My new 8.1L and MPG

[snyps]

So I have been putting some miles on my 2002 8.1L 2500HD that I just bought last week. So far in 9 days, I put about 500 miles on it with towing, Highway and normal driving.

 

So far my best MPG is 10.7 MPG mostly all highway driving at 80MPH , and my lowest MPG was 6.2 towing a boat on the trailer (pounding on the truck to test acceleration). Average driving, I am getting about 9.7 MPG around town. It isn't as bad as I thought. Fuel in Buffalo is running about $2.34 a gallon right now so now that I am over the whole "new car, all I want to do is drive it" feeling. I am sure I won't be spending $60 every 4 days...

 

I love the truck, and the 502 big block is something to be proud of. With the trailer and a 21' boat, you didn't even notice there was weight behind it. Thanks for the advice on buying this truck a few weeks back. Got a great deal on an amazing truck and am very happy with it.

 

Soon will come the Westers PCM or hypertech programmer (still undecided) I am hopeing to increase my fuel ecomony, I don't need more power as the truck already has enough sack!!!

[miket]

Glad you like it...I get 13mpg on the highway regularly in my burb. It doesn't change much.

 

BTW--someone will probably make a comment about the "502"...thats a pretty common misconception...though what does 6 cubes matter?

[dewfpo]

If you keep it closer to 65 you can get better than 13. I drive mostly at 5,000 ASL and get 13.6 on the highway at 65 mph.

 

The 8.1L is 496 c.i.

 

DEWFPO

[8100 Power]

By the way, dont go with hypertech for the 8.1. Go with westers, the hypertech didn't do anything for my truck but turning the 95 mph limit off...

[snyps]

Learned something new.. Now I know it is a 496.. lol

 

 

Thanks again

[496 CUBIC INCHES]

I went on a 1000 mile road trip last week,and was utterly amazed at the mileage I got on that trip. I averaged 15.8 hand calculated MPG for the trip. The temps were low 100s and I had the A/C on full blast the entire time. I had the cruise set at 70 and had two different stretches where I didn't take the cruise off for over 300 miles.

 

Now that I'm back at home and doing 95% in town driving I'll go back to the standard 9-10 MPG that My 8.1 always gets.

[SimplyRAD]

I went on a 1000 mile road trip last week,and was utterly amazed at the mileage I got on that trip. I averaged 15.8 hand calculated MPG for the trip. The temps were low 100s and I had the A/C on full blast the entire time. I had the cruise set at 70 and had two different stretches where I didn't take the cruise off for over 300 miles.

 

Now that I'm back at home and doing 95% in town driving I'll go back to the standard 9-10 MPG that My 8.1 always gets.

 

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That's way cool.

 

I am missing the open road and need to take a trip soon.

[als1984z28]

With 1500 miles on my 8.1 I am getting 10-11 MPG average around town. On my 2 trips of 60 miles each way I got 14MPG, I was amazed, the absolute best that I ever got on my 6.0 was 15.5 MPG on a trip to Maine.

I do caculate by hand to verify the mileage. If I reset the computer before the trip it is right on.

 

 

BTW, this is the best forum that I have ever been on.

[Supercop8100]

I started to say, I get way better mileage than that. Im averaging 14 without the trailer and about 9-10 with it. Oh and dam the difference, but its 496 cubic inches, not 502.

 

Bumblebee-Tuna.

[miket]

On the subject of this motor....has anyone done a cam change? If so what did they go to and how hard was it?

[miket]

Sorry for the dup post....'puter hung.

[Haulin' 8.1]

Snyps, welcome to the group, this is the premier 8.1 site on the net.

 

MikeT, do a search for posts by TieRod, he's the only regular that done cam swaps on it yet and is always happy to give advice. I know there was a 8.1 cam swap thread on the Gas Engine Tech Forum a few months back.

 

Vernon

[miket]

MikeT, do a search for posts by TieRod, he's the only regular that done cam swaps on it yet and is always happy to give advice.  I know there was a 8.1 cam swap thread on the Gas Engine Tech Forum a few months back.

 

Vernon

 

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Thanks Vernon.

[moo snutz]

I'm getting a solid 10.8 - 11.4 mixed city / highway driving at 7000 ft & usually get 13s on long trips. I too once got upper 15s on a trip to CO. with cruise on 70 taking it easy. AMAZING if you ask me.

 

The only problem I have with the 8.1s feeding habit is that I put on a lot of miles on my truck - to the tune of 230 to 250 per week which means I'm filling up about every 5 or 6 days. A WICKED PISSA on the wallet.

 

Oh well, gotta pay to play

[Bud]

If you keep it closer to 65 you can get better than 13.  I drive mostly at 5,000 ASL and get 13.6 on the highway at 65 mph.

 

The 8.1L is 496 c.i.

 

DEWFPO

 

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I pull a 31ft camper about once a month. Here

is my problem. how do you keep under 70-75

mph?! I can be driving normal and look down

and be doing 80, towing! Don't like to use cruise when towing.

Man I love my 8.1, 502 or 496 don't matter!