Gas Mileage

[Matthew Jeschke]

Okay, so I got my 2001 Tahoe about a year ago. I didn't expect it would get great mileage, however, I am utterly surprised at how poor of mileage it does get.

When I was a kid my folks had a 1996 Chevy Suburban 4x4. We used it on long trips. It got 18 to 20 mpg NO JOKE on the highway. I was so surprised. Had a small block 350.

Now I have this smaller tahoe, it is the Z71 setup (not sure if that means different gearing too). Also has the 5.3 L. It gets MAYBE 14 MPG. Many times when I fill up is 11 or 12 MPG.

It does have BFG K02 tires on it. Although I'm assuming that's only partly why it's so poor mileage.

Curious, what kind of mileage are you guys getting with your Tahoe and suburbans?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Okay, so I got my 2001 Tahoe about a year ago. I didn't expect it would get great mileage, however, I am utterly surprised at how poor of mileage it does get.

When I was a kid my folks had a 1996 Chevy Suburban 4x4. We used it on long trips. It got 18 to 20 mpg NO JOKE on the highway. I was so surprised. Had a small block 350.

Now I have this smaller tahoe, it is the Z71 setup (not sure if that means different gearing too). Also has the 5.3 L. It gets MAYBE 14 MPG. Many times when I fill up is 11 or 12 MPG.

It does have BFG K02 tires on it. Although I'm assuming that's only partly why it's so poor mileage.

Curious, what kind of mileage are you guys getting with your Tahoe and suburbans?

That's not too bad. I'd have to guess I'm maybe getting 11-12 on the highway, but I have a bunch of mods done. Tires that are aggressive will affect mileage. Have you done a tuneup lately, including all fluids? That'll also affect mileage. How's your frontend? Alignment good? Any codes?

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

That's not too bad. I'd have to guess I'm maybe getting 11-12 on the highway, but I have a bunch of mods done. Tires that are aggressive will affect mileage. Have you done a tuneup lately, including all fluids? That'll also affect mileage. How's your frontend? Alignment good? Any codes?

I have changed oil, transfercase fluid, sparks look good, new radiator and coolant, front diff gear oil, new wheel bearing passenger fnt, prob a few other items.

I need to do rear gear oil... and frnt diff has bad passenger side output shaft bearing.

All new brakes.


I am just so suprised get so much worse mileage than the old suburban.

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[Doubeleive]

sounds about right I probably got about the same in my 00 xl BUT..... I had a heavy foot, sometimes it was very heavy, longer non stop trips of course gave better results

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

sounds about right I probably got about the same in my 00 xl BUT..... I had a heavy foot, sometimes it was very heavy, longer non stop trips of course gave better results

Just crazy, i never would have dreamed GM would have gotten worse mileage from smaller motor and lighter truck.

Thanks for confirming

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[temper]

What size are those KO2's? I just went from stock 245/75-16's to 285/70-17's, and was getting around 15.8 mpg with the old tires. I've only gone through one full tank of gas since putting the new tires on, and calculated the mileage right around 13 mpg on that one tank. I expected to maybe lose 1.5 mpg, not nearly 3...I'm hoping it's just a fluke. It's summertime and I don't let the truck warm up like I do in the winter time, so not a lot of idling right now, although I was troubleshooting an AC issue and restarted/idled a bit for that.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

What size are those KO2's? I just went from stock 245/75-16's to 285/70-17's, and was getting around 15.8 mpg with the old tires. I've only gone through one full tank of gas since putting the new tires on, and calculated the mileage right around 13 mpg on that one tank. I expected to maybe lose 1.5 mpg, not nearly 3...I'm hoping it's just a fluke. It's summertime and I don't let the truck warm up like I do in the winter time, so not a lot of idling right now, although I was troubleshooting an AC issue and restarted/idled a bit for that.

Lt265/75r16 they are indestrible beast of tires. I may go with the michelin 10 ply e rated nest time they have less agressive tred but are rated for fuel economy.

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[temper]

I'm no tire guru, so I don't know about the ratings. But I do know that LT tires are heavier than passenger rated tires, so if the Michelins are P rated it should help your mpg.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

All stock ‘05 Tahoe. 20.9 on long hiway trips, 15.5-17.0 mixed driving. According to the DIC.

