mpg SUCKS...

98k1500 · 02-08-2008, 06:25 PM

i really dont know what i expect out of my truck for mpg but shouldnt be a little better...i could settle for 15mpg and not complain at all... my brother has a 96 gimmy, long bed, regular cab, 4x4, no lift, no aftermarket **** or anything, just a factory gimmy...was getting 17MPG!!
he did have the secondary cats removed and has straights out the back that exit right aft of the wheels my truck is a 98 chevy, short bed, regular cab, z71offroad, no lift, aluminum rims with 265/75r16 tires, westin steps, plastic mud flaps, no heavy toolboxes or anything, i try to drive conservitivly,not drag racing at every stoplight, stuff like that, never pull anything, i cant tell you what the rear gears are because i dont know where to look to tell... any help with that would be nice... is my gas mileage really bad...or do i just want more than my truck can offer...142k miles, new cap, rotor wires plugs waterpump

stumpuller454 · 02-08-2008, 07:08 PM

i gained most of my fuel economy from exhaust initially, went 4" aftercats with dynomax ultraflow welded race muffler, but i have a bigblock, got abot 50-60miles further on a tank, then with electric water pump and electric fans gained even more, plus a superchip programmer, i can get 15 mpg but thats on hwy, conservative driving. used to get 160 miles per tank *CITY* (small tank) now get almost 300 miles per tank, is awsome!! plus i have insane more tourque!!

stelmadl · 02-08-2008, 07:52 PM

What are you getting? Don't know where you live , but due to the cold weather, you will experience lower mpg. Did you replace the air filter? Check the pressure of the tires, too.

98k1500 · 02-09-2008, 10:32 AM

tires are set to 35psi, live on a farm outside manhattan ks... have actually been having some super warm february weather... hit the 50's last week... i have a k&n drop in factory replacement filter, i have cleaned, and check it regularly
i am normally getting around 13.2-3 mpg highway

stelmadl · 02-09-2008, 10:50 AM

somethings not right. i would think you would get at least 14 mpg CITY.....18 HWY for a 1/2 ton PU...even with a 3.73 rearend. Gotta leak in the tank?

436'd skylark · 02-09-2008, 12:29 PM

my truck will only get 14 highway. he's not doing too bad.

jimbo543 · 02-09-2008, 03:28 PM

replace thermostat,

98k1500 · 02-09-2008, 07:21 PM

what does the thermostat have to do with my mpg... just asking... never put those two to gether on my own...

the tank isnt leaking as far as i can tell, i still dont know what the gears in the rear are... how can i tell, or find out... i really wish i could get more than 13mpg highway out of this truck... i love it...

i think that i have a 22 gallon tank and can pull maybe at the most 260 miles out of it

stelmadl · 02-09-2008, 08:10 PM

14mpg HWY for a 3/4 sounds typical. I average between 12-13mpg combined CITY/ HWY. I'm lucky if I get 15 on the HWY with a 454 w/ 3.73 gears, ext. cab, short box, 4x4. For a 1/2 ton, 4x4, reg. cab, short box.....somethings not right. Next time you drive, put the transmission in Drive (not OD), and note speed and rpm's.....what does it run at?

98k1500 · 02-10-2008, 09:14 AM

i only have od and then i have 3 2 1... no regular drive... i normally run about 1750-1800rpm at 70mph... if i nail the gas to pass somebody,i never break 2600rpm... the only thing that pops up in my mind is that if my rear end had low gears... but would nt the engine be running a HIGHER rpm than usuall, if that was the case?

one other question... in od...when i crest a hill and start going down the other side, the rpms never drop,AT ALL... i thought that the whole idea for over drive was to let the engine rpms drop and let the vehicle coast down... i can feel the engine help the truck brake when going down the other side but still the rpms never change

