Real world pickup fuel mileage?

[CKN]

I just did a trip from Salt Lake City to Boise, Idaho in my 2023 Silverado 5.3. I averaged 26mpg never exceeding 70mph. If I traveled the speed limit in Idaho-which is 80mph in most parts-I would have been early for my hotel check in. So I cruised in the right hand lane at 70.

Only possible because of cylinder deactivation.

 

[clinebarger]

I just did a trip from Salt Lake City to Boise, Idaho in my 2023 Silverado 5.3. I averaged 26mpg never exceeding 70mph. If I traveled the speed limit in Idaho-which is 80mph in most parts-I would have been early for my hotel check in. So I cruised in the right hand lane at 70.

Only possible because of cylinder deactivation.

No doubt.....But are lifter issues worth the the bump in MPG?

 

[Speedbird001]

Every fill-up on my '17 Tacoma Off-Road, V6, manual trans:

- Agreed, once you consistently exceed 60 MPH you loose 1 MPG or more easy
- 100% gas gets about +1 MPG, but where I live it does not = a net gain
- Driving REAL baby like and short-shifting does not even get me half a MPG improvement... If I want to save fuel, keep it at or under 60
- Real All Terrain tires will cost you another 1-2 MPG
- I went +1 size at Nitto Ridge Grapplers ~70k, This fall I will be going back to stock size and something more road friendly

 

[Astro14]

My 2016 Tundra gets exactly what was on the window sticker - 14 in town, 17 on the highway.

10 when I tow.

I once got 20 when I drove up the Eastern Shore at 50-55 MPH.

Aerodynamics matter.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

When I drive my truck I have a budget for the worst of fuel mileage, highway I plan on 17 mpg because highway around here is 85. Around town I can get 20, backroads easy 40-60 mph I can get 22-24 but common that’s not daily. In 4x4 low working the truck hard in deep sand 7 mpg. Hell yeah. But over the life of my 2018 Tacoma it’s 19 or so. Many miles have been reimbursable for jobs. The other miles are recreational
I drive the hybrid for my 110 mile of city freeway for work each day. Everyone in the area has to have a lifted tr truck…they fly in the left lane. I don’t think gas mileage matters to most around here. Lol

 

[CKN]

No doubt.....But are lifter issues worth the the bump in MPG?

How many thousands (if not millions) of these motors and how many lifter issues....really? If you go over on goodcarbadcar.net (add the units sold in the last ten years Silverado/Sierra)) and look at the numbers then look at the complaints on the Internet-it put things in balance.

Or-even how many you see in your shop?

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

At a frinds the other day and he was bitterly complaining about his Toyota pickup's fuel mileage. The truck is really nice, 4wd, double cab, red, and has the V6. Oh yeah, 2020 model. His claim is 16mpg freeway and about 13 around town. Is this comparable with other trucks of this era. My workbuddy has a ford ecoboost and he is underwhelmed with its MPG also, about 18mpg on the freeway. Also 4wd, double cab with 3.5lL So what are the average MPG's, real world from around the 2020 model year. Remember everything around her is 80mph+ on the freeways. Thanks.

Your friend probably has poor driving habits and under-inflated tires. The Tacoma can get decent fuel mileage.

Put the tires to 36-40psi (SL) or 40-50psi (E).

Driving habits to avoid:

1) Braking too much. Drive in a way that minimizes braking. How much he brakes has the most influence on MPG. The more he brakes, the worse the MPG.

2) Pulsing the throttle. A surprising number of people do not apply smooth, constant throttle. Instead, they pulse it on/off/on/off. This is horrible for MPGs.

 

[4wd]

No doubt.....But are lifter issues worth the the bump in MPG?

Chris: No, but I’m buying what “we” want LoL …
Seems the risk really starts at 60k … you pointed out it’s not always the AFM lifters - so I just do the plug in as much for the TC as the motor. Bump to 5W-30. Drives better too. Wish I knew there was a “cut bait” mileage - guy at work has 200k with just Mobil 1 0W-20 …
Will be listening closely between 100k-200k …

 

[Texchappy]

Part of the reason why I went with a hybrid Maverick…

 

[CKN]

Part of the reason why I went with a hybrid Maverick…
View attachment 300415

I guess in this thread we really didn't define "truck". Hook up a 5,000 pound (26 foot) trailer-pull it up to Leadville, Colorado (elevation 10,000 feet) and get back to me. (Recent trip made by me and my 2023 Silverado 1500-5.3).

