What MPG gain can be expected from a tune?

[CountryBoy19]

I have a completely stock 5.3L Flex-fuel engine in a Yukon XL. 4l60E & 4.10 gears.

Currently getting around 15-16 mpg. We do a lot of travelling, including interstate. It's not unusual for my cruising RPM to be around 2300-2500 depending on how much I'm pushing my speed. I think that's cutting into highway mileage.

I plan to keep the vehicle for years to come and I plan to keep it as stock as possible in regards to cosmetic & performance mods. But I can't help but wonder if a tune will pay for itself with improved fuel-economy. I don't care 1 bit about performance enhancements etc, it's our family car and I want to shave a bit off the fuel budget. IE, we're on-track to put 25,000 miles on it this year. Even 1 mpg improvement yields about 100 gallons of fuel saved in a year; @ $3/gal that's $300. 2+ mpg improvement pays for a tune the first year...

I know the temptation from most is to say "get the tune" because many here like them for added performance. But realistically, my only consideration is financial cost and potential reduced engine longevity (does a tune for economy just lean the engine out at cruising speed?).

 

[Sasquatch]

In all the research i did prior to getting a tune most people stated that they gained 1-2 mpg after their tune.

I switched to 20 inch wheels right before i got my 93 tune from blackbear so i really didn`t see an increase in mileage due to the weight and larger diameter tires but it remained about the same as with the stock 16 inch wheels so i know it did something to help.

 

[adriver]

I won't try to talk to you into a tune, but if you do decide to get one, I would do e-fans too if you don't have them. I'm not sure what year you have, (and am guessing its 05+ on suburbans/XLs that only has the E-fans too). I'm guessing an XL already has the larger 34 inch radiator but if not its about ($40 used,-$80+ new). Then you need the fans from an 05-06 or 07-13 ($40 used-$70+ new), a harness ($20 if you pull, about $120 new), and you need the pin turned on in the ECU. That comes from an aftermarket adjustment usually $100+. Any one of the tuners will include that in the tune. If it helps the mechanical fan clutch is a semi-common problem that you would be getting rid of before you need to replace it.

+ 1 on everything I have come across says a tune is 1-2mpg increase.

You could get better gears is you're doing that much highway, but I'm guessing its not worth it. I would at least learn up on it, changing gears, and e-fans in case something ever does break and NEEDS to be fixed. At that point, it would definitely be worth changing.

 

[cheyenne383]

ROIs with mods are for significant others, not MPGs....

Get the tune, enjoy the better shifting, reduced torque management, and other notable benefits. If you can keep it at 65 or under you'll see better mileage than a tune will ever provide. I've tuned countless GM trucks and SUVs and never regretted it, the driveability is well worth the money and time but the benefits were never efficiency driven.

If you're really only return driven skip it, I doubt you'll see a serious MPG improvement with anything aside from a gear swap. With 4.10 gears speed is your enemy looking for mileage.

 

[jasonc]

I have a completely stock 5.3L Flex-fuel engine in a Yukon XL. 4l60E & 4.10 gears.

Currently getting around 15-16 mpg. We do a lot of travelling, including interstate. It's not unusual for my cruising RPM to be around 2300-2500 depending on how much I'm pushing my speed. I think that's cutting into highway mileage.

I plan to keep the vehicle for years to come and I plan to keep it as stock as possible in regards to cosmetic & performance mods. But I can't help but wonder if a tune will pay for itself with improved fuel-economy. I don't care 1 bit about performance enhancements etc, it's our family car and I want to shave a bit off the fuel budget. IE, we're on-track to put 25,000 miles on it this year. Even 1 mpg improvement yields about 100 gallons of fuel saved in a year; @ $3/gal that's $300. 2+ mpg improvement pays for a tune the first year...

I know the temptation from most is to say "get the tune" because many here like them for added performance. But realistically, my only consideration is financial cost and potential reduced engine longevity (does a tune for economy just lean the engine out at cruising speed?).

