2003 To 2006 2500 6.0l Gas Mileage

89formularoth · November 12, 2009

Anyone know what the city and highway are for a 2003 to 2006 2500 with a 6.0L? I'm considering trading my 1500 in, but I'm not sure if I can take the mpg hit.

gmc_todd · November 12, 2009

Anyone know what the city and highway are for a 2003 to 2006 2500 with a 6.0L? I'm considering trading my 1500 in, but I'm not sure if I can take the mpg hit.

They were not listed on my 05 GMC 2500HD but they are nothing to brag about. I average between 9 - 12.5 non- towing with the best at just over 14 on a trip to Virginia when the truck was at 5,000 miles. It has just over 25K now. I will add that the truck has 33" tires and the speedo is NOT calibrated for them. So it does throw my milage off some.

Todd

Coachmenguy · November 12, 2009

Might want to try searching on here theres like 10,000 threads on 6.0 fuel milage

Shatterz · November 12, 2009

There are no official ratings for the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks as they are not rated by the EPA. The 6.0 is not a gas miser, and the truck weighs in at around 5800-6000K lbs, which equals somewhere between 9-14 mpg depending on your on right foot.

kdog55 · November 13, 2009

My '05 is basically stuck at 12 MPG. Once, when I really tried, on a trip I got 14 MPG. I did not buy my truck to be Toyota Camry, so it does not bother me. I bought the HD because I wanted one that would WORK and one that would LAST. If you think these HDs are half tons with heavier suspension, they are not. They are built like a tank to last. But that also makes them heavy and NOT fuel efficient. If you want a fuel efficient truck the half ton will serve 99% of the truck population well, but if you REALLY want an HD, then weigh out the negatives with fuel mileage being the big one. But with that being said, an equally equipped half ton probably will not hit 20 MPG either, no matter what that little sticker says. My buddies wife got an '08 half ton CC 4x4 with the variable displacement system and she avgs about 16 MPG. for 3 or 4 miles per gallon, I'll take my HD.

asylum575 · November 17, 2009

My everyday driving ranges from 11MPG to 12.5MPG. It depends on my foot. Problem is, I love hearing the roar as I take off. On a road trip at 65-70mph, I can get just about 15MPG. If I go up to 75mph, It drops to about 14MPG.

Stevens03 · November 17, 2009

With the LQ4's (2500's) you can pretty much plan on 12-15mpg average. Don't look for much more than that.

If you can find an LQ9 Vmax (1500's), you can expect a little better.

davzog · November 18, 2009

My neighbor just bought an 09 1500 with the small v8---salesman said he would get 22 mpg...he gets 18 at best...

My 6.0 2500 consistently gets 13-14....for 4 mpg, I will take the HD....

I really don't need an HD anymore since we parked our RV permanently on a lot....but I agree with the aboce that it will last a long time...

I figured out the cost of gas like this, using 5 mpg difference between a 1500 and an HD:

For 10,000 miles of driving, the 1500 at 18 mpg uses 555.5 gallons o fuel

For the same 10,000 miles, the HD at 13 mpg uses 769.2 gallons of fuel

So, at 5 mpg difference there is a difference of 213.7 gallons

At $2.60 a gallon, that adds $555.62 to the fuel bill for the HD, or about 0.05 cents per mile.

I drive just about 10,000 miles a year, so it works out to about $46.30 a month, or $11.57 a week....

If you look at it as a part of a truck payment, the HD has a heck of a lot of extra heavy duty features (in lieu of a moonroof or leather or an entertainment system or who-knows-what) for $46 a month.....works for me...

FlamesZ71 · November 19, 2009

I'll pipe in just for the sake of argument. I have the 5.3 in my 1500, and I average maybe 13 to 15 MPG, between towing on the highway and around town. If I don't tow, and I go long distances, that value goes up to 18 to 20 MPG. But, I work my 1500, but I would rather have a heavier duty truck than what I currently have, but I'll deal with it for now. I don't worry about how much it is to fill up anymore, my gas gets covered under business expenses, so it all works out in the end.

Provided I can afford a diesel, I certainly would, but if I can't, then my next truck will be a 3/4 Ton with the 6.0

MarkD · November 19, 2009

My neighbor just bought an 09 1500 with the small v8---salesman said he would get 22 mpg...he gets 18 at best...

My 6.0 2500 consistently gets 13-14....for 4 mpg, I will take the HD....

I really don't need an HD anymore since we parked our RV permanently on a lot....but I agree with the aboce that it will last a long time...

I figured out the cost of gas like this, using 5 mpg difference between a 1500 and an HD:

For 10,000 miles of driving, the 1500 at 18 mpg uses 555.5 gallons o fuel

For the same 10,000 miles, the HD at 13 mpg uses 769.2 gallons of fuel

So, at 5 mpg difference there is a difference of 213.7 gallons

At $2.60 a gallon, that adds $555.62 to the fuel bill for the HD, or about 0.05 cents per mile.

I drive just about 10,000 miles a year, so it works out to about $46.30 a month, or $11.57 a week....

If you look at it as a part of a truck payment, the HD has a heck of a lot of extra heavy duty features (in lieu of a moonroof or leather or an entertainment system or who-knows-what) for $46 a month.....works for me...

It really sucks though when the numbers change to 30-40k miles/year.

That's why I'm D'Max deal hunting...

Mark

FlamesZ71 · November 19, 2009

It really sucks though when the numbers change to 30-40k miles/year.

That's why I'm D'Max deal hunting...

Mark

Very true. I've only had my truck for 6 months, and I've put on 20,xxx kms, so around 12,xxx miles. While I think my 5.3 is thirsty, I can imagine that a 6.0 is not going to be much better. However, it all ends up working out in the long run.

davzog · November 19, 2009

My neighbor just bought an 09 1500 with the small v8---salesman said he would get 22 mpg...he gets 18 at best...

My 6.0 2500 consistently gets 13-14....for 4 mpg, I will take the HD....

I really don't need an HD anymore since we parked our RV permanently on a lot....but I agree with the aboce that it will last a long time...

I figured out the cost of gas like this, using 5 mpg difference between a 1500 and an HD:

For 10,000 miles of driving, the 1500 at 18 mpg uses 555.5 gallons o fuel

For the same 10,000 miles, the HD at 13 mpg uses 769.2 gallons of fuel

So, at 5 mpg difference there is a difference of 213.7 gallons

At $2.60 a gallon, that adds $555.62 to the fuel bill for the HD, or about 0.05 cents per mile.

I drive just about 10,000 miles a year, so it works out to about $46.30 a month, or $11.57 a week....

If you look at it as a part of a truck payment, the HD has a heck of a lot of extra heavy duty features (in lieu of a moonroof or leather or an entertainment system or who-knows-what) for $46 a month.....works for me...

It really sucks though when the numbers change to 30-40k miles/year.

That's why I'm D'Max deal hunting...

Mark

I agree that that would hurt the wallet.....yep, my numbers get blown away at 30-40K a year....as much as I don't like them, I would sure consider a diesel in that realm....better mileage and more power for the long haul....I don't think a gas engine works good in that environment....