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Some Fuel Economy Numbers On My 2009 2500hd 6.0l City, Towing, And Now

phillyturbosix

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phillyturbosix Enthusiast

phillyturbosix

Posted
Posted

I've been tracking my fuel economy since I bought this truck in the spring. I don't drive it every day as I have a cheap beater for that. Around town it's murder 10 to 14MPG is about where I'm at. City driving really kills these trucks. This summer I towed an enclosed trailer to Ohio from Philadelphia. Ouch to say the least. I was seeing about 7 to 10mpg at best. Now I can't complain to much because the truck really pulled the enclosed trailer like a beast and it was working. When it needed to kick down a gear it did it and you could feel the truck learning the trailer the more I went with it. When pulling up a hill with the trailer, the truck would get right into the torque curve and man hold on to you hat! It would rip me up the hills at 67mph to 70mph with ease! So it pulled amazing for the fuel economy I was getting.

 

So I recently took a road trip with the truck from Philadelphia to Ohio to buy a ARE Z series cap. Going out there going 68MPH range cruise control on with the truck around 1900rpm, I was getting around 17.5MPG. After putting the cap on and coming home I got 1MPG better. I was seeing about 18.9MPG with just the cap. I run synthetic oil in the truck all around as well. I keep about 65 to 70 PSI in the tires and I have air bags on the back that I kept about 30psi in them towing and 10psi not towing.

 

So I wanted to throw this out there to see if this sounds normal and what you guys are seeing with your 2500HD.

 

 

Here is the trailer I was pulling...

 

5962316221_282640f20e_b.jpg

 

Here is the car I was pulling....

 

5962869712_d39a37a244_b.jpg

 

And here is the truck with the new cap. Don't worry it's getting painted to match the truck. :)

 

6082946455_1b06664fde_b.jpg

sack1 Enthusiast

sack1

Posted
Posted

For comparison, my 8.1 liter '03 2500HD averages about 9 mpg around town, can average almost 14 on the open road and towing a 13k# 5th wheel average a little better than 9 mpg on a long trip.

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted

Your highway mileage is better than I expected. 18'ish at ~70 mph seems very good for the 6.0HD. City driving can be all over the board for any vehicle. Heck, my wife barely gets 19 mpg in her Sienna minivan around town, which is only a little better than my truck. Pulling that same trailer, a 1500/5.3 will average ~10 to 11 mpg, but it won't do it as easily. Overall, those don't sound too bad, considering the capacity you have.

 

Nice looking setup.

phillyturbosix Enthusiast

phillyturbosix

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Do you have 3:73's or 4:10's?

 

Yes 3:73. If I had 4:10's I don't think I'd see those numbers! :rant:

 

 

For comparison, my 8.1 liter '03 2500HD averages about 9 mpg around town, can average almost 14 on the open road and towing a 13k# 5th wheel average a little better than 9 mpg on a long trip.

 

Not to bad then. I guess you could go with the bigger engine and still see the same numbers. What's the HP and TQ on that truck rated at?

 

 

Your highway mileage is better than I expected. 18'ish at ~70 mph seems very good for the 6.0HD. City driving can be all over the board for any vehicle. Heck, my wife barely gets 19 mpg in her Sienna minivan around town, which is only a little better than my truck. Pulling that same trailer, a 1500/5.3 will average ~10 to 11 mpg, but it won't do it as easily. Overall, those don't sound too bad, considering the capacity you have.

 

Nice looking setup.

 

One thing is for sure this 2500 really pulls nice. I had a 1500 and I swore the engine was going to come out of the engine bay and slap me in the face a few times when pulling an open trailer around the county. It had plenty off the line but no bottom end. This truck is loaded with bottom end. Around 3500 the torque curve is amazing. This truck pulled every hill like it was'nt even there. I found my self pushing cars out of my way going up hills with the enclosed trailer!

 

Thanks for your posts just trying to see how these trucks are set up and if that extra money you spend when you buy one is worth the numbers in the long run! :)

knnhon Enthusiast

knnhon

Posted
Posted
Do you have 3:73's or 4:10's?

 

Yes 3:73. If I had 4:10's I don't think I'd see those numbers! :D

 

 

For comparison, my 8.1 liter '03 2500HD averages about 9 mpg around town, can average almost 14 on the open road and towing a 13k# 5th wheel average a little better than 9 mpg on a long trip.

 

Not to bad then. I guess you could go with the bigger engine and still see the same numbers. What's the HP and TQ on that truck rated at?