 

[Doubeleive]

A lot of it depends on your driving style, if you baby it around town and only go 55-65 on the freeway with a nice steady pedal your mpg will increase, me personally time is money and my time is worth more than a gallon of gas so no sense going slow, luckily I work from home. lol

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

All stock ‘05 Tahoe. 20.9 on long hiway trips, 15.5-17.0 mixed driving. According to the DIC.

I hate you... not really but just saying :|

I wounder what differences are. What tires do you have?

Is yours 4x4? Do you uave the 5.3 or 4.8?

Fyi this post is gd luck just filled up 16mpg best yet.

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[Matthew Jeschke]

A lot of it depends on your driving style, if you baby it around town and only go 55-65 on the freeway with a nice steady pedal your mpg will increase, me personally time is money and my time is worth more than a gallon of gas so no sense going slow, luckily I work from home. lol

Haha same here. Working from h9me def helps... altho i drive for work from time to time.. gd thi g i have anothet car :|

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[SnowDrifter]

22-24 on the highway going 55-60

18-20 on the highway going 75-80. Trip average on 300 miles, up/down a few passes

14-16 suburban driving

~10 if I'm in dead ass stop and go. Think: Idling forward in first too fast

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

22-24 on the highway going 55-60

18-20 on the highway going 75-80. Trip average on 300 miles, up/down a few passes

14-16 suburban driving

~10 if I'm in dead ass stop and go. Think: Idling forward in first too fast

How the heck, what is your truck? 4x4? Surban? Which motor.

I am jealous

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[SnowDrifter]

2005 Tahoe, 5.3, 4x4. Tune and pcv catch can. All else stock. Didn't notice any fuel economy difference with the tune but I feel it's worth including for the sake of transparency. Generally drive it in 2wd unless absolutely needed cause my front diff ain't great and I don't have the cash to fix it right now.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

2005 Tahoe, 5.3, 4x4. Tune and pcv catch can. All else stock. Didn't notice any fuel economy difference with the tune but I feel it's worth including for the sake of transparency. Generally drive it in 2wd unless absolutely needed cause my front diff ain't great and I don't have the cash to fix it right now.

My front diff sounds HORRIBLRE lol. The passenger aide output shaft bearing is toast. I can wiggle the output shaft. 4 wheel drive still works fine tho and doesnt leak a drop of gear oil odly enough

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[SnowDrifter]

Couldn't tell you what mine is. Don't care what it is. It needs to be completely overhauled at some point, not really much point in me wasting time digging into it when the only difference is whether or nor I need to replace the gear set, which I can't tell until I get it apart anyway LOL. Apparently all of the previous shops who maintained it never checked the front diff fluid. Passenger side output shaft seal leaking. Was just the side of bone dry when I got it.

My output shaft bearings are OK. It's only a nasty noisy thing in 4wd under load.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I hate you... not really but just saying :|

I wounder what differences are. What tires do you have?

Is yours 4x4? Do you uave the 5.3 or 4.8?

Fyi this post is gd luck just filled up 16mpg best yet.

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4x4. 5.3 continental adventurer a/t tires. 136,000 miles. i did see 22.2 on a 120 mile one way trip, but wasn't sure that was believable.

you could just have crappy gas in your area.

 

[adriver]

Sounds like the front diff is causing some of it.

I would guess 265 is not the stock tire width, that's causing more friction. I had a buddy who had an OBS reg cab many years ago. I remember he said he got 20 or 22 mpg (I don't recall exactly), but he put on a 6" lift and 35" tires. Did nothing else, and said he was lucky to get 8mpg on the highway.

Do you get dust storms down there; how's your air filter?

AC is more efficient than having your windows down, at highway speed, but both hurt.

Any chance you need an alignment?

Tire pressure?

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

My tire pressure is at 32 per tire.

Ac filter is clean but i want to get a cloth one.

Yeah diff sounds something horrible. I know is at least one bad bearing. However when i jack front of truck up the tires spin without trouble / friction.

They last guy leveled truck with keys / spacers for front. He raised 2". I have lower back down 1". Definately made a difference in mileage.

I should probably lower back down the extra inch.

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