive driver in my truck. I have other vehicles for that.
So on a Camaro ZL1 forum I was reading someone was getting 11 MPG when he purchased and couldn't figure out why it was so low. After trying several things he was told to disconnect his battery cable for a couple hours to reset the fuel tables. After doing so his MPG went up to 18 MPG. Is that possible something that could work with the F-150 as well?

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[RossRR]

It is an easy enough thing to do so I would go ahead and give it a try (and report back).

It seems few people are getting the 24 mpg tested. One YouTube channel guy "Are We There Yet?" is getting 15 with his powerboost, so maybe you are fortunate to be seeing 20. I would love to know the configuration of the truck used for their testing; also, it's interesting that they dropped the rating from 24 to 23 for 2022 and as far as I know, nothing was changed in the truck.

My '19 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost used to get 20-22 depending on time of year. Three years and 50000 miles later I'm getting 15-16 and my dealer says there is nothing wrong with the truck. Hope yours holds up to that 20 you are getting.

 

[JEB]

I have read many posts on here where many of you are enjoying great MPG. I average between 19-20 MPG regardless if I am city or highway which is not bad for the average truck but nowhere close to the 24 combined MPG advertised on my window sticker. I did have the dealer install a 2" front level kit but did not see a noticeable difference before or after (and I doubt that would account for over 4 MPG). I am definitely not an aggressive driver in my truck. I have other vehicles for that.
So on a Camaro ZL1 forum I was reading someone was getting 11 MPG when he purchased and couldn't figure out why it was so low. After trying several things he was told to disconnect his battery cable for a couple hours to reset the fuel tables. After doing so his MPG went up to 18 MPG. Is that possible something that could work with the F-150 as well?

You would probably be better off finding the relevant fuse and pulling it rather than disconnecting the battery. If you have a Powerboost and you disconnect just the starter battery, you risk damaging the 12V auxiliary battery under the passenger rear seat, which will remain energized. There is a warning against disconnecting just the starter battery in the shop manual.

 

[PWong]

My guess, the two batteries are connected in parallel.
So disconnecting battery cable under the hood will not shut down the 12V system.

 

[Timuh60]

My guess, the two batteries are connected in parallel.
So disconnecting battery cable under the hood will not shut down the 12V system.

That's a good point! Can anyone verify that is how it works?

 

[MJ Heat]

It is an easy enough thing to do so I would go ahead and give it a try (and report back).

It seems few people are getting the 24 mpg tested. One YouTube channel guy "Are We There Yet?" is getting 15 with his powerboost, so maybe you are fortunate to be seeing 20. I would love to know the configuration of the truck used for their testing; also, it's interesting that they dropped the rating from 24 to 23 for 2022 and as far as I know, nothing was changed in the truck.

My '19 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost used to get 20-22 depending on time of year. Three years and 50000 miles later I'm getting 15-16 and my dealer says there is nothing wrong with the truck. Hope yours holds up to that 20 you are getting.

I have a 2015 3.5 Ecoboost with 216k miles on it, that has averaged 20.6mpg (hand calculated & yes I am that kind of nerd) over its life. Right now, I am getting 21.5+mpg on the typical tank. I have found that like your truck, it gets the best fuel mileage at moderate temperatures. I lose fuel mileage when it is cold & very hot (probably AC compressor). But I have also learned that plugs, coils, & air filter really do have a pretty big impact on fuel usage. I certainly have known this for a while, but it really got my attention when I saw a significant immediate mpg boost when they were all changed at the same time, at 200k miles.

 

[RossRR]

I have a 2015 3.5 Ecoboost with 216k miles on it, that has averaged 20.6mpg (hand calculated & yes I am that kind of nerd) over its life. Right now, I am getting 21.5+mpg on the typical tank. I have found that like your truck, it gets the best fuel mileage at moderate temperatures. I lose fuel mileage when it is cold & very hot (probably AC compressor). But I have also learned that plugs, coils, & air filter really do have a pretty big impact on fuel usage. I certainly have known this for a while, but it really got my attention when I saw a significant immediate mpg boost when they were all changed at the same time, at 200k miles.

