Improving Fuel Mileage

[spfish]

Gents. I'm new here but I've been reading this board for two weeks since I got my new Suburban. To say the least, I'm VERY disappointed in the fuel mileage. My '99 with 164k miles on it did over 15 and this one is only doing 14! Maybe I should have read this web site before purchasing or maybe I should have just set much lower expectations, but I really thought a newer truck with 9 years newer technology would get BETTER mileage than an old truck with a ton of miles on it. Reading all the posts here about this topic, most seem to point to a Diablo or Edge tuner, but that only gives minimal improvement. Has anyone "studied" or tested ethanol-laced fuel vs non-ethanol? I was surprised that my new truck came with an additional window sticker showing how "FlexFuel" would kill the gas mileage. I guess like the rest of the brain-washed, politically correct public, I just thought that ethanol was supposed to save the world. Now I find out that it actually takes a lot more E10 to go the same distance as normal gasoline.

 

I bought the truck with more options than I thought I would and I've purchased a lockpick to unlock my nav system, so I can't afford to put too much more into add-ons. I'm hoping that driving an extra five miles to fill up at a station with NON-ethanol fuel will actually save me some $ and improve the mileage.

 

Thoughts?

[ewiski]

so you expected somthing that weights 5000 pounds and has aerodynics of a piano to get what?

[redvett]

Since you probably haven't gotten your truck broke in yet you will have to wait until you have about 10-12000 miles for it to really start to perform like its supposed to. Check your tire pressure, reset your average fuel indicator after every fill up ( if you have the option) and drive like you want good fuel economy.

[-Devil-]

once the motor is broke in it will get a little better ... but a lot of it is the driver as well ...

 

i get on average almost 18mpg in my truck ... with very little done to it .. other then tires, a little tweaking on the intake ... and an oil change ...

[spfish]

Well, I guess I was hoping for 16-18 anyway. I know its not a Prius, or VW diesel but still. And as for dynamics, maybe a steamlined piano as opposed to upright I had in the '99. A buddy on mine has an '05 Silverado, 1500 4X4 and he gets 24-25 on long, highway trips. I have not had this out on the interstate yet, but right now I've got no hope for that. I have gotten as much as 19 on that '99 on the highway.

 

"Drive like I want good mileage?" That's definitely me. Now the leadfooted wife? That's a different story. It always took me a week to regain the mileage loss after she drove it for day!

[Misawan]

Gents. I'm new here but I've been reading this board for two weeks since I got my new Suburban. To say the least, I'm VERY disappointed in the fuel mileage. My '99 with 164k miles on it did over 15 and this one is only doing 14! Maybe I should have read this web site before purchasing or maybe I should have just set much lower expectations, but I really thought a newer truck with 9 years newer technology would get BETTER mileage than an old truck with a ton of miles on it. Reading all the posts here about this topic, most seem to point to a Diablo or Edge tuner, but that only gives minimal improvement. Has anyone "studied" or tested ethanol-laced fuel vs non-ethanol? I was surprised that my new truck came with an additional window sticker showing how "FlexFuel" would kill the gas mileage. I guess like the rest of the brain-washed, politically correct public, I just thought that ethanol was supposed to save the world. Now I find out that it actually takes a lot more E10 to go the same distance as normal gasoline.

 

I bought the truck with more options than I thought I would and I've purchased a lockpick to unlock my nav system, so I can't afford to put too much more into add-ons. I'm hoping that driving an extra five miles to fill up at a station with NON-ethanol fuel will actually save me some $ and improve the mileage.

 

Thoughts?

 

Yes, E85 makes your mileage worse. Like you, I would have thought that it would be the same or maybe even better. I have a friend that has a Tahoe that is flex fuel and he won't even touch that because of the crappy mileage he gets with it. He told me that he gets 3-4 more miles with regular gas. The kicker is that the stuff costs more to buy initially anyway. I have no idea who uses it other than maybe the crazy environmentalist who think that using it makes up for driving a tank a couple miles from their home to get their mail.

 

I haven't tried a tuner yet but it is on the list. I get 18-19 with my 5.3L Silverado. Most of my miles are highway though.

[Norseman]

Improving Fuel Mileage, What's the bottom line? Any way to do it w/o a tuner?

 

Sure!! Put a raw egg in-between your foot and accelerator. Then drive without breaking the egg. That should do it.

[asilverblazer]

I've never believed 20+mpg in a 4x4.

[Draenor]

Improving Fuel Mileage, What's the bottom line? Any way to do it w/o a tuner?

 

Sure!! Put a raw egg in-between your foot and accelerator. Then drive without breaking the egg. That should do it.

 

An ostrich egg works best.

 

 

 

I only get 12-14mpg, then again, I use a quail egg.

[-Devil-]

i never hit more then half throttle on my truck .. most of the time i would say i have it down about 10% at the most when i take off from a stop light ... still accels faster then most other cars around me ... and then i hit the cruise when i am up to speed .. (less it is bad hills) ... i know i could tweak it a bit more and prob reach an average of 19 ...

[Zembonez]

Well, I guess I was hoping for 16-18 anyway. I know its not a Prius, or VW diesel but still. And as for dynamics, maybe a steamlined piano as opposed to upright I had in the '99. A buddy on mine has an '05 Silverado, 1500 4X4 and he gets 24-25 on long, highway trips. I have not had this out on the interstate yet, but right now I've got no hope for that. I have gotten as much as 19 on that '99 on the highway.

I'd like to see ANY proof of a 4x4 1500 getting 25 miles per gallon. Maybe downhill with a 40 mile per hour wind behind it... Your "friend" is blowing smoke up your ___.

[ken1mod]

Gentlemen,

 

I have a '00 5.3 3.73 geared extended cab with 140,000 miles. I squeak the tires at least once a day and get between 18 and 19 mpg. The magic is driving "ahead of the vehicle" that is, getting off the throttle when the light 1 block ahead turns red. You must learn to hate putting the brakes on. This burns fuel energy into brake heat.

 

I think I am correct, what do you think?

 

Ken

[Zembonez]

Gentlemen,

 

I have a '00 5.3 3.73 geared extended cab with 140,000 miles. I squeak the tires at least once a day and get between 18 and 19 mpg. The magic is driving "ahead of the vehicle" that is, getting off the throttle when the light 1 block ahead turns red. You must learn to hate putting the brakes on. This burns fuel energy into brake heat.

 

I think I am correct, what do you think?

 

Ken

Ken, I agree that your method has a certain amount of effect on your mileage. Every time you use the brake you just wasted the excess energy equal to the amount of energy that it takes to stop.

[Rado10VicRed]

yea the only thing to do is let it break in.......my 07 NBS rado with the 5.3L got 14 to 15 mpg at the beginning but now i have about 7k miles on it i get 18 to 19. I went on a trip to houston last weekend and doing between 70 to 75 mph i got 21.8 mpg! just give it time my friend.....

[FREAKENHYE]

Ive gotten 19 mpg on my silverado with mix city and freeway driving. I dont let the rev's go above 1500 when i take of from a light and always stay at 65mph on cruise control, always let of the gas 1/4 mile ahead and cruise to the light that i know i wont make it to, things of that nature.