Author Topic: Ford Bronco (Read 3553 times)

Dogshooter · « **on:** November 25, 2002, 05:12:46 PM »

I have a 1990 Bronco and was wondering if anyone out there has found a way to imrpove the gas mileage a bit. I love the truck and the mileage is a trade off I have been willing to accept but if one of you guys has the magic formula, how about sharing it?

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I am CAL......... · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2002, 05:32:48 PM »

Dogshooter,I think it is normal for the breed.I have had several fourwheel drive pickups and I never had a Ford that got anykind of mileage.I think you have to change brands to improve on the mileage and I don't know what brand to go to.The smaller size trucks gave me better mileage but you sacrifice room and power as I am sure you know. I have a full size Chev.extended cab at present averages around 16 mpg.Had a S10 extended cab averaged 20 mpg.Think I am going back to the S10.I am CAL... :roll:

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2002, 08:37:50 PM »

I fixed it by trading mine off for another. I've owned 85, 88 and now 92 models. The 85 was the single best vehicle I've ever owned in my life. It got lousy mileage tho. I traded it for the 88 with EFI and expected a big improvement. WRONG! I only went from 11.5 mpg to about 12.5 mpg. Now my '92 is a 302 with EFI and gets 16-17 for all the miles it has on it. That includes in the woods crawling in 4x4LR as well as on the highway and in town. On trips it can be expected to approach 20 mpg if you keep your foot out of it and go the speed limits.

GB

Dogshooter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2002, 02:00:38 AM »

I went thru my Bronco and put new u-joints all the way thru it and put synthetic front, rear, and center. I even started putting synthetic in the crankcase. That gave me a couple of mpg. Will see if the cost is justified. In the meantime, I want to keep this thing going as long as possible cause I sure don't like the new ones. Too much "user friendly" junk on 'em.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2002, 10:59:33 AM »

Dogshooter, what mileage are you getting from your '90 Bronco? Is it EFI? Is it 302 or 351? Three speed auto or four speed auto transmission?

My '85 was 351HO with 3 speed C6. The '88 was 302 EFI with same C6 and hardly did any better than the '85 with a carbureted 351HO engine using same transmission. Now the '92 with the four speed auto with O/D and the EFI 302 is getting what I consider to be excellent mileage for such a large vehicle.

Mine has over 141,000 on it.

GB

Dogshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2002, 06:29:08 PM »

Mine is a 351 EFI with AOD tranny. I am getting close to 17 highway now. Don't spend much time on the highway though. All the synthetics gave me a little over 2 mpg. Worth the expense??? I'll withhold judgement for a while yet.

ps...Iamcal..I bought a 2001 GMC Sonoma (Crew cab, V6, 4X4) to try and save some gas expense and it got 16mpg highway!!! As soon as the warranty ran out the left front hub "assembly" went out. $550 just for the part. When the right one started growling the week after I fixed the left, I sold it. Will just keep my Bronco going. Forever, I hope.

1911crazy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2002, 04:58:27 AM »

Quote from: Dogshooter

I have a 1990 Bronco and was wondering if anyone out there has found a way to imrpove the gas mileage a bit. I love the truck and the mileage is a trade off I have been willing to accept but if one of you guys has the magic formula, how about sharing it???

If you do a lot of highway driving a taller tire will improve gas milage not wider but taller it doesn't take much. BigBill

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2002, 09:23:22 AM »

Change of gear ratios will make a big change in gas milage. All of the P/U's and SUV's I've ever had were geared pretty low. My first Bronco was a '78 and got 18-19 Hwy. Changed the ratios to 4.10 and milage went to 7-8, but would pull stumps. Before the change they were 3.73 if memory serves correctly. Changing to lower threes should get you 2-3 more mile/gal. if it's milage your looking for.

Butler Ford

redfred · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2003, 01:09:36 AM »

I've got a 78 bronco Everything is stock except a one inch lift, tires and warn lock outs Gas milage slurps. Stick your foot in it I get 8-10 put put 12-14. OL'BLUE MULE has 398000 miles on her with a new motor at 270000. She has a 400 2bbl. auto trans. I've been using K&N filters (air). Thinking back when I started using K&N the milage did improve but not much. I don't really now how to say it but after I put that air filter in her she just feels better. OL"BLUE is now just range and hunting buggy (buddy)

outdoorman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2005, 08:04:12 AM »

You guys are scaring me about your bronco gas mileage. I just sold my toyota 4wd after looking and thinking along time about the full sized bronco. I'm now looking the internet for a 96 or 95 bronco with low miles in excellent shape. Should I get the 5.0 or the 5.7 engine? I won't be towing except light boat or utility trailer. Is there big difference notice in driving with these vs gas mileage?