I have my Ford dealer service my truck every 5000 miles, and I have replaced the air filter and cabin air filter every other visit. I had them change spark plugs at 45,000 miles and was told by service adviser that he wouldn't recommend replacing the coils so soon (he didn't want me to replace plugs, either, but I told him I wanted them replaced and to be sure they used anti-seaze compound on the threads). Actually don't know that they did, but I did pay for the service. Guess at 55,000 miles I'm going to go ahead and have them replace coils. If I get my mileage back after doing so, I may go ahead and cancel my new truck order; I'm a bit apprehensive about the tech failures I am reading about on this new generation of trucks.

 

[JEB]

That's a good point! Can anyone verify that is how it works?

The batteries are modified parallel. The auxiliary battery is not directly parallel because it has a relay in line. It only provides power for transient loads during high draw events, like cranking. It is very small—only 7.5Ah vs the starter which has around 80Ah. Easy to damage if you disconnect the main because its not designed to handle a full accessory load on its own. It is what it’s described to be—aux power only. If you pop the cover under the rear seat, it’s about the size of a battery you’d see in a UPS for a home computer.

 

[JEB]

My guess, the two batteries are connected in parallel.
So disconnecting battery cable under the hood will not shut down the 12V system.

Right. Until you burned the aux to the ground, which wouldn’t take long.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The smaller battery is a "keep alive" battery. It only powers a few key circuts, such as computer memory. Had an experience when transmission oil was changed. The tech overfilled the transmission and the system "knew it." The truck wouldn't move even after correcting the refill. The shop spent some 11 hours on it, including disconnecting the main battery to "reset" everything. After I pointed out the nature of the smaller battery (eg keep alive), they disconnected both batteries and then the reset happened and the truck ran fine...

 

[Gros Ventre]

I am seeing 19-20 mpg on interstates at 80 mph (Wyoming). WHen I do around town driving I see as much as 27.7 mpg

 

[Timuh60]

I am seeing 19-20 mpg on interstates at 80 mph (Wyoming). WHen I do around town driving I see as much as 27.7 mpg

I say 75% of my driving is in and around town. Half of that is 45-55 MPH roads. I get 19-20 MPG. When I do Interstate trips (cruise at 76-78) I get 21-22 MPG. Not what I expected but it is in service now and that is one of the things on the list they are looking at. We will see what happens.

 

[PWong]

So have to disconnect BOTH batteries for a HARD Reset.

 

[JediNut]

I say 75% of my driving is in and around town. Half of that is 45-55 MPH roads. I get 19-20 MPG. When I do Interstate trips (cruise at 76-78) I get 21-22 MPG. Not what I expected but it is in service now and that is one of the things on the list they are looking at. We will see what happens.

I really thought the hybrid was going to do great with my driving pattern: lots of short trips (i.e. less than 5 miles) around town. But, I find that around town I get around 17mpg (or LESS), but if I get up on the interstate, it'll eventually climb to close to 24MPG. I think that my "around town" driving doesn't give the truck enough time to warm up and be "efficient." I'm driving 2 miles to the pub, the truck sits for a few hours, then 2 miles home. Those are about 15MPG... if I am lucky.

? Cheers! ?

 

[Gros Ventre]

So have to disconnect BOTH batteries for a HARD Reset.

Yes. That is specifically what the Ford Tech had to do to get the high level in the transmission to clear. The issue is, I believe, that the "keep alive" battery maintains the computer system memory when the AGM battery allows the 12v system to drop below the needed voltage due to starting. Also you might consider what will happen to system voltage if you mount a winch and do some heavy winching. So, if you want to do a hard reset of the computer system, you have to disconnect both.

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