What is the mpg on a 1996 f250 Powerstroke?
The 1996 Ford F-250 with the 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel typically falls into the mid-teens for overall fuel economy. Highway runs can push into the high teens or around 20 mpg under favorable conditions, while city driving and towing tend to pull numbers lower. Real-world results vary widely based on configuration, load, and maintenance.
Context: the 1996 Power Stroke era
In 1996, Ford’s heavy-duty F-Series pickups could be equipped with the 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel, an engine sourced from International/Navistar. They were offered with both two- and four-wheel-drive layouts and paired with either a manual or automatic transmission. Gear ratios (such as 3.73, 4.10, etc.), payload, and tire size all influence fuel economy, as they do on any large diesel pickup of the era.
What affects fuel economy in this truck?
Fuel efficiency in a 1996 F-250 Power Stroke is shaped by several core variables. Here is a concise look at the most influential ones.
- Drivetrain: 2WD tends to sip less fuel than 4WD due to lower rolling resistance and weight.
- Transmission and gearing: An automatic versus manual, plus axle gear ratios, can shift highway and overall mpg noticeably.
- Vehicle weight and payload: Heavier trucks and those carrying or towing substantial loads burn more fuel.
- Tires and rolling resistance: Larger or more aggressive tires raise rolling resistance and reduce efficiency.
- Driving style and terrain: Higher speeds, rapid accelerations, hilly terrain, and frequent idling lower mpg.
- Maintenance and fuel quality: Clean injectors, proper air intake, and well-sealed systems help maintain economy.
- Towing and hauling: Tow-related loads reduce efficiency more than everyday driving.
In practice, these factors combine to produce a wide range of outcomes. A stock, properly maintained 1996 Power Stroke may see mid-teens in mixed driving, with highway numbers closer to the high teens or low 20s under ideal conditions and lighter loads.
Typical mpg ranges by configuration
To give a sense of typical numbers for stock, unmodified trucks, here are common ranges by setup. Note that towing or heavy payloads will lower these figures.
Drivetrain and gearing
Two-wheel-drive versus four-wheel-drive layouts and axle ratios influence highway versus overall efficiency.
- 2WD, automatic: roughly 16–18 mpg combined; highway around 18–22 mpg.
- 2WD, manual: roughly 17–19 mpg combined; highway around 19–23 mpg, depending on gearing.
- 4WD: roughly 15–17 mpg combined; highway around 18–21 mpg.
Real-world numbers vary with tire size, load, and maintenance, but these ranges reflect typical ownership experiences for stock configurations.
Towing and payload impacts
When you’re hauling a trailer or carrying a heavy payload, expect a noticeable drop in mpg. Aerodynamics, weight, and engine load drive the decline.
- Towing or heavy payloads: approximately 10–14 mpg combined; highway could be 14–18 mpg depending on trailer weight and aerodynamics.
As with the other factors, results vary based on trailer size, terrain, and driving style.
Summary
In short, a 1996 F-250 Power Stroke typically delivers mid-teens mpg in mixed driving. Highway runs can approach the high teens or around 20 mpg with lighter loads, while city driving and towing generally pull numbers down further. For an exact figure, track fuel consumption over a representative stretch of your usual driving with your specific configuration, load, and tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 96 7.3 Powerstroke?
I've seen around 16-18 with a tune and on long trips. My obs all stock gets 14-17 and I've gotten 20 mpg on a long and slow drive.
How many MPG does a F-250 7.3 get?
An F-250 with the 7.3L engine typically gets about 14–18 mpg on the highway and 10–14 mpg in the city, but actual mileage varies greatly depending on driving conditions, axle ratio, and whether the truck is towing. For example, highway cruising can yield around 16–18 mpg, while towing can drop the fuel economy to 8–12 mpg.
You can watch this video to see a real-world highway MPG test of the 7.3L engine: 1mDaily MotorYouTube · Mar 29, 2024
Factors that influence MPG
- Driving conditions: City driving with frequent stops and starts results in lower fuel economy compared to steady highway cruising.
- Towing: Hauling a trailer significantly decreases fuel economy. Some drivers report getting around 8.4 mpg while towing a heavy load, compared to 14.9 mpg when empty, as noted in this Cars.com article.
- Axle ratio: Different gear ratios affect how the engine performs. A lower ratio (higher number, like 4.30) will have a greater impact on fuel economy than a higher ratio (lower number, like 3.55).
- Driving habits: Aggressive acceleration and higher speeds will lower your MPG. Driving at speeds between 55 and 65 mph often results in better fuel economy.
How many miles per gallon does a 1996 Ford F250 get?
Fuel Economy
| City | 11 mpg |
|---|---|
| Highway | 16 mpg |
| Combined | 13 mpg |
How many miles per gallon does a 97 7.3 Powerstroke get?
A 1997 Ford 7.3L Powerstroke typically gets 14-18 mpg, but this can vary significantly depending on driving conditions, such as towing, vehicle modifications, driving speed, and whether the truck is 2WD or 4WD. Some owners with factory settings and proper driving habits can achieve highway mileage in the high teens, with some reporting averages up to 21 mpg on long, empty trips.
You can watch this video to see an MPG test of a 7.3 Powerstroke truck: 55sDaily MotorYouTube · Aug 25, 2023
Typical mileage
- Average: 14-18 mpg is a common range for many owners.
- Highway: With factory tires and without a load, 17-18 mpg is achievable.
- Empty highway: Some drivers report getting up to 20-21 mpg on long, empty highway trips at consistent speeds.
- Towing: Mileage drops significantly when towing, with some reports as low as 5-12 mpg depending on the load, wind, and terrain.
Factors that affect mileage
- Driving speed: Lower speeds generally result in better fuel economy.
- Towing/Load: Heavier loads and towing reduce mileage considerably.
- Tires: Larger or off-road tires can decrease mileage.
- Modifications: Things like performance chips ("tunes") can either improve or worsen mileage depending on the tune.
- Drivetrain: Two-wheel drive (2WD) configurations typically get better mileage than four-wheel drive (4WD) models.
- Gears: Axle gear ratios play a role in fuel efficiency.
This video explains how to increase MPG on a 7.3 Powerstroke: 59sNoHalfAssYouTube · Jul 25, 2019
