Gas Mileage on 2500HD CC

chevyman16 · January 23, 2003

Im planning on buying a 2003 2500HD Crew Cab Silverado in the next month or so. Im just curious on what people are getting for gas mileage with the 6.0 engine. I've heard figures ranging from 10 all the way up to 15. I want to hear what others are getting besides from what I have heard around town. Is 15 mpg likely? Im thinking more between 12-13. I would like to know what you get when unloaded and when pulling a trailer. I also plan on changeing the tires to P265s. The 245s look too small. Will these tires affect my gas mileage and pulling capacity? All of the information you have would be greatily appreciated.

Threejaws · January 23, 2003

I am getting around 12 on the highway, but I have 35's so I would say you might be able to get around 14.

Lifted 2003, 2500HD

tps0424 · January 23, 2003

My truck is as stock as it was the day it rolled off the lot, for the most part. I get between 12 and 13. The last couple of tanks I got 12.65 and 12.83 respectively. The most recent tank had a lot more highway, the tank that got 12.65 had almost no highway.

I think your pulling power will be slightly diminished with the larger tires. I tow a 30', 6500lb camper and have got as many as 11.5 and as low as 9 when towing. I upgraded from a 98 K1500 with a 350 and 3.73. As I gained confidence in the new rig, my speed increased which I'm sure explains the gas mileage going down.

One word of warning...go with the LT265 versus the P265. P265 is a passenger tire and is not intended for towing. It will not be safe. Make sure that you get a tire that's rated for at least as much as the stock tires which are rated at 3042lbs if you want to keep your GVWR the same.

JimWilson · January 23, 2003

On mine I get about 12 city and maybe 14 highway. 15 isn't terribly realistic, unless you do all highway and have a very light foot. But even then it's doubtful. This is a big heavy truck you're talking about, so don't expect too much...

I went with 285's on the stock rims and the only thing I had to do was crank the torsion bars up a little (which just about everyone does anyway). Mine are rated for 10% more then the stock tires were, so I'm very confident that whatever I haul/tow won't cause me any problems.

Your gas mileage will only appear to be affected by the tires, and the reason for that is your speedometer and odometer will be off slightly. In my case, with 285's, it's about 7-8%, but with 265's that will be more like 3-4%. Certainly not a big problem.

Shaners · January 23, 2003

I have gotten close to 16 before. Normal everyday driving is in the 10-12 range. I tow a 32 foot travel trailer (over 8K lbs) and get between 8.5 and 9 mpgs on the highway.

My friend who has a truck like mine got 16.5 on the highway running non-stop for a full tank.

03 HD · January 23, 2003

I got 16.3 on a 200 mile highway trip all flat ground. My truck has the 5 speed tranny and a 4:10 gear. This truck gets better gas mileage than my old one with a 350, 4 speed car tranny and a 3:73 gear.

DanaliHD · January 24, 2003

Mine gets between 11 and 12. That's it.

White Chevy · January 24, 2003

I have a 2003 1500hd Crew cab. I get about 13 - 13.5 I live in Birmingham Alabama with moderate hills. Still, I drive 80% interstate. I've taken two 300 mile trips. One I got 4.75 mpg and the other was 15.25 mpg. This is with the cruse set at about 68 mph. I haven't towed my camper yet (too cold to camp). I had one tank that I "played" with, ie. hard accerlation and speed limiter activated a few times. It's no race car with about a 10 second 60mph time. that was about a 9 mpg tank full. By the way I have 3.73 gears and a towing package. Enjoy the truck but stay off the gas. ( I don't care for the drive by wire system, too sensetive)

RobertV · February 7, 2003

I've been tracking my mileage pretty close since I bought my '02 2500HD ext. cab 4x4 brand new. My best tank of gas was 14.5 mpg. My worst (while towing a 5,000 lb boat) was 9.1. Overall average for all miles driven is 12 mpg.

Gunruner · February 7, 2003

I don't have the CC but mine is an '03 K2500HD Ext-Cab. I have 1600miles on it now. The worst mpg was during the first 500mile break-in @ 12.24 MPG. The last tank was 13.72 MPG with 70% city and 30% interstate and a couple miles in 4X4 during a snow storm. I've always been progressive on throttle and have always gotten better MPG that advertised. I think I'll get close to 16 MPG full interstate run. I'm not running flatland, I live in West Virginia and hit hills everyday.

wolfie · February 8, 2003

I don't have a crew cab, only a regular cab and I get about 10 mpg this time of year with letting it warm up and having the plow on half the time... but in the summer i get 12-13 mpg all the time and on a trip to Michigan in Septembe I got 15 on one tank and 16 on another on the way out and about 12 on the way back pulling a U-Haul trailer... not too bad in my book.

SxViper · February 10, 2003

I get about 13 to 13.5mpg on 2500hd Crew Cab long box 4 speed auto 4.10 gears. Towing my four place snowmobile trailer (up hill into the white mountains) I got 10 mpg. I was hoping for 15 mpg on the highway but doubt I will get there...

chevyman16 · February 12, 2003

Thanks for all of the gas mileage figures. All of the information was greatly appreciated. I finally decided buy a new Silverado. I ordered it yesterday. It is a carmine red metallic 2500HD Crew Cab with the dark charcoal cloth interior. I can't wait to get it. I just love the truck.

Shaners · February 12, 2003

Congrats on the purchase!!! What is the lead time for delivery?

chevyman16 · February 12, 2003

My dealer in Omaha said that the time slot is between 6-12 weeks but they have been getting them in in about 3-4. All i know is that the 2500HD is a awesome truck and I can't wait to get it.