Better Gas Mileage

9nine9 · July 29, 2005

Well I am the proud owner of a 99 subrban 1500. I just bought it 2 weeks ago and had some questions.......

I was wondering if you guys had any tips on getting better like say 5 to 10 MPG . My wife has to start taking the kids to school this fall, and Gas is going to kill us in this thing. I was looking on Sumitracing.com and came across Intakes, Cold air intakes, Headers, Bigger coils, Heat wrap for the headers, Electric Fans, Computer chips. I know this stuff adds HP but what about Gas mileage? Is there any thing out there that can make this Gas hog more efficent? Just wondering if you guys have any tips on Parts I can change or add to get this..... Any thing.. or rather every little bit would be worth it in the long run. We love this Truck.

Thanks in advance.

allenmehrer · July 29, 2005

I got this one guys.... Bed cover, 255/70/r16 tires that are inflated to 40 psi, correctly installed k&n intake kit, exhaust and a programed pcm from Westers or PCMforless. Also keep it under 75mph and take your foot out of that gas peddle!

9nine9 · July 29, 2005

OK Thanks. A few questions though. Number one its a Suburban so the Bed cover is kind taken care of. My first question though is The Exhaust. What's a good one? Should I do headers Heat wrapped with a 3 inch all the way back?? What is a good Exhaust system for this application? Second Question, I saw on JCW.com that you can by a Programmer for the computer. Would this do the same thing as the PCM thing you mentioned above? If not do you have links for the ones above? And third What do you mean correctly installed K&N is there a better way to do it other than there instructions? How About a cooler Intake manifold and Electric Fans would that help also? I read some were that the cooler the motor stays the better the gas mileage. Thanks for your input.

Wingnut · July 29, 2005

Adding exhaust and/or intake has never done squat for my mileage. Not a bit in any truck I've owned. Even if it did add say...2 mpg, it would take 10 freaking years to save (in gas) as much as what I spent on the mods.

There is a link on the left of every page here...PCMForLess.com. They're a site sponsor, and can re-tune your PCM. Those gains are concrete and significant, unlike intake and exhaust. You'll gain HP AND gas mileage. You can even order a tune specifically for economy. Westers is another popular PCM shop, they'll do you right there as well.

2004GMC1500CC · July 29, 2005

Well I am the proud owner of a 99 subrban 1500. I just bought it 2 weeks ago and had some questions.......

I was wondering if you guys had any tips on getting better like say 5 to 10 MPG . My wife has to start taking the kids to school this fall, and Gas is going to kill us in this thing. I was looking on Sumitracing.com and came across Intakes, Cold air intakes, Headers, Bigger coils, Heat wrap for the headers, Electric Fans, Computer chips. I know this stuff adds HP but what about Gas mileage? Is there any thing out there that can make this Gas hog more efficent? Just wondering if you guys have any tips on Parts I can change or add to get this..... Any thing.. or rather every little bit would be worth it in the long run. We love this Truck.

Thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately, you will never save enough in gas to pay for the mods. Except MAYBE a computer tune from wait4me

jhm · July 29, 2005

I also agree mods wont pay for themselves in fuel savings. This issue comes up at garages everywhere when gas prices rise. The only thing you can do is things like combining trips, dont leave it idling or warming up. Make sure tires are aligned and at correct pressure. Dont carry unneeded stuff in the truck just because it fits. Drive normally, not like you are at the strip at every light.

redvett · July 29, 2005

Get a good tuneup with quality parts and have mechanic check O2 sensor operation. A lazy O2 can hurt mileage.

mudbug660 · July 29, 2005

What mph you run will have the biggest affect on your gas milage. The only way these mods will pay for themselves is if your getting like 10 mpg and the mod(s) give you 3 more mpg. that's a 33.3% increase in gas milage which will take a shorter time to pay for itself. I figured it up for someone who had mpg and gains like stated above and the time it would take for the mod (pcm) to pay for itself was very reasonable. something like 30-40,000 miles. But I could be wrong.

redvett · July 29, 2005

For every 5 mph over 55 you go you lose about 1.5 mpg and on a truck anything over 65 is a steep decline in mileage. Cars lose less dut to better aro package.

Wingnut · August 1, 2005

Yup, I get about 14 most of the time (I drive 75-80 on the highway when others are) with mixed driving...But I've gotten 21-22 mpg on the highway when dropping that to 65 mph, and hitting cruise. Everything bone stock. That 10 mph makes a WORLD of difference on the highway.

This is in my '02.

And that's my $0.02

99-2door · August 1, 2005

Drop that 3rd seat into the garage when you aren't using it.

My dad has a 99 2wd burb LT bone stock and it gets 18-20 MPG on highway. We only use it for long trips and I am pleasently suprised at the mileage it gets even loaded with people and luggage.

TonyMazz · August 1, 2005

For every 5 mph over 55 you go you lose about 1.5 mpg and on a truck anything over 65 is a steep decline in mileage. Cars lose less dut to better aro package.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting...by what authoritative source do you get these measurements.

redvett · August 1, 2005

For every 5 mph over 55 you go you lose about 1.5 mpg and on a truck anything over 65 is a steep decline in mileage. Cars lose less dut to better aro package.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting...by what authoritative source do you get these measurements.

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I got it from a GM engineer i worked with but AAA has the same info that is broadcast on TV news when they do stories about gas prices.

eshoremd · August 4, 2005

15000 miles a year @ 10mpg is 1500 gal @ $2.35= $3525.

15000 miles a year @ 13mpg is 1153 gal @ $2.35= $2711.

savings $3525-$2711=$814 for 15000miles

that equates to a savings of $162.80 per 3000miles

the wait4meperformance fuel economy tune cost $157

MATH LESSON OVER KIDS, ITS BURN OUT TIME!

Dustin07 · August 4, 2005

15000 miles a year @ 10mpg is 1500 gal @ $2.35= $3525.

15000 miles a year @ 13mpg is 1153 gal @ $2.35= $2711.

savings $3525-$2711=$814 for 15000miles

that equates to a savings of $162.80 per 3000miles

the wait4meperformance fuel economy tune cost $157

MATH LESSON OVER KIDS, ITS BURN OUT TIME!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DUDE!

I just printed this Out and showed it to my my boss.

His response "put it on your credit card" .... he means the company card. WOO HOO! (i use my truck daily for deliveries, 99+ 4.8L silverado... 3000 miles a month is not uncommon.)

so what is the proper method for purchasing these tunes?