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Chevy Noob, Few Questions

Haystack

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Haystack New Member

Haystack

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Posted

Hello all, as the title says I'm a Chevy noob and have a few questions as I'm interested in a 2017. I've always been a Ford/Dodge guy, but these new Chevys look great! I'm looking at a 2wd regular cab short bed to use as a daily driver as I have a separate work truck so I won't be towing with it or anything like that.

 

1. My first question is what motor would you guys recommend for a daily driver that's looking to squeeze the most mpgs out of it (yes I know it's a truck, but still). I don't need a ton of power so I was looking at the 4.3, but if the 5.3s are getting about the same mpg in real world tests then maybe I'll go that route. I'll eventually put some 33s on it, will the 4.3 struggle with them at all?

 

2. My other question is would it be possible to get a leveling kit for the front, and lower the back about a 1/2 inch for a very very slight nose up? Anyone know of any good kits for the rear for a very slight 1/2 inch drop but keep factory ride quality?

 

3. Any performance parts for these trucks that might help increase mpg?

 

4. Anything else I should know about these trucks since I'm new to Chevy?

 

Thank you for looking and your input.

 

 

Sean Neilan Enthusiast

Sean Neilan

Posted
Posted

Firstly, if you're that worried about mpg don't buy a truck.

 

With that said, believe it or not you'll probably get better mpg with the 6.2 than the 5.3. I have the 5.3 and I'm at an average of 16 mpg over 23k miles.

 

2. Leveling kits are readily available from several different brands. But why would you want nose up? Aside from your headlights now not shining on the road and instead into the eyes of oncoming traffic, any weight you put in the back will just lift the front end that much higher and take even more weight off your front wheels which would dramatically affect the handling of the vehicle (not in a good way)

Haystack New Member

Haystack

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm well aware that I shouldn't buy a truck for mpg, but I enjoy driving trucks and want to get the most mpg option even if its not great.

 

I am from California and that is the look here, but I don't want to go as far as they go. I don't think half an inch is that drastic at all.

smrr1 Senior Enthusiast

smrr1

Posted
Posted

5.3 is what i would get. Much more power and torque all over the rpm range and gets 99% or maybe more of the 4.3 mpg. There are tons of 2 inch level kits for the front and either remove a block out back or do shackles. Not my style at all but i am not paying for it either.

 

Maybe look in to exhaust, intake tube, and a good tune. If you can keep from hot rodding it you should see better mpg.

redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

I would think a short box reg cab 2wd would be the perfect place for a 4.3.

(but a 5.3 might be more fun -- and they won't put a 6.2 in it for you)

 

If you're looking to improve mileage don't do anything to raise the front. Lower the rear more to get the stance you're looking for.

 

 

 

'Here' we have at least one GM dealer that does lots of lift level and aftermarket wheels /tires -- and usually they are 4.3's.

mjdxtreme Enthusiast

mjdxtreme

Posted
Posted

1) I would say get the 5.3l. As others have said more power more fun to drive but from what i have seen not much difference in fuel economy.

2) I would not level the front end out i would consider just adding rear lowering shackles to drop the rear level with the front.

3) Mods normally dont increase fuel economy. More power requires more fuel. You may be able to get a tune at the expense of your warranty to pull a little better fuel economy out.

amxguy1970 Senior Enthusiast

amxguy1970

Posted
Posted

believe it or not you'll probably get better mpg with the 6.2 than the 5.3.

 

 

Um, no...

 

OP, best MPG is the 4.3. Check Fuelly the 4.3 is showing 18 for 2014, 5.3 is showing 17 and 6.2 is showing 16 (peak of the bell curve). Tests show the same thing. It is a smaller engine, it will use less fuel but not by a large amount.

 

Adding 33's will drop all, probably the 4.3 a hair more and the 6.2 the least by a hair. Stay P rated if you do to save weight. Honestly I know it is a style but a lowered (reasonably, not flat out dropped but like a 2/3 or something) looks awesome and less silly than the cali lean.

 

You can put a small 1-1.5 inch level on the front and remove the rear block or go larger with a front level and either remove the rear block or see if they have a half inch rear block.

 

Performance mods won't do much if anything to mpg. A tune might but you have to understand the manufacturers get about everything they can out for mpg so there isn't much meat left on the bone in terms of mpg. Also don't listen to the boneheads that say remove AFM to get better mpg, I think they were dropped on their head when they were younger...

 

Either way enjoy the truck, love the regular cabs (right after the extended cabs).

 

Tyler

Sean Neilan Enthusiast

Sean Neilan

Posted
Posted

 

Um, no...