02-08-2008, 06:25 PM	#1
98k1500 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manhattan,Kansas Posts: 322	mpg SUCKS... i really dont know what i expect out of my truck for mpg but shouldnt be a little better...i could settle for 15mpg and not complain at all... my brother has a 96 gimmy, long bed, regular cab, 4x4, no lift, no aftermarket **** or anything, just a factory gimmy...was getting 17MPG!! he did have the secondary cats removed and has straights out the back that exit right aft of the wheels my truck is a 98 chevy, short bed, regular cab, z71offroad, no lift, aluminum rims with 265/75r16 tires, westin steps, plastic mud flaps, no heavy toolboxes or anything, i try to drive conservitivly,not drag racing at every stoplight, stuff like that, never pull anything, i cant tell you what the rear gears are because i dont know where to look to tell... any help with that would be nice... is my gas mileage really bad...or do i just want more than my truck can offer...142k miles, new cap, rotor wires plugs waterpump

02-09-2008, 12:29 PM	#6
436'd skylark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 1,000	my truck will only get 14 highway. he's not doing too bad. __________________ Joe 89 K2500 Chevy, Wee-Oh-five 294K miles 1962 Scout 80 parts I guess 1966 Scout 800 resto job 2005 Chevy 2500HD Short cab long box DURAMAX 1996 P30, 6.5 NA Mac Mobile whole lot of buicks

02-09-2008, 08:10 PM	#9
stelmadl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 116	14mpg HWY for a 3/4 sounds typical. I average between 12-13mpg combined CITY/ HWY. I'm lucky if I get 15 on the HWY with a 454 w/ 3.73 gears, ext. cab, short box, 4x4. For a 1/2 ton, 4x4, reg. cab, short box.....somethings not right. Next time you drive, put the transmission in Drive (not OD), and note speed and rpm's.....what does it run at? Last edited by stelmadl; 02-10-2008 at 08:44 AM.

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02-08-2008, 07:08 PM	#2
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,206	i gained most of my fuel economy from exhaust initially, went 4" aftercats with dynomax ultraflow welded race muffler, but i have a bigblock, got abot 50-60miles further on a tank, then with electric water pump and electric fans gained even more, plus a superchip programmer, i can get 15 mpg but thats on hwy, conservative driving. used to get 160 miles per tank CITY (small tank) now get almost 300 miles per tank, is awsome!! plus i have insane more tourque!!

02-08-2008, 07:52 PM	#3
stelmadl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 116	What are you getting? Don't know where you live , but due to the cold weather, you will experience lower mpg. Did you replace the air filter? Check the pressure of the tires, too.

02-09-2008, 10:32 AM	#4
98k1500 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manhattan,Kansas Posts: 322	tires are set to 35psi, live on a farm outside manhattan ks... have actually been having some super warm february weather... hit the 50's last week... i have a k&n drop in factory replacement filter, i have cleaned, and check it regularly i am normally getting around 13.2-3 mpg highway

02-09-2008, 10:50 AM	#5
stelmadl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 116	somethings not right. i would think you would get at least 14 mpg CITY.....18 HWY for a 1/2 ton PU...even with a 3.73 rearend. Gotta leak in the tank?

02-09-2008, 03:28 PM	#7
jimbo543 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MN Posts: 208	replace thermostat,

02-09-2008, 07:21 PM	#8
98k1500 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manhattan,Kansas Posts: 322	what does the thermostat have to do with my mpg... just asking... never put those two to gether on my own... the tank isnt leaking as far as i can tell, i still dont know what the gears in the rear are... how can i tell, or find out... i really wish i could get more than 13mpg highway out of this truck... i love it... i think that i have a 22 gallon tank and can pull maybe at the most 260 miles out of it

02-10-2008, 09:14 AM	#10
98k1500 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Manhattan,Kansas Posts: 322	i only have od and then i have 3 2 1... no regular drive... i normally run about 1750-1800rpm at 70mph... if i nail the gas to pass somebody,i never break 2600rpm... the only thing that pops up in my mind is that if my rear end had low gears... but would nt the engine be running a HIGHER rpm than usuall, if that was the case? one other question... in od...when i crest a hill and start going down the other side, the rpms never drop,AT ALL... i thought that the whole idea for over drive was to let the engine rpms drop and let the vehicle coast down... i can feel the engine help the truck brake when going down the other side but still the rpms never change