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

2013 Silverado extended cab K1500.16 MPG around town, highway 17.5-18 headed North from Vegas, 1 to 2 MPG better headed South. I blame elevation difference and prevailing wind for the discrepancy. If I ever drove the speed limit, I think I could consistently beat 20 mpg on the highway.
IMO, the small Toyota pickups I've driven don't get good mileage, don't carry a lot, don't have great performance, and don't ever wear out. That last feature makes up for the first three.

 

[Texchappy]

I guess in this thread we really didn't define "truck". Hook up a 5,000 pound (26 foot) trailer-pull it up to Leadville, Colorado (elevation 10,000 feet) and get back to me. (Recent trip made by me and my 2023 Silverado 1500-5.3).

Don’t need to, which is why I chose the little Maverick. It’s got a bed that can carry what I need.

 

[CKN]

Don’t need to, which is why I chose the little Maverick. It’s got a bed that can carry what I need.

Then-that's all that matters!

 

[wtd]

Older thread, apologies for the revival.

How do you get 10-13mpg with your '98 K3500? I have the same truck but a dually, and get 8.9mpg empty or full. Fresh tuneup, clean air filter, free flowing exhaust, all that.

Any idea when your torque converter locks up? Mine doesn't until ~65mph, which I seldom hit on these back country roads, which I'm sure is a huge part of the terrible MPG.

I don't know. My truck is a single cab; single rear wheel long bed truck so probably weighs less than yours. I've never paid attention to when the torque converter locks up, so I don't know that info.

I bought the truck with 94,600 miles on it back in 2007 and tuned it up after I bought it. I also had a new Distibutor installed sometime after that since the ears on the plastic distributor housing were cracked and you had to use zip ties to keep the cap on. Truck now has around 125,000 miles on it. I did use AC-Delco parts on the tune up parts and used Iridium spark plugs. The distributor was an aftermarket aluminum bodied one. I also installed an AC-Delco hi capacity air filter and AC-Delco fuel filter.

I also changed all fluids when I got it so new transmission, front and rear differentials and transfer case fluids.

My truck has a Flowmaster cat-back exhaust on it that uses a 50 series muffler.

 

[OM617YOTA]

@wtd Great, thank you. Yes single cab SRW alone might do it, mine is the quad cab DRW and is a thirsty girl.

Did an oil change on it this weekend and some fears got pretty well confirmed, my engine is toast. Think all my MPG data can be tossed as meaningless.

 

[wtd]

@wtd Great, thank you. Yes single cab SRW alone might do it, mine is the quad cab DRW and is a thirsty girl.

Did an oil change on it this weekend and some fears got pretty well confirmed, my engine is toast. Think all my MPG data can be tossed as meaningless.

What did you find that indicated a bad engine? What were the symptoms? Mine has start up noise that usually goes away fairly quickly. I change the oil every 3,000 miles and have never noticed anything concerning.

 

[MVAR]

2014 F150 FX4 with 6.2/6R80.
Rated at 12/16
Real world is 10-12 city & 17-18.5hwy.
Bought used & it still has the knobby AT tires the PO installed. When they wear out I'll be swapping them for Michilin Defenders as I've had great luck with those. Will see if the mpg improves with those but I'm satisfied with where its currently at.

2012 GMC Canyon 2.9/4L60E gets 16-18 in mixed driving & just over 20 if I'm really easy on it for long hwy trips.

 

[OM617YOTA]

What did you find that indicated a bad engine? What were the symptoms? Mine has start up noise that usually goes away fairly quickly. I change the oil every 3,000 miles and have never noticed anything concerning.

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.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My 2016 Tundra gets exactly what was on the window sticker - 14 in town, 17 on the highway.

10 when I tow.

I once got 20 when I drove up the Eastern Shore at 50-55 MPH.

Aerodynamics matter.

Same, but perhaps a little better in town. 2001 4.7L RWD. I take it easy cuz CA gas ain't cheap, ya know...
I don't actually calculate the mileage; there's a reason for it...

 

[clinebarger]

How many thousands (if not millions) of these motors and how many lifter issues....really? If you go over on goodcarbadcar.net (add the units sold in the last ten years Silverado/Sierra)) and look at the numbers then look at the complaints on the Internet-it put things in balance.

Or-even how many you see in your shop?

I diagnose quite a few, But don't always get to fix them as I delete only using known quality parts, GM sells quality lifters....But doesn't use them in production at times. '18-'20 K2's are known for non-AFM lifters failing at the roller.

The T1 DFM active lifters fail from spalling at about the same rate as the K2 AFM lifters, Guide failure with AFM/DFM lifters is many times higher than non-AFM lifters.

Mistimed lifter activation which damages the lock pin in the active lifter, I would say the DFM T1 is worse about this than the K2.