Get a flex fuel emulator to start http://www.pointaengineering.com/Fl...for-GM-GMC-Products-CLICK-FOR-INFO-000001.htm unless you plan on running E85. This is suppose to improve MPG's and sometimes a rough or weird iddle

 

[mikeyss]

My old 05 Tahoe has 4.10 gears and black bear tune, anything over 75mph with a 4L60 will eat your gas, no matter what. But with a tune, it won't have to downshift near as much, saving some of your gas mileage.

 

[adventurenali92]

My old 05 Tahoe has 4.10 gears and black bear tune, anything over 75mph with a 4L60 will eat your gas, no matter what. But with a tune, it won't have to downshift near as much, saving some of your gas mileage.

Also as an added benefit to what he stated, the tune optimizes shifting patterns. Shifting less and much more smooth shift points will give you a little longer life span on your transmission as it reduces operating heat. Heat is the biggest killer of a transmission.
That’s a money save right there.

 

[No Tyme]

With my 5.3 Silverado the Black Bear tune improved the trans shifting but not much on the mpg front. Since I sold it and went back to an Avalanche with 5.3 I don't see a need for a tune. I improved my mpg's with an AEM dry filter and cleaning of the maf sensor. Went from 15.3 to mid to high 16's. I just think for a 6,000 pound sled that's not bad. Oh, I run 89 octane because of the 9.5 compression.

 

[jwth]

I have a completely stock 5.3L Flex-fuel engine in a Yukon XL. 4l60E & 4.10 gears.

Currently getting around 15-16 mpg. We do a lot of travelling, including interstate. It's not unusual for my cruising RPM to be around 2300-2500 depending on how much I'm pushing my speed. I think that's cutting into highway mileage.

I plan to keep the vehicle for years to come and I plan to keep it as stock as possible in regards to cosmetic & performance mods. But I can't help but wonder if a tune will pay for itself with improved fuel-economy. I don't care 1 bit about performance enhancements etc, it's our family car and I want to shave a bit off the fuel budget. IE, we're on-track to put 25,000 miles on it this year. Even 1 mpg improvement yields about 100 gallons of fuel saved in a year; @ $3/gal that's $300. 2+ mpg improvement pays for a tune the first year...

I know the temptation from most is to say "get the tune" because many here like them for added performance. But realistically, my only consideration is financial cost and potential reduced engine longevity (does a tune for economy just lean the engine out at cruising

 

[jwth]

I am running a custom tune on a 5.3 4x4 Yukon and run at 24 mpg more or less on the highway. It does drop to 22 when running in AWD in the winter.
Good from 45 mph up to 80 mph.
I have been running it for 1 1/2 years so it is no fluke.
No I did not buy the tune. It is a private one.

 

[adriver]

I am running a custom tune on a 5.3 4x4 Yukon and run at 24 mpg more or less on the highway. It does drop to 22 when running in AWD in the winter.
Good from 45 mph up to 80 mph.
I have been running it for 1 1/2 years so it is no fluke.
No I did not buy the tune. It is a private one.

You've been on here almost 5 years, and your only post is to claim that you have figured out how to get about 3-5mpg better than any other tuner can get with no proof or other information at all then to say you did it....???.....???....??? You do realize this … stinks.

Even the NNBS with its management doesn't do that well (tuned or not).

 

[jwth]

Watching is not a crime
If you have a problem with someone doing the digging and discovery you have my pitty.
Buy a tuning rig and startto do your own without crying and bashing.
Yes I have a private tune that I worked on for several months.
Yes it is not a fluke.
Yes I did share with a friend in his 2004 Suburban 5.3 4x4 to see it worked on more than mine.
YES IT DOES GET 24 MPG.
Put the work into it instead of being upset that someone else did.

I have been here 5 years and watch the posts. I CHOOSE not to join in the ***** and gimme sessions.

Now
Go to hptuners site and look up the calibrations that have been posted for 2003 gmc yukon and if you are able to understand what you are seeing you will find one that was posted without a signature couple of years ago. That is tha rough draft AND IT PULLED 26 MPG with some minor problems and could not be used for any towing. And no it has not damaged the engine.

