Silverado mpg HELP!

[DBFlawn]

Okay so I will be looking to get a 1999-2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended cab with the 6.5 foot bed. I only want 2 wheel drive because I do not really need 4 wheel drive. But my main question is with it being 2 wheel drive what mileage should I be expecting out of it? Can any of you tell me what actual mileage you are getting?

Also I plan on putting an exhaust, intake, and probably a tuner to help with the mileage.

Thanks in advance for anyone that helps me

DBF

[4.3mudder]

I got a 2004 extended cab short bed, with the 4.8 V8. It gets about 17-19 MPG no trailer depends on how much I'm on the highway, 16 MPG with my 10x5 loaded landscape trailer, and about 14 MPG with a 16 foot trailer with a John deere tractor and bush hog on it. Exhaust is the best thing you can add to increase fuel mileage. As for chips and so forth, I have never tried so I have no imput for that part. For the brakes... I have disc all the ways around, stopping is not an issue at all. With the that tractor I got, I never know its back there when coming to a stop. On the highways is no problem either, handles well.

[DBFlawn]

Wow you get really good mileage. I really won't be pulling a trailer at all. Just throwing stuff in the bed and what not. I know for a fact that I will not get a V6. But what are the differences between the 4.8 and the 5.3?

Thanks for your help so far

DBF

[4.3mudder]

My mom has a 2002 Tahoe with the 5.3. I like the shift points in it... When you get on it and go the RPM stays at about 1700 the whole time till overdrive, I like that part of it. Well, its a little bit bigger engine. The HP isn't very much of a difference. You get less struggling from the engine using a large displacent. For the newer trucks, I would not recommend thr 6.0. Buddy of mine got one with it, it feels the same as the 5.3 he had in an earlier truck so... I don't know what the deal is with that. But since you won't be pulling a trailer, the 4.8 would be fine.

Fuel mileage between the V6 and V8 will be about the same, that small v6 is having to work harder.

The thing I don't like is the electronic shifting, gosh it takes forever to shift into drive and reverse. My toyota I got the 4.3 V6 and turbo 350 tranny with a shift kit,, shifts hard and fast, I'm used to that.

Hope that helped you out.

[DBFlawn]

Yes it really has helped me out quite a bit. I have seen some 6.0 for excellent prices but I have just heard too much bad stuff about them and there mileage so thats out of question. I deffinatly need a the 4.8 or 5.3 though. Thanks for your help so far!

Also does anyone else out there have a similar truck so I can see what other people are getting for mileage?

Thanks again
DBF

[4.3mudder]

Right now is the time to buy for sure, the salesmen are itchin for commission.

[DBFlawn]

Yeah I know what you saying. I think everybody is itching for some money lol

[TandM]

we have a 06 1500 double cab with the 4.8 v8 2wd in it and see 18-20 on highway 16-17 in the city. We have a 02 1500 extendedwith the 5.3 and 4wd and it sees 15-17 so maybe 18 with 2wd im guessing that truck also has 220000 miles on it! we have replaced the fuel pump on it 1 time and thats it! great great trucks! I will tell you the 5.3 has so much more power than that 4.8 the 5.3 flys! still wont keep up with tthe 03 tundra though. good luck!

[mattfromNY]

I have a '99 1500 ext. cab w/ a 5.3, 4 wheel drive. I average about 16-18 mpg, I only use the truck for around town, very little highway use. Truck has 122000 miles on it, and is used to plow snow and tow mowers when needed. Havent had any problems with it since I've owned it (6 yrs. now) *** Having said that, now the tranny will go or something...

[4.3mudder]

Havent had any problems with it since I've owned it (6 yrs. now) *** Having said that, now the tranny will go or something...

Hope you knocked on wood after your said that. :laugh:

[mattfromNY]

One other thing I forgot. The ABS sensors in the rear brakes go bad, there is a service bulletin through Chevy on these. If the ABS keeps kicking in while coming to a stop, and your dealer finds the sensors to be bad, they are instructed to clean and reinstall the sensors. I had this done, and they went bad again real soon. I took the truck to another dealer (I know a guy that works there), and the mechanic told me he purposely breaks the sensors when removing them so he can replace them instead of clean and reuse the old sensor. If your sensors go bad, find out if your dealer can install new sensors, instead of just cleaning up the old ones.