 

 

Your highway mileage is better than I expected. 18'ish at ~70 mph seems very good for the 6.0HD. City driving can be all over the board for any vehicle. Heck, my wife barely gets 19 mpg in her Sienna minivan around town, which is only a little better than my truck. Pulling that same trailer, a 1500/5.3 will average ~10 to 11 mpg, but it won't do it as easily. Overall, those don't sound too bad, considering the capacity you have.

 

Nice looking setup.

 

One thing is for sure this 2500 really pulls nice. I had a 1500 and I swore the engine was going to come out of the engine bay and slap me in the face a few times when pulling an open trailer around the county. It had plenty off the line but no bottom end. This truck is loaded with bottom end. Around 3500 the torque curve is amazing. This truck pulled every hill like it was'nt even there. I found my self pushing cars out of my way going up hills with the enclosed trailer!

 

Thanks for your posts just trying to see how these trucks are set up and if that extra money you spend when you buy one is worth the numbers in the long run! :)

 

 

Boy, fuel mileage can vary alot. Never heard that a 'shell' increased mileage before. As for comparison. My '96 454 EFI Duallie with shell [Thorley Tri-wye headers with only cats]. MSD 6AL & coil, increased plug gap, cleaned inj's. New fuel pump, new regulator, cleaned Throttle body, all syn oils, K&N Air, 5# higher pressure [nitrogen] in tires, lowered all around, bigger rear tires-29" Dia. 4.10's, .75 O.D. 4L80E. I get same mileage around town[10] as the 8.1L guy. 14 hiway empty, and pulling a enclosed same size as 6.0 guy; get 7-8 mpg 70mph [real mph] on cruise control. I have 130K miles on the buggy.

  • 3 weeks later...
x3speed Enthusiast

x3speed

Posted
Posted

I just traded my 2009 with 373's for a durmax crew. I was getting 10.5 in town and 13 on the hwy if I was lucky. I had 275/70/18's added to it. I ran fully synthetic oil and kept the tires 60/80. No trailer!

phillyturbosix Enthusiast

phillyturbosix

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I just traded my 2009 with 373's for a durmax crew. I was getting 10.5 in town and 13 on the hwy if I was lucky. I had 275/70/18's added to it. I ran fully synthetic oil and kept the tires 60/80. No trailer!

 

What kinda of fuel economy numbers are you getting with the D-max? When looking for a truck I was on the fence between the gas or diesel. For what I do gas was the better option only because I'll only put about 3 to 4K on the truck a year typically. For the extra money for the d-max and the cost of maintenance and the cost of diesel the numbers didn't jive for the extra fuel economy from the diesel. But I'm curious as to what your numbers are now with the d-max doing the same work your 09 did.

phillyturbosix Enthusiast

phillyturbosix

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Do you have 3:73's or 4:10's?

 

Yes 3:73. If I had 4:10's I don't think I'd see those numbers! :D

 

 

For comparison, my 8.1 liter '03 2500HD averages about 9 mpg around town, can average almost 14 on the open road and towing a 13k# 5th wheel average a little better than 9 mpg on a long trip.

 

Not to bad then. I guess you could go with the bigger engine and still see the same numbers. What's the HP and TQ on that truck rated at?

 

 

Your highway mileage is better than I expected. 18'ish at ~70 mph seems very good for the 6.0HD. City driving can be all over the board for any vehicle. Heck, my wife barely gets 19 mpg in her Sienna minivan around town, which is only a little better than my truck. Pulling that same trailer, a 1500/5.3 will average ~10 to 11 mpg, but it won't do it as easily. Overall, those don't sound too bad, considering the capacity you have.

 

Nice looking setup.

 

One thing is for sure this 2500 really pulls nice. I had a 1500 and I swore the engine was going to come out of the engine bay and slap me in the face a few times when pulling an open trailer around the county. It had plenty off the line but no bottom end. This truck is loaded with bottom end. Around 3500 the torque curve is amazing. This truck pulled every hill like it was'nt even there. I found my self pushing cars out of my way going up hills with the enclosed trailer!

 

Thanks for your posts just trying to see how these trucks are set up and if that extra money you spend when you buy one is worth the numbers in the long run! :thumbs:

 

 

Boy, fuel mileage can vary alot. Never heard that a 'shell' increased mileage before. As for comparison. My '96 454 EFI Duallie with shell [Thorley Tri-wye headers with only cats]. MSD 6AL & coil, increased plug gap, cleaned inj's. New fuel pump, new regulator, cleaned Throttle body, all syn oils, K&N Air, 5# higher pressure [nitrogen] in tires, lowered all around, bigger rear tires-29" Dia. 4.10's, .75 O.D. 4L80E. I get same mileage around town[10] as the 8.1L guy. 14 hiway empty, and pulling a enclosed same size as 6.0 guy; get 7-8 mpg 70mph [real mph] on cruise control. I have 130K miles on the buggy.

