MPG on a 94 4.3L full size 2wd

michigan2500hd · August 29, 2006

Looking at picking up a 94 1500, reg. cab, long bed. It has a 4.3L and auto trans.I was just wondering what to expect for mpg. and if it would be better than the 17 i am getting with my 05 crew cab. The crew cab is a lease so i want to keep the miles off it since i am getting laid off in a week or so and the company truck will no longer be my daily driver.

95Sierra2500 · August 29, 2006

Let me put it this way: My fiancee`'s dad used to have a '93 with that same setup but was a 4x4. It had the big tank on it and he could drive a month back and forth to work and never put gas in it...and he was driving about 10 miles one way. Figure 25 working days x20 miles a day and you've got 500 miles, and you aren't empty. His truck also had an open pipe after the Y in the exhaust, so he had NO back pressure on that thing, so he coulda probably done better with an exhaust.

KICK · August 29, 2006

got a 93 with a 4.3 in it. when it was much newer and not so worn out it would get in the low 20's on the hiway.

michigan2500hd · August 30, 2006

I was thinking it should get about 21 or so on the highway, which at 50 mph in my 05 crew cab i can get 19 - 21 on flat ground. I think the 94 has a 3.06 gear in it so even 25 mpg shouldnt be out of question. I just wanted to hear from those that have had a 4.3L in a full size. Thanks

drumset5994 · August 31, 2006

figure around 17-18 City

19-20 Highway.

I did all the math up down left and right...highest i ever got was 20mpg.

4.3L v6...3.08's

babb · September 1, 2006

my 05 averages around 20-23 mixed, depending on my foot and have gotten 26 on a trip.......its a 5 speed

OUMike · September 1, 2006

94 4.3L

202k miles

3.42 gears

16.1 combined. I got about 21 all highway.

johnquest · September 5, 2006

1997 Chevy 1500 W/T 4x4 reg cab, long box, auto - 72000 miles

18.5 combined cty/hwy

20-21 Hwy at 68-72 mph

Can get about 650-680 miles on 1 tank

Haven't figured city driving yet

OUMike · September 6, 2006

1997 Chevy 1500 W/T 4x4 reg cab, long box, auto - 72000 miles
18.5 combined cty/hwy

20-21 Hwy at 68-72 mph

Can get about 650-680 miles on 1 tank

Haven't figured city driving yet

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Jeez. What size tank is that? I was under the impression all the V6s came with 24 gallon tanks. With my 24 gallon I can probably get about 320 before I decide to gas up.

I don't really have a gas gauge so I'm kinda afraid to go farther. While replacing the fuel pump, we must have either hooked up the harness wrong or something. Gauge hasn't worked ever since. It's my own fault for not checking things out before putting the bed back on.

18.5?? Wow..thats pretty good. Any aftermarket tunes or anything.

My 16 was with Magnaflow exhaust. Does age and mileage have that big of an effect on mpg?? I was pretty sure I was getting better mileage before I hit the 150k mark.

johnquest · September 6, 2006

Jeez. What size tank is that? I was under the impression all the V6s came with 24 gallon tanks. With my 24 gallon I can probably get about 320 before I decide to gas up.

18.5?? Wow..thats pretty good. Any aftermarket tunes or anything.

My 16 was with Magnaflow exhaust. Does age and mileage have that big of an effect on mpg?? I was pretty sure I was getting better mileage before I hit the 150k mark.

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The tank on the long box full-size is 34 gallons. No tunes, just an ACDelco air filter and OEM fuel filter (changed every 15000 miles). I don't have cruise which I find gives me better mileage on the road. Hilly terrain and I more-or-less idle down hills. I have the 3.73 rear end and wondering what I'd get with a 3.42 or 3.08.

OUMike · September 6, 2006

Jeez. What size tank is that? I was under the impression all the V6s came with 24 gallon tanks. With my 24 gallon I can probably get about 320 before I decide to gas up.

18.5?? Wow..thats pretty good. Any aftermarket tunes or anything.

My 16 was with Magnaflow exhaust. Does age and mileage have that big of an effect on mpg?? I was pretty sure I was getting better mileage before I hit the 150k mark.

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The tank on the long box full-size is 34 gallons. No tunes, just an ACDelco air filter and OEM fuel filter (changed every 15000 miles). I don't have cruise which I find gives me better mileage on the road. Hilly terrain and I more-or-less idle down hills. I have the 3.73 rear end and wondering what I'd get with a 3.42 or 3.08.

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wow. I got the 3.42s on mine. Maybe its time for a light tune up.

johnquest · September 7, 2006

wow. I got the 3.42s on mine. Maybe its time for a light tune up.

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The owner before me told me he had a problem with the distributor getting condensation in it from an air conditioning line that was running over it. Rerouted and wrapped the line, changed the distributor and the O2 sensor, which has helped a lot.

drumset5994 · September 8, 2006

94 4.3L

202k miles

3.42 gears

16.1 combined. I got about 21 all highway.

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202k miles...now thats numbers i like to hear!

autopat · September 10, 2006

The last fullsize I had with a 4.3 in it gave me 14-15 around town, 18-19 on the freeway, truck was a stripper '87 2wd, TBI, 700R4, 3.42's, A/C on. The thing was a pig! Couldn't get out of it's own way if it had to, using the A/C actually gave better mileage than having the windows down, but it was severely underpowered either way, with the mileage you're getting, I'd keep your current truck. Just my .02

Pat