How many miles per gallon does a 1975 Ford f250 get?
There isn’t a single MPG figure for the 1975 Ford F-250. Depending on the engine, drivetrain, and configuration, most trucks from that era averaged roughly in the low-to-mid teens on mixed driving, with highway fuel economy often higher and city driving lower. Four-wheel-drive models and larger engines typically pulled the numbers down further.
What affects fuel efficiency on a vintage F-250
The fuel economy of a 1975 F-250 varied with the powerplant, transmission choice, and whether the truck carried a heavy payload or was used for highway cruising. Ford offered a range of V8 engines and several rear-end gear ratios, so two nearly identical trucks could show noticeably different miles per gallon depending on setup.
Engine options and typical mpg ranges
By engine and drivetrain
Note: The following figures are rough estimates based on period reports and owner experience; actual results will vary.
- 360 cu in V8 (2-barrel or 4-barrel), 2WD: combined roughly 12–15 mpg; highway about 15–18 mpg; city about 9–12 mpg. If equipped with an automatic transmission, expect it to be about 1–2 mpg lower than the manual in many setups.
- 360 cu in V8, 2WD but with a 4-barrel and manual: likely toward the high end of the above combined range; with automatic, a touch lower.
- 360 cu in V8, 4x4: combined roughly 11–14 mpg; highway 14–17 mpg; city 8–11 mpg. Automatics typically run a bit worse than manuals.
- 390/400 cu in V8: combined about 11–14 mpg; highway 14–17 mpg; city 8–11 mpg.
- 429/460 big-block V8: combined around 9–12 mpg; highway 12–15 mpg; city 7–10 mpg. Heavier 4x4 configurations can slip lower.
These are rough estimates and depend heavily on gearing, payload, maintenance, and driving style. Modern restorations with different rear-end gear ratios can shift these numbers by a few miles per gallon.
Estimating MPG today
To get a practical sense of your own vintage F-250’s fuel economy, measure fuel use over a test distance and calculate miles per gallon using a simple formula: miles driven divided by gallons used. The steps below outline a simple method you can apply on a daily driver or a weekly cruise.
- Fill the tank to the first locking filler, note the odometer or trip meter reading.
- Drive normally for a known distance, ideally using a consistent route that mixes city and highway driving.
- Fill the tank again to the same level and note the gallons pumped and the new odometer/read trip.
- Divide the miles driven by the gallons used to get the mpg for that fill-up.
- Repeat across multiple fill-ups to average out variation and account for driving conditions.
By following these steps regularly, you’ll obtain a practical MPG figure for your specific truck and setup.
Summary
The 1975 Ford F-250 did not have a single official MPG figure. Real-world fuel efficiency depended on the engine (ranging from 360 to 460 cubic inches), transmission, 2WD vs 4x4, gearing, payload, and driving style. Expect roughly 9–12 mpg in typical city-to-light highway use for the big-blocks, and up to around 14–18 mpg on the highway for lighter 360-ci configurations in ideal conditions. In practice, most 1970s F-250s lived in the low-to-mid teens in mixed driving, with 4x4 models or heavy payloads pulling that down. Regular maintenance and mindful gearing can help maximize efficiency on a classic pickup.
