The Ford F-250 does 14.6 mpg combined (13.1 city, 17 highway), which works out to about $2,630 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4.9L 6-cyl does 14.9 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 14.2 — a difference of $127 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Ford F-250 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford F-250 ranges from 14.9 down to 14.2 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $127 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9L 6-cyl | 13.8 / 16.8 | 1984–1996 | $2,577 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 13 / 17.7 | 1997–1999 | $2,612 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 12.5 / 16.9 | 1984–1996 | $2,704 |
What that actually costs
The Ford F-250 burns a gallon every 14.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 822 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.219 |
| Fuel per year | $2,630 |
| Fuel over five years | $13,150 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$245 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,290 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford F-250 gives up 3.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 17 out there against 13.1 in town, a 30% drop worth $672 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 13.1 mpg | $2,931 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 17 mpg | $2,259 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.9 mpg (30%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the F-250 changed over the years
The F-250 peaked in 1998 at 15 mpg (13 city, 18 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1999 at 14 — 1 mpg apart, or $183 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1999 car does 14. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1998 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1997 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1996 | 12.5 / 17 | 2 | $2,743 | |
| 1995 | 12 / 17 | 2 | $2,743 | |
| 1994 | 12.5 / 17 | 2 | $2,743 | |
| 1993 | 14 / 18 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 1992 | 13.5 / 16 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 1991 | 13 / 18 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 1990 | 13 / 17 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 1989 | 13 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 1988 | 13 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 1987 | 13 / 16.5 | 2 | $2,648 | |
| 1986 | 14 / 17 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 1985 | 14 / 17 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 1984 | 13.5 / 16 | 2 | $2,648 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 29 EPA ratings of the Ford F-250 — 3 engines across 1984–1999. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $4,290. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford F-250 get?
14.6 mpg combined on average — 13.1 in the city and 17 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–1999.
How much does a Ford F-250 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,630 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $13,150 over five years, or 0.219 dollars a mile.
Which F-250 engine is the most economical?
The 4.9L 6-cyl at 14.9 mpg, against 14.2 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $127 a year.
Is the F-250 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world F-250 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford F-250 is $4,290 against the $2,630 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 16 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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