Increased my mileage by 2+ mpg

ToeJam · October 22, 2004

I just started a new job that requires me to drive about 40 miles per day (98% highway). Before, I was about 50/50 hwy and street driving and average about 13 mpg. During my first week (last week), I was surprised to see I was only averaging about 14.3 mpg. So for this week I decided to get out of the left lane (doing 65-70 mph) and try locking the cruise control in at 60mph. So far I've average 17 mpg.

I knew driving slower would help, but I didn't know it would make this much of a difference. Pretty cool.

Wingnut · October 22, 2004

I did a post a while back about that... I did a road trip where one way was balls-out 80mph the whole way....13 mpg (about that anyway). The other way, cruise set at 65 the entire trip, AC on. I got 21-22 mpg

Then I added up the money I saved, and bounced that off of the time I wasted....I'll spend the money from now on.

But commuting...Yeah, I'd have to say I'd opt to save the money, and just learn to have a lighter foot.

GuyZ71 · October 22, 2004

I constantly get 16.3mpg and that's city/suburban driving. I've got the 5.3 with 3.73's and I set a rule on myself where I never exceed 2000RPM on acceleration away from a light.

On a trip from Ohio to North Carolina I was easily in the low 20's and that was with the cruise set at 72mph through the West Virginia Turnpike (those of you who have driven the WVT will know what I'm talking about).

asilverblazer · October 22, 2004

I constantly get 16.3mpg and that's city/suburban driving. I've got the 5.3 with 3.73's and I set a rule on myself where I never exceed 2000RPM on acceleration away from a light.

On a trip from Ohio to North Carolina I was easily in the low 20's and that was with the cruise set at 72mph through the West Virginia Turnpike (those of you who have driven the WVT will know what I'm talking about).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm semi-trying the 2,000 rpm thing and slowing down, geez its hard. I'm gettin close to the end of my tank, so I can do some funny math a figure up my mileage. BTW I usually average 17-18 mpg. 90% highway.

03GMCinBC · October 22, 2004

I did the same test after adding exhaust and finding that I was loosing milage. I turns out, like most everybody else I like hearing my truck after a stop and through acceleration. the 2000 rpm rule definately produced a decrease in fuel usage. I must admitt it is pretty boring though....

Elwood 2000 · October 23, 2004

I used to have a soft cover for my bed and before I took it off, I got 1.5 mpg better with it on. On a trip to Myrtle Beach on year, I drove 70-80 most of the way, truck and bed loaded down and I got 16.8 mpg.

Not bad for running fast full of cargo and kids!

Greg · October 23, 2004

No matter how many clearance lights my truck has, heading west on I-96 in the morning at 60 MPH would probably get me rear-ended. I dropped my cruising speed from 75-77 to 70-71 and was happy to go from average MPG in the mid-12s to the mid-14s.

asilverblazer · October 25, 2004

I constantly get 16.3mpg and that's city/suburban driving. I've got the 5.3 with 3.73's and I set a rule on myself where I never exceed 2000RPM on acceleration away from a light.

On a trip from Ohio to North Carolina I was easily in the low 20's and that was with the cruise set at 72mph through the West Virginia Turnpike (those of you who have driven the WVT will know what I'm talking about).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm semi-trying the 2,000 rpm thing and slowing down, geez its hard. I'm gettin close to the end of my tank, so I can do some funny math a figure up my mileage. BTW I usually average 17-18 mpg. 90% highway.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

16.8 mpg

sub5 · October 25, 2004

From what I've been told by many with gm trucks, if you keep it under 2000 revs and don't punch the throttle you'll do great for a truck. But over 2000 revs they suck lots of gas. Even the smaller Envoys are the same. I've tried different ways of driving and I see a huge differance in milliage. Last summer I managed to get 21mpg with my Sub on a family vacation keeping it under 60. (Almost fell asleep driving at that speed) We where 5 plus the dog, and camping gear for two weeks. Did 765 miles on a tank of 36 gallons. Not bad for the size and weight of the truck.

John

sperry · October 27, 2004

I usually drive @ 60 on trips. My Avalanche 5.3 averaged 20.7 on my last trip. The long-term average stays around 19.4.

The latter includes the little amount of around town driving I do. The other is interstate type travel for the most part.

That last trip was 210 Mi of interstate, 22 mi of climbing to 5600 Ft from the desert "floor", then the same in reverse of course, for my return trip.

The reason the average is "high" is that I don't (but rarely) drive it on small errand trips or my 3 mi work commute.

Woodsrat · October 27, 2004

I just purchased a new '04 Silverado 1500 2WD V-8 5-speed longbed. I drove it back from the dealership in Denver to Connecticut with a 500+ pound Ninja in the bed. The longbed has a 36 gallon tank, so it did not take a lot of tanks to do. I installed a K&N drop-in air filter before I left.

Whenever traffic allowed (which was most of the time), I set the cruise control at 85 mph. Normally, I would go faster, but I was taking it easy to break it in before switching to Mobil 1. The truck pulled all the hills in PA (I-80/I-81) in fifth gear at 85 mph no problem, even though that was only about 2500 rpm, well below max power.

My first full tank returned 14.2 mpg, the second tank 15.2, the third tank 16.5, and the fourth tank 15.5.

Back in CT after Mobil 1 and a 93 octane Hypertech reprogram, my first tank returned 16.8 mpg.

On several of my vehicles, I have checked my gas mileage cruising at different speeds. Driving slower does improve your gas mileage. But like Wingnut, when I compare the money saved versus the time lost on a long trip, it is more cost-effective to drive faster, at least until you get a ways into the three digit mph range (depending on the vehicle). Obviously, this is a judgement call that each individual driver has to make based on their finances, vehicle efficiency, and the value of their time.

mazingo · October 27, 2004

My truck gets about 15 mpg on the way to and from work, 110 miles give or take a few. I started out driving slow but there are so many hills that the truck was alway down shifting, so I just cruise about 75 now and the truck will almost coast over the hills I dont think I am saving fuel, by no means. But my trucks tranny isnt doing the " got no power under the hood" hop from O.D. to 3 and back. Thats got to be better on the tranny and the engine.

Oh well, Hey anyone know how to locate and change the torque conv. control solenoid on a 2001 chevy malibu ??? My wifes car doesnt want to lock up the convertor kinda hurting the mpg and the tranny.

firecadet613 · October 28, 2004

I'm about to try this myself. I'm finally starting to make the almost daily drive from Indianapolis down to IU in Bloomington to see my GF. I've got a very very heavy right foot, avg. about 75-79mph on the way down there. I'm going to lock the cruise on at 64mph tomorrow and keep it that way for the entire tank. I've been getting about 16-17mpg city, about 18-18.5 if I mix some highway cruising on there. I know there's no way I can stick with it, but it should would be nice my truck can break 20mpg if I want it to!

Joe

firecadet613 · October 29, 2004

Just got 21.63mpg by keeping it around 2k rpm for almost the entire tank....had to take some quick runs up to 80 to keep my sanity

kirkRHughes · November 13, 2004

I just started a new job that requires me to drive about 40 miles per day (98% highway). Before, I was about 50/50 hwy and street driving and average about 13 mpg. During my first week (last week), I was surprised to see I was only averaging about 14.3 mpg. So for this week I decided to get out of the left lane (doing 65-70 mph) and try locking the cruise control in at 60mph. So far I've average 17 mpg.

I knew driving slower would help, but I didn't know it would make this much of a difference. Pretty cool.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I saw this and had to laugh:

I decided to get out of the left lane (doing 65-70 mph)

Here in Nashville on 40E I do 65 in the far left of 4 lanes and still get almost run over,,,lol