Improving Gas Mileage

[Elreq]

First of all this would be my first post... so hi. i have searched this forum a bit and it seems all inquiries are for new trucks, is it ok to ask a question about an 03 sierra?

 

My truck has a borla exhaust cat back and a k&n intake, and oversized rims and tires. i dont plan on doing anything else. I would like to get as good of gas milage from this set up as possible. the majority of the time my wife and i commute with this truck so it'd be nice to get more than the 16 mpg that im getting. do we use it as a truck.... sure mostly during project season ie summer but for the most part like i said i use it to commute. Reading the posts it sounds like i should just do the one time programming, but i was just checking to see if you might have any other ideas. Since the majority of the posts i can find only seem to deal with newer trucks, and i thought maybe there might be other options for a truck that has been out a little longer.

 

Thanks for you help.

[Cadha13]

Add electric cooling fans (from a 05-07 Truck with relays), keep a set of smaller tires for normal driving (cutting wind drag) and drive if you have a egg shell for a gas pedal. Use synthetic oils (Amsoil lower friction, cooler running engine, less HP loss), and top tier gasoline.

[rzauner]

A tune and some normal sized tires would help..as well as easy on the gas.

 

Richz

[Nytemare]

YOU GET 16MPG.

 

 

I would kill for anything over 14...I usually average 12.8, and at $5.50 a gallon it gets expensive.

[svensk]

YOU GET 16MPG.

 

 

I would kill for anything over 14...I usually average 12.8, and at $5.50 a gallon it gets expensive.

I only get 16 in the summer. Right now at temps below zero, snow and the winter blend fuel I get 13-14. That's with a lot of auto-4wheel usage and some abusive driving to go with it.

[Zembonez]

Oversize tires and spirited driving... and you still get 16? Not bad at all. Many are getting worse... some are getting 16... very very few are getting better.

[Nytemare]

yeah in the summer I get about 13.5-14 average. About 600Km per tank...

[Schmids5.3l]

My DIC says I average 17.1 in the Summer, but it's probably not very accurate. I haven't checked it lately. The best way to fix bad gas mileage is not give a d**n.

[Nytemare]

My DIC says I average 17.1 in the Summer, but it's probably not very accurate. I haven't checked it lately. The best way to fix bad gas mileage is not give a d**n.

 

so true

[ws6_guy]

16mpg is very very good, I wouldn't be complaining. But thinner tires like 255s or 245s would do better, and getting an economy tune would. A soft tonneau cover may too.

 

 

YOU GET 16MPG.

 

 

I would kill for anything over 14...I usually average 12.8, and at $5.50 a gallon it gets expensive.

 

d**n DUDE!! and thats a 5.3? your just .2 over what my truck gets. but $5.50 a gallon... I'm not looking forward towards the future

[Nytemare]

16mpg is very very good, I wouldn't be complaining. But thinner tires like 255s or 245s would do better, and getting an economy tune would. A soft tonneau cover may too.

 

 

YOU GET 16MPG.

 

 

I would kill for anything over 14...I usually average 12.8, and at $5.50 a gallon it gets expensive.

 

d**n DUDE!! and thats a 5.3? your just .2 over what my truck gets. but $5.50 a gallon... I'm not looking forward towards the future

 

5.3...LOL I have a 4.8 with 3.42 gears and 245's 2wd....I do run 92 octane so to be fair, I guess fuel is around 4.70 or a little less for Regular.

 

I do have a rather overweighted right foot though...LOL

[cbxeric]

Wait4me tune gained me 2mpg on the first tank (from 12 to 14mpg) mixed driving. I have a stock 6.0 truck with 235/85's and 3.73 rear end. I run 92 octane. I will be looking for an airraid intake tube to replace the stock one.