Need help with Chevy truck mileage

[48Rob]

I'm looking at replacing my truck, and am trying to get a better understanding of actual fuel mileage.

I've researched full sized Chevy trucks extensively, and still don't know what I can expect the actual mileage to be...

I'm considering a 1500, and 2500.
Options are the 4.3 liter 6 cylinder
The 5.3 liter V-8
And the 6.0 liter V-8

The stated numbers are all over the place...
Some sources quote 16 city, 21 highway for the 6.
Others quote 14-18.

Then for the 6.0 liter V-8, they quote 12-16.
If the actual mileage is only 2 mpg different between the 6 and 8, I may have to rethink the whole theory... a 3+ mpg difference @ 10,000 miles a year, keeping the truck for 5 years then begins to make sense.

I'm mostly interested in the city mileage as most of my driving is in town.

Anyone here have real life mileage info they can share?
Chevy 6 cylinder, or 8 cylinder for years 2004-2008.

Thanks,

Rob

[bobhenry]

It ain't a chevy story but.....

We had a 93 D 250 Dodge hightop conversion van with the 360 V8 auto and on multiple trips we bumped 21 MPG highway.

So being the brite boy I was , I decided to trade up. The old gal was over 210K on the clock and it was time so we bought a 99 V6 standard shorty Dodge van and we went to 17 - 18 on the highway

So cubic inches ain't the answer. I remember dad had a 71 Chrysler Newport 400 cu in and got 21 on the highway routinely.

My new Dodge V6 auto is doing real well 20 - 21 to and from work.

Towing the slab faced barn we got 14 -15 when we went to Morris last August.

[caseydog]

I have had the 4.3 V6 in a three of vehicles, but not full-sized. One was an S-10 extended cab PU, , the second a Chevy Astro Van, and the other a GMC Jimmy. It is a good engine.

I pulled a boat with the S-10 and the Jimmy, and it did fine, except I could not go into top gear (overdrive) when towing the boat. But, that boat weighed a lot more than a teardrop.

My experience with full-sized Chevy PUs is that quite often, the milage is no better than with the small V8. I have not owned one of the newest generation GM truck V8s.

Variman has a 1500 regular cab, long bed, with the 4.3 litre six and he has told me he gets excellent milage. You may want to PM him.

My S-10 and Astro got decent fuel economy, and the Jimmy did better than the 4.0 litre Explorer I traded in for it. The Explorer did about 15 average, and the Jimmy did about 18 average.

I know milage will vary from truck to truck based on rear axle ratios. That may be why you are finding so many different numbers.

[Capt. Home Slice]

My '05 5.3 1500 4x4 Silverado has a lifetime (90K mi.) average of 15.8, with a good mix of highway/city driving. There's lots of variables in there that determine mileage and you could get quite a difference with the same engine depending on just a few things like tire pressure, how fast you accelerate etc.. It's not city info but pulling a small trailer on the highway at 80mph, I see just a few mpg drop.

[Larwyn]

I have the 5.3 in a 2000 Silverado 1500 extended cab auto and get just over 16 mpg in city driving. Of course "city driving" in Kerrville Texas does not involve rush hour traffic jams, around here you get to keep moving, but it does include the load of a cross bed tool box full of heavy tools at all times as well a good sized pile of junk in the back seat/floorboard ..........

I like the power of the V8 in the full size truck. Have used it to tow a 7000 pound 5th wheel on several occasions (about 9 or 10 mpg with the 11 foot tall 5th wheel on the highway).

[prohandyman]

Rob
My 2000 GMC 1500 5.3 got 21 mpg on the hiway when new, but now with 202,000 miles it is around 17 hiway, and still 15-16 towing the Touring Lodge around the Midwest. I have had a camper shell on it for the last 25000 miles also. Hopes this helps.

[sid]

Hey Rob,

We bought a 2008 1500 Silverado Extended Cab last October, so we have had it just over a year. 5.3 V8 (Flex-fuel, but have never used it). We average between 16 and 18 around town, and 19-20 on the road. Add the tear and a couple of kayaks and it's between 17.5 and 18 on the road, and that's where we use it the most. It also has a topper on it. We love the truck and the ride is super. It has 20,000 miles on it now. Over 2,000 miles to the ADK and back last summer as shown below was 17.5 average.

I think sticker said 15 or 16 City and 20 Highway. The 2009 models were going to be available with a 6 speed automatic transmission and I think they were at 21 highway.

I still use my 1998 V6 4x4 Toyota Tacoma mostly around town, and it only gets about 17. Not very practical, but it keeps the miles off the Silverado.

