Wow! I picked up 3 mpg.....

flyboyron · July 12, 2012

Those of you who "Drove it like you stole it", probably won't like this.

I love my truck, but hate the 16 mpg it is getting, but would rather have that than a small car. I have the 09 Silverado Ext cab with the 5.3L and the 4 speed, with the 3.73 rear end and 20" wheels.

If I could only figure out a way to get 4 mpg more, I thought, I could save at least $10.00 each time I filled up.

I have had my hours cut drastically at work and now every dollar is starting to count. So I thought if I could save some gas it would be a start.

So I started to change my driving habits to see if maybe I was too aggressive of a driver, (lead foot). Well, I do like the sound of that V8 rumbling as I accelerate.

So I decided to change some things, like slowing down my speed.

I slowed down and now drive in the far right lane and keep the speed around 60 if the speed limit is 65 and about 65 if the speed limit is 70. That way I am not in the way of the 18 wheelers.

I use the cruise control as much as possible, and just sit back and relax.

I don't accelerate as hard from stop signs and lights, since I am not in a race.

I noticed over the past few years that when I take my foot off the gas pedal the truck doesn't have much compression to slow it down and it will coast quite a ways, so I use that to my advantage and coast the last 1/2 mile on the freeway to the exit and my speed may drop down 3 - 4 mph which doesn't affect the traffic much if at all. I also do that when in town and I see a red light, I take my foot off the pedal and the truck will coast to the light.

Little things like this has really helped.

I noticed that since I got gas last time, I reset the Avg fuel and also the gallons used on the DIC and found that the Avg Fuel Econ is now indicating just around 19.8 to 20.2 mpg, which it used to show around 16.9. Now don't get that confused with the Inst Fuel Econ which varies anywhere from 2 mpg to 99 mpg and changes according to the pressure of your lead foot.

Of course this is while driving with the truck empty and I haven't taken any long trips. I drive about 20 miles each way to work, which is about 18 miles freeway and 2 miles city driving.

I just hope I can keep my foot out of the carburetor. Wait...I guess it should say..."Keep my foot out of the fuel injectors".

Anyone else have ideas on how you save gas while driving?

vkjohnson · July 12, 2012

Awesome. Hard to believe that makes up 3 or 4 mpgs. Yes, I'm stuck at in the 16.9 range too, but I have nowhere near enough self control to accomplish what you did.

rdnkcpa · July 12, 2012

Clean air filter, and proper tire inflation will help as well.

I have found the more that you use cruise control and do not go over 65 fuel economy goes way up.

maxco · July 12, 2012

I agree. It's actually amazing how "good" fuel economy these trucks get on the hwy.

TimmyG · July 12, 2012

I drive 28 miles to work, bout 20 on the freeway. I avg 18mpg with out driving under the speed limits, sometime on the way to work it 70 in a 60, hanging with traffic. Mostly freeway i did avg 20.3. Btw all my mpg are done by hand.

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00Silverado4x4 · July 12, 2012

Performed a similar experiment with similar results not too long ago. If I drive the way I'm "suppose" to I can pick up at least 2 mpg, however I can't keep driving like that around here. "Drivers" around here irritate me too much to maintain proper road "manners". My drive is all city type driving roadways so I only get to see 20mpg (or there abouts) if I take a road trip.

kstruckcountry · July 12, 2012

I pick up about 2 mpg going 70 instead of 75-80. Also try to keep my foot out of it. I've found that speeding up too slow will hurt more than help though. I try to speed up reasonably, and then lock it at a reasonable speed. Unfortunately my mileage sucks no matter what when I'm driving on dirt roads

Roscopcoletrain · July 12, 2012

Ive lost some since installing my Magnaflow muffler. Sounds good, so I find myself "on it" a lot more lol.

Blue2500CC · July 12, 2012

I have found the more that you use cruise control

Anytime I have ever used cruise control I use more gas. Now this is driving "Up North" from downstate Mi where there is a lot ot terrain changes. I have found using the cruise just "kicks it in the ..." to get up the hill, but by "feathering the throttle" you can get better mpg. Also using the downhills to get up the next hill helps a lot, just make sure there isn't a "Boy in Blue" (State Trooper) at the bottom of the hill! Lol

Chris

Baja 252 · July 12, 2012

I have found the more that you use cruise control

Anytime I have ever used cruise control I use more gas. Now this is driving "Up North" from downstate Mi where there is a lot ot terrain changes. I have found using the cruise just "kicks it in the ..." to get up the hill, but by "feathering the throttle" you can get better mpg. Also using the downhills to get up the next hill helps a lot, just make sure there isn't a "Boy in Blue" (State Trooper) at the bottom of the hill! Lol

Chris

Same here, I get better MPG without cruise controll. Accelerate slowly downhill and coast uphill.

TimmyG · July 13, 2012

You can do that with the cc on just help it keep going

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scottmoyer · July 13, 2012

My best is 18.5. I lost 2.5mpg when the ethanol mandate went in effect. I also lost another 2 when I put on these BF Goodrich 285 series tires. I have to drive really careful around town to get 14.5mpg. I'd be happy if we could get rid of this ethanol!!!

Mckenzie · July 13, 2012

I'd kill to get 16 mpg! I'm stuck at 13

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govener71 · July 13, 2012

I just drove from Pontiac MI to Holland MI and got 18.1 mpg. I have 214,000 miles on the truck with 8 ply 285/75/16. Stock exhaust but with the performance tune from superchips. I went 264.4 miles on 14.6 miles. I filled up when we left the hotel and when we got back into holland. I was pumped because there are a lot of ups and downs. That was also traveling around 65 when the temp was 90ish.

j-ten-ner · July 14, 2012

In Vancouver we have a lot terrain changes. Up and down. I'm better of without using the cruise control. As stated before my food is much more sensitive than the cc.

OP.

Take all unnecessary stuff out of your truck. Especially in hilly areas you will see a difference.

Coasting is the magic trick. Every step on the brake pedal is a waste of energy. It takes a little while to get used to it without being a traffic block.

Flow with the traffic. Leave a little space to the car in front of you. So you don't have to brake and accelerate every time. Leave the truck rolling in idle. Most of the time the cars in front of you start moving again until you catch up.

Plan and connect your trips. Coming back from work? Why not stop at the grocery store on the way instead of driving home first to have a coffee?

I'm not really sure about it but I think the air condition is better for the fuel economy than open windows. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

There are so many thing one can do. And it can become a challenge... .

Drove my truck 2 weeks ago to Alberta and back (over the mountains).

2250km @ 12.3 l/100km (19.1 mpg).

Edit: plus 1 quart of oil...f*^!_ing AFM...