[DBFlawn]

Thanks for all your help guys. I was hope to get about 17-18 miles to the gallon city if i get two wheel drive. and then maybe 20+ highway with the exhaust and what not added too it. Does this sound reasonable to you?

Thanks again

[TandM]

I think you are wasting your time and money on buyin a new truck whats wrong with your truck? thats way better then a 2wd 4.8 for 2-3 mpg better? I mean come on if you want a new truck then thats cool but if your doin it solely on fuel economy then I don't think its gonna save you as much money as you think. even with the exhaust intake and programmers. you have to drive with a light foot to get better gas mileage with those items thats my take on it.

[DBFlawn]

I think you are wasting your time and money on buyin a new truck whats wrong with your truck? thats way better then a 2wd 4.8 for 2-3 mpg better? I mean come on if you want a new truck then thats cool but if your doin it solely on fuel economy then I don't think its gonna save you as much money as you think. even with the exhaust intake and programmers. you have to drive with a light foot to get better gas mileage with those items thats my take on it.


1. I dont have a truck now. I am only 14 now (please dont pick on me because of my age..I know how this can go) but anyhow. My dad's friend is part of a auction type thing and I will be getting a truck from there. My dad will be turing in his lease Impala and driving my truck for the summer. Now me personally I NEED a truck because I will be working for my dad in the summers and on the weekends to throw things in thew back of it.Also I do need one also to put my dirtbikes in the back of.

2. As I said before I am not buying this on fuel economy. If I wanted that I would buy that stupid SMART CAR. But I can't.

3. Since I need a truck I am just trying to get some gas mileage figures from someone with personal experiences and what they are getting. Also I am just trying to see what mileage I can expect with a stock truck or with some little inexpensive mods.

DBF

[4.3mudder]

Well, we all have to start out with something. I started out with a toyota 4runner, with a 4 banger, and llifted with big tires at that so... I wish I could have bought a truck 2 years ago, you know how mothers can be. But honestly, exhaust is really about the only good thing you can do. If you are not going to have the truck very long, its not worth putting the money into it doing the aftermarket stuff. I mean, if you only have the truck 2 or 3 years, and put money into it with aftermarket, getting your money back on fuel economy will be wasted because of the money you would have save from fuel would go to aftermarket stuff, but if the truck will be with you then go for the exhaust. Good luck

[Looking Good Lawn Service]

hmm, you guys get Very good mileage out of your gassers, lol, sounds like diesel mpg to me.. I have a dump with a 6.0, if that thing gets 10mpg go jumping for joy, it gets between 8.5 and 10mpg no matter what, lol, trailer, loaded, loaded and pulling trailer, empty whatever

[4.3mudder]

hmm, you guys get Very good mileage out of your gassers, lol, sounds like diesel mpg to me.. I have a dump with a 6.0, if that thing gets 10mpg go jumping for joy, it gets between 8.5 and 10mpg no matter what, lol, trailer, loaded, loaded and pulling trailer, empty whatever

I hear that a lot out of the 6 litres. I guess the 3/4 ton and 1 tons are just gas hogs.

[DBFlawn]

I was planning on keeping the truck for about 3-5 years as long as it doesn't start to become a money pit to me. But I dont think that this will happen because I plan on getting a decent truck. But from what you guys are saying I probably will not get the programmer but I will deffinatly go for the exhaust.

Good Looking Lawn Service.
I know what you are saying. I have not heard one good thing about the 6.0 gas mileage.

Thanks again
DBF

[newz7151]

One other thing I forgot. The ABS sensors in the rear brakes go bad, there is a service bulletin through Chevy on these. If the ABS keeps kicking in while coming to a stop, and your dealer finds the sensors to be bad, they are instructed to clean and reinstall the sensors. I had this done, and they went bad again real soon. I took the truck to another dealer (I know a guy that works there), and the mechanic told me he purposely breaks the sensors when removing them so he can replace them instead of clean and reuse the old sensor. If your sensors go bad, find out if your dealer can install new sensors, instead of just cleaning up the old ones.

.... hmm.. I have a "mistake laden" 99 model also. I had a problem start some time back where the parking brake and ABS light will come on and stay on while I'm driving until I shut the truck off and restart it. A repair location (non dealer) said they ran a code and it says the brake controller module needs to be replaced (to the tune of $800 something plus labor), but I wonder if it could just be these sensors gone bad... I'm going to have our neighbor down the street who works in the parts department at a GM dealer look into this for me.

