Real world pickup fuel mileage?

[HM12460]

21.2, 1/2 highway, 1/2 city.

 

[wtd]

Ever since it's first oil change it's had intermittent bottom end noises when cold, goes away when warm. Looked it up, piston slap is common on these, screwdriver-as-stethoscope localized the noise to that area, that's what I attributed it to, while keeping a close eye on it. Cut open an oil filter, some sparkles in it. This past oil change it was worse and there was gray schmoo on the magnetic drain plug, which wouldn't be attracted to the magnet if it was aluminum from the pistons. Might have started that way but has caused other issues now. Piston slap alone meant engine was on borrowed time, I wasn't too concerned since I drive it ~2000 miles/yr.

It also had an exhaust leak when I first bought it which completely covered the noise. Previous owner and used dealer I bought it from may have had no clue the engine was compromised, or might have intentionally created the exhaust leak to cover the noise. I rolled the dice on a nearly 30 year old used vehicle and lost. Such is life.

Now trying to decide on paying a mechanic to make the problem go away, put a reman short block, reman long block, rebuild existing engine, find good used engine, buy separate core to rebuild and then swap, etc.

I see. My engine has been noisy pretty much the entire time I have owned it. It runs good oil pressure and I have never seen anything bad in the used oil. I may have to cut open an oil filter to see if there is anything in it.

As far as piston slap goes, I also own a 98 K1500 with the 5.7L that I have owned since new with 3,000 mile oil changes its entire life and this truck developed piston slap years ago but still runs great. I don't think this engine will give it up anytime soon at 146,000 miles but you never know.

 

[OM617YOTA]

I see. My engine has been noisy pretty much the entire time I have owned it. It runs good oil pressure and I have never seen anything bad in the used oil. I may have to cut open an oil filter to see if there is anything in it.

As far as piston slap goes, I also own a 98 K1500 with the 5.7L that I have owned since new with 3,000 mile oil changes its entire life and this truck developed piston slap years ago but still runs great. I don't think this engine will give it up anytime soon at 146,000 miles but you never know.

Yeah I think mine has moved beyond that. Still has good oil pressure as well.

Thanks for the thoughts. Back to your regularly scheduled MPG thread..........

 

[Zee09]

My single cab first year 2020 7.3L gasser would get a solid 24 mpg on rural roads going 45 to 60 mph.

However hit a red light and the mpgs would vaporize....
Luckily I haven't got many red-lights here

 

[ARCOgraphite]

2023 ram std cab long bed 2wd pentastar 8 speed zf auto 21.7 aver 65/35 city/hwy and that is with LT fuel; trim at 7 on bank 1.

I think I got around 17mpg on my old Silverado 4.3 5 speed std cab short box 4x4 with a 5 speed stick. That had a loose throttle body from the factory that I found later in ownership. Then the gas prices hit 4 buck plus so I traded it for a Yaris 2 door 5M, LOL..
Should have kept the Chevy.

 

[lewgardner]

How does everyone get these 17-20 mpgs? Simple driving i get 14.4 -14.9 is i baby it for a week.
HWy on long (two tank) trip i get 16-17 mpg. 5.3 crew cab. went with 265-70/18s ATs with no loss since 265-65/18. ratio 3.42?

 

[crashz]

Prior trucks:
2001 F150 RCSB - 12 city / 16 hwy. Very inconsistent. 4.2L V6, Auto & 4x4.
2004 GMC 1500 RCLB - 15 city / 18 hwy consistent for nearly 200k miles. 5.3L, Auto & 4x4.
2012 Silverado 2500 ECSB - 10 city /13 hwy with tailwind and very light right foot. 4-6 mpg towing anything at all. 6.0L, Auto & 4x4.

Current trucks:
2003 F450 dump - 8 city / 14 hwy. 2wd, 7.3L PS and 6speed.
2014 F250 RCLB- 12 city / 16 hwy. Once got 18 mpg on the hwy if I was doing hyper-miler tricks. 6.2L, Auto & 4x4.

 

[lewgardner]

z71 package also. I've done all the tips and tricks. Bed cover, throttle commander type item ( saw a .5 increase from time to time in eco mode) not hauling heavy stuff, even had the Alcohol ration set to zero. (because i know the e85 gets worse because of alcohol content.) even running reg it said i was at a 30%.