Hooker · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2005, 08:48:39 PM »

My current Bronco 79 400cid C6 automatic 3.50 gears 31" tires 10mpg
My old Bronco also a 79 460 cid C6 automatic 4.88 gears 37" tires 4mpg. :shock:
My old one only got such good mileage because the fuel line wouldn't carry any more fuel :-D :-D
Honestly their are steps you can take to improve mileage.
Proper tuneup
Replace cat with a high flow model
Install less restrictive exhaust and muffler
Replace old vacuum hoses pay special attention to the hoses on evap system.
If you have not replaced the 02 sensors in a while do so.
Check timing chain for slack and replace if needed
Have EGR serviced
Have fuel system cleaned
Service transmission
Make sure tires are fully inflated and aligned
I saved this one for last install less restrictive air filter system. I don't like the K&N type they let more air in by being more open. This also lets more dirt in and shortens engine life. AC paper type air filters have the best flow of this type of filters. I like taking the tallest one I can get under my hood with one of those chrome open filter housings. This way I keep the dirt out of my engine but still draw more air over a larger filter surface area.
Hope this helps

Pat

BULLMASTIFF · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2005, 11:02:18 AM »

Man, you guys sure piss and moan about fuel economy. Do what I do. Don't keep track. It puts less stress on the stomach, and keeps more hair on the head. Heck, I just dumped 60 bucks and I didn't even fill it.

For the record, I have a 78 Bronco, 36" swampers (lookiing at 37" toyo's) 4.56 gears, detroit in the 9-inch, C-6 with a stage 2 shift kit, 400 bored .030, headers, 600 cfm holley and a whole bunch of other goodies (yeah, I spent alot of money on it when I was single and with no kids). 400-450 lb.-ft of neck snapping torque that I love. It is black, no AC, has dings and scrapes, and hasn't been washed in almost 5 years. I also wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Oh, did I also mention, I ripped all the carpet and sound insulation out after it leaked, and well, my ears ring when I get home from work, especially with the new flow masters. Let's face it guys, we don't drive these rigs for the mileage. If you're worried about mileage, get a mini-van. I won't laugh too hard when I blow past you. :-D

:-D

And always remember, great trucks arn't bought, they're built.

outdoorman · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2005, 04:16:22 PM »

Update: After looking alongggg time for the right bronco. I bought my 1996 EB 5.7l V8 Bronco last April. It got 19 miles/gal highway driving home from Tennessee back to Georgia.
It's real nice condition and has tow package.

JOE MACK · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2005, 05:59:10 PM »

Quote from: BULLMASTIFF

Man, you guys sure piss and moan about fuel economy. Do what I do. Don't keep track. It puts less stress on the stomach, and keeps more hair on the head. Heck, I just dumped 60 bucks and I didn't even fill it. For the record, I have a 78 Bronco, 36" swampers (lookiing at 37" toyo's) 4.56 gears, detroit in the 9-inch, C-6 with a stage 2 shift kit, 400 bored .030, headers, 600 cfm holley and a whole bunch of other goodies (yeah, I spent alot of money on it when I was single and with no kids). 400-450 lb.-ft of neck snapping torque that I love. It is black, no AC, has dings and scrapes, and hasn't been washed in almost 5 years. I also wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Oh, did I also mention, I ripped all the carpet and sound insulation out after it leaked, and well, my ears ring when I get home from work, especially with the new flow masters. Let's face it guys, we don't drive these rigs for the mileage. If you're worried about mileage, get a mini-van. I won't laugh too hard when I blow past you. :-D :-D And always remember, great trucks arn't bought, they're built.

You and my little brother must think alike. He's got a 460 Big Block with Gale Banks twin turboes in his. Then again he's making quite a bit more money than I am so I guess he can do what he wants.

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2005, 08:38:04 PM »

Off Topic:

Joe Mack
Do you know what headgaskets your brother is running? When I was young and stupid and lived at home, I had a 73 Mercury comet GT with blown 460 and even though the 6-71 blower only made about 9psi of boost I blew headgaskets left and right. That was the main reason I got rid of that car and eventually got out of the ford scene altogether.
I would assume that with twin turbo's he is boosting a bunch more than that, I just wonder if they have come up with a better gasket or better machining process for that particular engine since then?

WD45 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2005, 04:24:51 AM »

Heck, most mini vans dont get over 20 MPG unless you are on the highway. What I do is park that thing and only drive it when necessary and drive the more fuel efficient car most of the time.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:18:32 AM »

My truck at work is a 2004 Chevy Colorado extended cab, manual gears, 5 cylinders. It gets 19 mpg. I was dissapointed with that since my old '87 S-10 gave me 27 mpg. 'Course that had the four-banger. I would have thought that the engineers would have come up with a more efficient design. Ah well! I think I'll look for a late '50s, early '60s VW bug. Chain one up and it'll climb trees!

-WH-