 

OP, best MPG is the 4.3. Check Fuelly the 4.3 is showing 18 for 2014, 5.3 is showing 17 and 6.2 is showing 16 (peak of the bell curve). Tests show the same thing. It is a smaller engine, it will use less fuel but not by a large amount.

 

Adding 33's will drop all, probably the 4.3 a hair more and the 6.2 the least by a hair. Stay P rated if you do to save weight. Honestly I know it is a style but a lowered (reasonably, not flat out dropped but like a 2/3 or something) looks awesome and less silly than the cali lean.

 

You can put a small 1-1.5 inch level on the front and remove the rear block or go larger with a front level and either remove the rear block or see if they have a half inch rear block.

 

Performance mods won't do much if anything to mpg. A tune might but you have to understand the manufacturers get about everything they can out for mpg so there isn't much meat left on the bone in terms of mpg. Also don't listen to the boneheads that say remove AFM to get better mpg, I think they were dropped on their head when they were younger...

 

Either way enjoy the truck, love the regular cabs (right after the extended cabs).

 

Tyler

Well based on mpg answers on this forum all is 5.3l guys are stuck around 16 and the 6.2l guys are in the 20's

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

I believe you will be very pleased with the 4.3 V6 in a regular cab short bed 2wd. I have this motor in a crew cab 4X4 with a standard bed and it provides ample "real world" power. It is rated with slightly better gas mileage but not enough to turn down a truck with a 5.3 if you find one that you like. However. given two identical trucks except for the engine, I would pick the 4.3. The initial and long term cost is less and it has more power available than your RCSB will need to haul its rated capacity.

smrr1 Senior Enthusiast

smrr1

Posted
Posted

Well based on mpg answers on this forum all is 5.3l guys are stuck around 16 and the 6.2l guys are in the 20's

Based on an extreme small sample of trucks built. Also take in mind that a lot of the 5.3 truck might have LT tires and used in town or hot rodded vs the 6.2 guys might be stock tire and showing how well they did at 60 mph on a road trip. I have owned both 6.2 and 5.3 in the current body both 4x4 and they give with in .5 mpg day to day driving on the same roads as each other. Now on the cross country drives i have done with both the 5.3 did much better, 21.7 vs 19.5, same trip of 2500 miles.

 

My day to day avg is 18.5-19.5 depending on fuel weather etc in my 5.3 crew 4x4 342. Best tank in same truck is 24 but really had to work for that.

dorkweed Enthusiast

dorkweed

Posted
Posted

what motor would you guys recommend for a daily driver that's looking to squeeze the most mpgs out of it (yes I know it's a truck, but still). I don't need a ton of power so I was looking at the 4.3, but if the 5.3s are getting about the same mpg in real world tests then maybe I'll go that route. I'll eventually put some 33s on it, will the 4.3 struggle with them at all?

 

2. My other question is would it be possible to get a leveling kit for the front, and lower the back about a 1/2 inch for a very very slight nose up? Anyone know of any good kits for the rear for a very slight 1/2 inch drop but keep factory ride quality?

 

3. Any performance parts for these trucks that might help increase mpg?

 

4. Anything else I should know about these trucks since I'm new to Chevy?

 

Thank you for looking and your input.

 

 

 

 

1. Get the 4.3 if'n you're in flat country and the 5.3 if in more hills. 33's will kill your mileage big time IMHO.

 

2. This will cost you mileage; as you're screwing with the designed aerodynamics of the truck and will look dumb IMHO.

 

3. The best "performance" part for mileage is a raw egg under the throttle.........don't break the egg.

 

4. 6 speed auto is solid but quirky shifting due to OEM programming. 8 speed auto there are a lot of guys talking about it.......

 

 

Stock, these trucks will pull 22mpg+ on the highways if'n you're running a sane speed. Everything you mention that you want to do will take a CHUNK out of the mileage department. So what you typed above kinda isn't making sense.................

Andy Seibel Enthusiast

Andy Seibel

Posted
Posted

Well based on mpg answers on this forum all is 5.3l guys are stuck around 16 and the 6.2l guys are in the 20's

 

That's funny. You can't believe what one guy tells you.

 

That being said, my 5.3 with stock tires gets about 19.5 -20.0 on a mostly highway trip.

If I stay in town and short runs I might get closer to 17 mpg on a tank. 16 would be absolute worst case scenario for me.

 

Now if you have loud exhaust and big tires and like to make noise, your mileage may be in the single digits...

JimCost2014 Senior Enthusiast

JimCost2014

Posted
Posted

5.3 all the way. I have owned 2 shorty's with that engine and they are a hoot to drive. I took a 1400 mile round trip in my 04 (low-rider with 20's) to Reno and averaged almost 22 mpg. that trip goes from sea level to over 9500 feet elevations in northern California. much better resale value too when it's time to get another truck.

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