Help needed

[Grant B]

I want to improve the gas mileage on my 2002 Silverado 1500 5.3  as much as possible. Can I do that buy installing a cold air intake, programming it(if so how do I go about it) and finally inflating tires to max capacity. Please let me know what I can do. Thanks y’all. 

[CamGTP]

Maintenance is key.

 

Everything needs to be in tip top shape to see the best results. That means fresh oil, clean transmission fluid, having the transfer case and front/rear ends serviced with new clean fluids.

 

Then we can get deeper. Clean the MAF sensor with MAF cleaner, clean the throttle body. Making sure you have zero vacuum leaks and exhaust leaks pre-o2 sensor. If mileage is high even consider replacing the front o2 sensors with new AC delco/Denso parts. Check your spark plugs, make sure they are gapped correctly and if they are old and in an unknown state, replace them with new OEM AC Delco plugs.

 

Tires shouldn't be ran at maximum tire pressure unless actually needed. You will just have a worse ride and poor tread wear. Run them around 35-40psi for best results. Offroad tires will reduce MPG over a highway tread tire as well.

 

Cold air intake won't add fuel mileage and getting a tune will likely net you the same or less because you'll just keep your foot in it more.

 

 

In the end it's an 18 year old truck, it's not going to get the best mileage. Probably 13-14 city and 18-20 on the freeway. Maybe a tad more if you drive normally and do 60-65mph on the freeway instead of 70+.

 

 

[davester]

CAI will do nothing.

Tune by someone who knows what they are doing could possibly help.

Fully inflated tires might help a bit, new tires selected specifically for mileage probably would help more.

Return it to stock height if it's lifted, or even lower it.

 

Biggest difference is the person hitting the go pedal.  If you make a point of not trying to accelerate fast, and minimize speed changes, stuff like that, it'll make a bigger difference than doing anything to the truck.

 

But, at the end of the day, you are pushing a large brick through the air.

 

And like CamGTP posted, make sure the engine is running well, use a code reader that can display fuel trims and make sure they stay close to zero.  Things like exhaust or intake leaks, or a weak fuel pump won't necessarily result in a code being generated, or the CEL coming on, but can cause your truck to use more fuel than it needs.

[Grant B]

8 hours ago, davester said:

CAI will do nothing.

Tune by someone who knows what they are doing could possibly help.

Fully inflated tires might help a bit, new tires selected specifically for mileage probably would help more.

Return it to stock height if it's lifted, or even lower it.

 

Biggest difference is the person hitting the go pedal.  If you make a point of not trying to accelerate fast, and minimize speed changes, stuff like that, it'll make a bigger difference than doing anything to the truck.

 

But, at the end of the day, you are pushing a large brick through the air.

 

And like CamGTP posted, make sure the engine is running well, use a code reader that can display fuel trims and make sure they stay close to zero.  Things like exhaust or intake leaks, or a weak fuel pump won't necessarily result in a code being generated, or the CEL coming on, but can cause your truck to use more fuel than it needs.

 

8 hours ago, davester said:

CAI will do nothing.

Tune by someone who knows what they are doing could possibly help.

Fully inflated tires might help a bit, new tires selected specifically for mileage probably would help more.

Return it to stock height if it's lifted, or even lower it.

 

Biggest difference is the person hitting the go pedal.  If you make a point of not trying to accelerate fast, and minimize speed changes, stuff like that, it'll make a bigger difference than doing anything to the truck.

 

But, at the end of the day, you are pushing a large brick through the air.

 

And like CamGTP posted, make sure the engine is running well, use a code reader that can display fuel trims and make sure they stay close to zero.  Things like exhaust or intake leaks, or a weak fuel pump won't necessarily result in a code being generated, or the CEL coming on, but can cause your truck to use more fuel than it needs.

Alright thanks sir I appreciate it. 

[Grant B]

I want to improve the gas mileage on my 2002 Silverado 1500 5.3  as much as possible. Can I do that buy installing a cold air intake, programming it(if so how do I go about it) and finally inflating tires to max capacity. Please let me know what I can do. Thanks y’all. 

[BigBadSierra]

The 2002 never had good millage even new.  Still back in the 4 speed era.

 

But they had better millage then mu 1991 ha ha. They burned so much fuel GM put 35 Gallon fuel tanks in them.

[swathdiver]

On 1/27/2020 at 11:00 PM, Grant B said:

I want to improve the gas mileage on my 2002 Silverado 1500 5.3  as much as possible. Can I do that buy installing a cold air intake, programming it(if so how do I go about it) and finally inflating tires to max capacity. Please let me know what I can do. Thanks y’all. 

Also consider the cost of the mods versus what they'll deliver in return mileage wise.  How long will it take you to recoup the money laid out for this mod or that?  Is it even worth it?

 

If 3.08 gears gave you an extra 2 mpg, how long would that take to recoup the investment?