[TandM]

oh ok see I thought you had that silverado the ext cab with 120k on it or whatev and dont worry about your age im only 15 haha I just love trucks and ya that wouuld be a sweet truck to start with but you can get a 4x4 from auction for just a bit more. you will want it trust me

[DBFlawn]

Yeah I'm going back and forth on 2wd and 4wd. Being that it will be a daily driver i am a little concerned about the mileage but I need a truck so.... Realistically what would a 4wd get compared to a 2wd mileage wise?

Thanks again
DBF

[TandM]

1-2 mpg difference no biggie and you will be glad you have it when you need it. trust me Id rather drive the 1500 with 200k on it and 4x4 instead of the 1500 with the 4.8 and 2wd the 5.3 is to good a motor I like the power and the 4x4 not that big of a difference in gas mpg

[GravelyGuy]

You get enough snow in Chicago to justify the 4x4 IMO.

[DBFlawn]

With an exhaust do you think I can get an average of 17 maybe 18 if i'm easy on it??

[DBFlawn]

You get enough snow in Chicago to justify the 4x4 IMO.

I thought about this and if I got the 2wd.... I would put 300lbs in the back?

Does that sound reasonable?

[TandM]

ya in the city of course ours gets 18 on the highway and its got 220k haha like 16 in the city if your easy on it you can get some more numbers but I cant resist to stick my foot on it a little further as gas hit 169 here today!

[GravelyGuy]

I never had 4x4 until I got my Tundra and I got stuck in neighborhoods several times doing snow removal. It was never really a big deal, but you feel a lot safer with the 4x4. You probably don't plan to keep your first truck that long so you may just want to go with what's more affordable at this point.

[TandM]

ya but still you can go mud bogging with 4wd too. so think of the fun..............

[DBFlawn]

ya in the city of course ours gets 18 on the highway and its got 220k haha like 16 in the city if your easy on it you can get some more numbers but I cant resist to stick my foot on it a little further as gas hit 169 here today!

My driveing would be a little bit of a mix so I hope to get somewhere near 17. Hopefully more but we can't have everything right? lol

And gas is about 1.80 ish around here

[DBFlawn]

I never had 4x4 until I got my Tundra and I got stuck in neighborhoods several times doing snow removal. It was never really a big deal, but you feel a lot safer with the 4x4. You probably don't plan to keep your first truck that long so you may just want to go with what's more affordable at this point.

Yeah i get what your saying about the safer part. Also I plan to have the truck at least 3 years and plan to pay cash for it.

Not trying to get off subject but if I put a plow on it do you think I can get some parking lots and thinks like that even if I'm not mowing there grass? I'm not too familiar with this part of the buisness lol

[DBFlawn]

ya but still you can go mud bogging with 4wd too. so think of the fun..............


Oh trust me I've considered that lol:laugh:

[TandM]

haha and i dont plow atall georgia.... but I m sure theres a bunch of companys who cut grass and dont plow and someone gotta have some parking lots to plow and your deff gonna need 4x4 if your gonna plow

[DBFlawn]

I'm not positive about plowing though. It's in the back of my mind though but no guarentees.

[4.3mudder]

I would go with flowmaster dumped. nice n noisy.

[DBFlawn]

I would go with flowmaster dumped. nice n noisy.

The louder the better right!! lol
No I was thinking more along the lines of maybe Magnaflow?
How war they

[TandM]

magnaflow sucks they dont sound worth **** on a small motor you have to have like a 5.7 to get a decent sound out of them. flowmasters are the best! that or a cherry bomb like my tundra has! that little 4.7 screams! haha it sounds like a big block when you get on it but ya if ya dont want it super loud buy the 60 series flowmaster its a deep sound but theres no drone when you are drivng for long periods of time

[DBFlawn]

I want an exhaust that will help with mileage (I'm not sure if they are any different mpg wise) I do not want something crazy loud. Just a nice mellow tone with no drone.

thanks for everyone's advise

[TandM]

flowmasters systems are just as well engineered as magnaflows. you will get the same 10-15hp with the flowmaster. I have flowmasters on my 77 dodge with a 440 big block and man they sound great! especially on chevys my friend just got them on his 5.3 chevy and it sounds perfect!!