 

 

Been keeping an eye on the fuel mileage with the cap and it sure seems like 1mpg better all around with it. I guess all those guys who take their tailgates off on the highway know more then we do :drool:

425EXPEDITION Enthusiast

425EXPEDITION

Posted
Posted

My 01 Chevy 2500HD C/C 4X4 with the 6.0 5 speed auto and 4:10`s would easily get 14-15 on the hi-way and about 12 city.

My 09 GMC 2500 H/D C/C 4X4 with the 6.0 and 6 speed auto and 3:73`s im getting 10 in the city and the same for hiway.

If I stay off the way it goes down to 9 city. Im quite disapointed to say the least. I should have gotten better mpg`s with the 6 spd auto and the 3:73`s. Go figure

phillyturbosix Enthusiast

phillyturbosix

Posted
  • Author
Posted
My 01 Chevy 2500HD C/C 4X4 with the 6.0 5 speed auto and 4:10`s would easily get 14-15 on the hi-way and about 12 city.

My 09 GMC 2500 H/D C/C 4X4 with the 6.0 and 6 speed auto and 3:73`s im getting 10 in the city and the same for hiway.

If I stay off the way it goes down to 9 city. Im quite disapointed to say the least. I should have gotten better mpg`s with the 6 spd auto and the 3:73`s. Go figure

 

yea I kinda thought that as well. I have the 3:73 with the 6.0 and on the highway at 67mph the thing is only turning about 1800 / 1900 rpms. My other truck the 98 would turn 2300rpm and get better mileage. Strange. These trucks are a beast but they drink like one too! :thumbs:

jro909 Senior Enthusiast

jro909

Posted
Posted

not too bad of numbers... im already set on a 2500hd gasser my next go around, and those numbers make it all the easier for me to pull the trigger...i will have to call bullshit on your topper increasing your mpg, the cab is what causes the most drag on trucks, so in theory when the wind hits your cab it is being deflected up and over the bed..its kind of like how old men think driving with the tailgate down gets them better mileage...that was proven false...also nice truck, i like it

Ridgerunner30 Enthusiast

Ridgerunner30

Posted
Posted

I have a 2010 2500HD CC 6.0 3.73 4X4. I have a Lear shell that I take off and on as needed. I do not see any mpg change with or without the shell. I live in a very rural area so I don't ever see city driving mpg. Driving in the sticks is about 14 to 15 mpg. Long distance Interstate driving at 70 to 75 mph with a light load is ~16 - 17 mpg. Towing a 7500# camping trailer on the interstate at 60 to 65 mph will run around 8.5 - 9.0 mpg. The truck is capable of towing a trailer well above 65mph but the trailer tires are not rated for above 65mph and mpg drops like a rock with speed because of the wind drag. On a recent towing trip at 50 - 55 mph I was able to get ~10mpg. As a side note, I started using synthetic oil on my last oil change at 15000 miles. I seem to be getting a least 1 mpg increase at highway speed with a light load with synthetic oil.

beck@becksystems.com Enthusiast

[email protected]

Posted
Posted
I have a 2010 2500HD CC 6.0 3.73 4X4. I have a Lear shell that I take off and on as needed. I do not see any mpg change with or without the shell. I live in a very rural area so I don't ever see city driving mpg. Driving in the sticks is about 14 to 15 mpg. Long distance Interstate driving at 70 to 75 mph with a light load is ~16 - 17 mpg. Towing a 7500# camping trailer on the interstate at 60 to 65 mph will run around 8.5 - 9.0 mpg. The truck is capable of towing a trailer well above 65mph but the trailer tires are not rated for above 65mph and mpg drops like a rock with speed because of the wind drag. On a recent towing trip at 50 - 55 mph I was able to get ~10mpg. As a side note, I started using synthetic oil on my last oil change at 15000 miles. I seem to be getting a least 1 mpg increase at highway speed with a light load with synthetic oil.

 

2005 CC 2500HD with 4.11:1, 6.0L & 4L80E

 

Around town - mostly 10-11 mpg. Towing a 20' V-Nose enclosed trailer with a 2500lbs car & spares- total is around 6K lbs... at 70 mph - - - about 9 to 10 mpg.

 

Agreed - I pulled the same car/trailer before with a 1500 - the 2500HD is far better for the job of towing.

 

Although it is interesting - mileage really doesn't concern me much - I only use the truck for about 3000 miles per year - so the cost of gasoline is really a very small part of ownership.

 

FWIW,

Carl B.

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