Hope this helps,
Mark

[Wig]

don't forget about the 4.8.my best friend had 2001 with a 4.8 v-8 long bed single cab that he got a good deal on from work.It was used to deliver auto-paint supply's.It had 200k when he go it and 300k when sold it after driving it around 140 mile a day 5 days a week.it got good mileage and had lots of power. I used it anytime I needed to move something(my trucks short bed with a tool box and it doesn't fit much).the only reason he sold it was just because of the high mileage.he just wanted to see it while it was still running good.my vote would be a 4.8 or 5.3

[ssrjim]

My 07 Silverado 6 cyl gets between 19.5 and 20 in everyday driving.

I'm looking at replacing my truck, and am trying to get a better understanding of actual fuel mileage.

I've researched full sized Chevy trucks extensively, and still don't know what I can expect the actual mileage to be...

I'm considering a 1500, and 2500.
Options are the 4.3 liter 6 cylinder
The 5.3 liter V-8
And the 6.0 liter V-8

The stated numbers are all over the place...
Some sources quote 16 city, 21 highway for the 6.
Others quote 14-18.

Then for the 6.0 liter V-8, they quote 12-16.
If the actual mileage is only 2 mpg different between the 6 and 8, I may have to rethink the whole theory... a 3+ mpg difference @ 10,000 miles a year, keeping the truck for 5 years then begins to make sense.

I'm mostly interested in the city mileage as most of my driving is in town.

Anyone here have real life mileage info they can share?
Chevy 6 cylinder, or 8 cylinder for years 2004-2008.

Thanks,

Rob

[Mark72]

I hate to complicate this any more, but I noticed that your old truck has a latter rack and tool boxes on it. How much weight do you haul on a regular basis? As a mechanic and coming from a chevy truck family I have observed quite a few different scenario. The 6 cylinder trucks seem to get the best mileage as a driver but will drop off quickly under a load not to mention they usually come with the lighter suspension. The 5.3 has been the shining star for all around performance from good highway mileage to hauling a moderate load without that dread of any hill while loaded. If you do a lot of heavy hauling or pulling large trailers the 6.0 is the powerhouse. It will run right up there with the duramax diesel but expect the mileage to have a pretty flat curve to it especially if the truck has a lower gear ratio. All in a nutshell the 5.3 is a great all around performer that won't leave you disappointed. I have been told that the 4.8 is a good runner too but have no hands on with it... Hope that helps.

Mark

[01Sport]

My '05 5.3 1500 4x4 Silverado has a lifetime (90K mi.) average of 15.8, with a good mix of highway/city driving.

Pretty much exactly what my 5.3, 2wd, 2004 Tahoe gets.

[sid]

Hey Rob,

One thing I forgot to mention...... Our Silverado with the 5.3 has the fuel management system on it that goes from 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders when it is cruising, i.e. not pulling, or under a no load situation. I'm sure you've read up and studied on this too. It's a nice feature.

That should open up a can of worms here.....

Mark

[lauriandgary]

Rob,

We have a 2007 Chevy 1500 regular cab with the V6. We get 20 mpg in town and 26 on the highway.

I had the same V6 engine in a 1996 Chevy Blazer 4 door, got the same mileage, had 234,000 miles on it when we traded it in.

[High Desert]

Rob, I had a 1500 2WD extra cab Chevy a few years ago with the 4.3 and a 5 spd manual. Got a consistant 18 commuting and 25+ on the highway over the 4 years I had it. With a loaded trailer (3K+) it would fall off to the high teens on the highway and spent a fair amount of time in 4th instead of the OD 5th gear. Wasn't a huge pwoerhouse, but the 4.3 is a proven performer and tough. I've seen many w/300K and still running well. For a light work truck I'd consider another, I hear the newer ones are even better on gas. Just my experience.

[48Rob]

Thanks for all the tips and advice!

Casey,
I looked up rear end ratios, and find that it can help with highway miles, but not so much with in town driving.

Mark,
The fuel management system sounds good for highway miles, but 99% of my driving is stop and go in town.

The other Mark,
Yes, I run with a service bed of sorts.
It is slightly heavier than a standard bed, and it doesn't help fuel mileage.
In the past, it has worked out to a 2-3mpg decrease from having the different bed.

I've had everything from a 454 1 ton camper special (9mpg) to an S-10, (12mpg) all with service beds.
My current truck, a 97 Cheyenne 1/2 ton with a 5 liter V-8 started with 12-13mpg 11 years ago, and now gets 9-10mpg (has a lot of miles on it...)

We also have an 04 Denali with the 6.0 liter engine.
It gets 11-14 mpg...pulls the trailer very well!
It is used by my wife to go back and forth to work 1 mile each way, and for vacations.
The mileage sucks, but we don't put enough miles on it to make much difference.

My employer will be buying this truck and the fuel, and thus has requested that I find a more fuel efficient solution.
It seems that 12-14mpg is the across the board norm for work trucks.
Going with a mini truck to save fuel works fine if the bed is empty, but if you actually need to use it as a "truck" then the mileage is no better than the full sized trucks.

Rob