Anyone driving at higher elevations?

[BKK]

Have a ‘15 Silverado 5.3 all stock. Currently at sea level but moving somewhere that’s at 4200 ft elevation.

 

Anyone have any experience with what kind of performance loss I should be expecting? Planning on a CAI+Tune+cat back exhaust but that’s it for performance mods.

 

Really makes me consider an Ecoboost if I didn’t just buy this truck and those Fords weren’t so damn expensive....

[UnlimitedMatt]

6 hours ago, BKK said:

Have a ‘15 Silverado 5.3 all stock. Currently at sea level but moving somewhere that’s at 4200 ft elevation.

 

Anyone have any experience with what kind of performance loss I should be expecting? Planning on a CAI+Tune+cat back exhaust but that’s it for performance mods.

 

Really makes me consider an Ecoboost if I didn’t just buy this truck and those Fords weren’t so damn expensive....

I live outside of Denver, around 5400 feet above sea level.  I also tow up to 9200 ft.  I can tell you that you will notice a loss of power but not enough to sell your truck. Of course with a turbo or supercharger you will not notice it as much. 

 

Check out the TFL (The Fast Lane Truck guys) on YouTube, they do the majority of their truck testing at a mile high.  It will give you a better perspective on driving at a higher altitude. 

[Mike GMC]

I live outside Denver as well.  You will definitely notice the difference.  It's most noticable right off the line.  Cruising speeds and even highway passing are not nearly as noticable.  When I had mine down in Galveston last year, it wanted to spin the tires off the line all the time, up here, not so much.

 

 

[Bash74]

You can tune for altitude so there is not to much difference. I have a tune for when I am in high altitude areas like Colorado, then one for when down in south Texas especially with different octane ratings available between the areas.

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[Darksky]

I’m at 6000’ in Colorado as well. It’s not that different, certainly not enough to sell your truck. Unless you’re leaning that way already. The issue that I have is that 91 octane is premium here. 93 octane pumps are few and far between.

[Grumpy Bear]

0.5 points decrease (R+M)/2 per 1,000 feet of elevation increase for normally aspirated motors.

 

So two points covers 4K feet and you have some cushion. 

 

Source: 

William M. Steckle

SAE Transactions

Vol. 98, Section 4: JOURNAL OF FUELS AND LUBRICANTS (1989), pp. 667-678

 

The physics hasn't changed. I lived in Denver and Salt Lake City for years. Still visit my daughters there.

 

This below hits the nail on the head. Bonus? EVERYONE'S car that isn't forced induction has the same response...level playing field  

 

 

 

On 5/18/2020 at 6:58 PM, Mike GMC said:

I live outside Denver as well.  You will definitely notice the difference.  It's most noticable right off the line.  Cruising speeds and even highway passing are not nearly as noticable.  When I had mine down in Galveston last year, it wanted to spin the tires off the line all the time, up here, not so much.

 

 

 

[diyer2]

My 2012 lives from 6 K - 9500 feet.

Doesn't bother me.

Most noticeable when towing.

Would I buy another truck? Hell No!

 

I'm not in a hurry.

 

[Red Blocker]

I'm planning a 'Bucket List' road trip this summer, one place I want to go is up Pikes Peak. What is it, 14,500 feet? Sounds like I should bring some 93 octane with me to put in before I go up, are there other things I should do? I'm not in a race or anything, and I baby my truck since she's already at 230,000 miles.

Thanks for any tips and tricks.