I have no more comment on this

You get out of it what you put in

I will continue driving mine with a smile

You've been on here almost 5 years, and your only post is to claim that you have figured out how to get about 3-5mpg better than any other tuner can get with no proof or other information at all then to say you did it....???.....???....??? You do realize this … stinks.

Even the NNBS with its management doesn't do that well (tuned or not).

 

[CountryBoy19]

The XL already has e-fans and I drive fairly easy on it. Don't do any regular towing but I can't rule out the occasional local tow.

I know the 4.10 gears hurt me a bit and they scared me a little when I bought it for this reason. I did a lot of reading and most said what the 4.10's lose on highway driving will be made up with local driving (not having to downshift on hills, TCC staying locked up at lower speeds etc). I'm not sure I've really seen that. The best mileage I've seen was 19... right after I bought it I drove it home on a state highway (no faster than 63 or so) for just over 100 miles. I was trying to see what the max mpg I could get was. I've never seen numbers that high since then... mostly because we are either doing local driving, or interstate driving.

As far as a gear swap: probably not worth it there. We're talking about a couple thousand to do front & rear, plus re-tune PCM for the gear-change which would be hard to recover. I'm also hesitant because it's our family car so it's not practical to have it down for a while and it takes me a while to do that type of work. No local shops can reliably turn around a vehicle quickly (IE, the local transmission shop told me they would have a car done by the end of November; after weekly calling them I finally got it back in April. And that's the ONLY reputable transmission shop around). Not to mention, I just rebuilt the rear-end (all bearings and seals).

 

[CountryBoy19]

Get a flex fuel emulator to start http://www.pointaengineering.com/Fl...for-GM-GMC-Products-CLICK-FOR-INFO-000001.htm unless you plan on running E85. This is suppose to improve MPG's and sometimes a rough or weird iddle

Do you have personal experience with that? Seems the only improvements would be related to correcting problems that exist only on some vehicles experiencing sensor problems. Furthermore, reading through the testimonials only 1 of them made claim to improved gas mileage.

 

[adriver]

Watching is not a crime
If you have a problem with someone doing the digging and discovery you have my pitty.
Buy a tuning rig and startto do your own without crying and bashing.
Yes I have a private tune that I worked on for several months.
Yes it is not a fluke.
Yes I did share with a friend in his 2004 Suburban 5.3 4x4 to see it worked on more than mine.
YES IT DOES GET 24 MPG.
Put the work into it instead of being upset that someone else did.

I have been here 5 years and watch the posts. I CHOOSE not to join in the ***** and gimme sessions.

Now
Go to hptuners site and look up the calibrations that have been posted for 2003 gmc yukon and if you are able to understand what you are seeing you will find one that was posted without a signature couple of years ago. That is tha rough draft AND IT PULLED 26 MPG with some minor problems and could not be used for any towing. And no it has not damaged the engine.

I have no more comment on this

You get out of it what you put in

I will continue driving mine with a smile

Crying, bashing, getting upset? No to all, stick to the truth, and you won't have to argue like a child. Your reason for not posting is because you didn't want to get into any ***** or gimme sessions, but then you post THAT? I see why you didn't post for five years. I don't need to continue with you, I already know everything I need to.


P.S. You know what I call a "gimme session"? Lurking on a forum for five years and NEVER contributing anything. Then when you do post, its only to say you COULD help, but you don't. Then only out of spite do you say to go search somewhere else.

 

[jwth]

You do cry and whine alot
Maybe you should look elsewhere

 

[jasonc]

Do you have personal experience with that? Seems the only improvements would be related to correcting problems that exist only on some vehicles experiencing sensor problems. Furthermore, reading through the testimonials only 1 of them made claim to improved gas mileage.

Not yet but i plan on buying one just to correct the rough running sometimes my hoe seems like it runs like shit sometimes and them 10 min later runs fine also my fuel mileage is never the same and i take the same 3 hr trip to work every 2 weeks. So i will update as soon as i purchace

 

[jwth]

open in 7 zip
I have a longer vid but I cannot upload it here
This is for the nonbelievers
Lambda is great for performance and stuck mindsets
I want max economy and have it

buy a calibration editor and start, you too can learn.
the only fish i smell are the carp