I recently purchased a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 ZR1. One on the reasons for my purchase was the estimated fuel economy of 16/22. To date I have around 1,000 miles on it and have not seen anywhere near 16 mpg - more around 13.5. I commute about 30 miles round trip each day with 80% being highway driving. Am I missing something here? Any thoughts on why my mileage is so low?
SilverBullet71
You are breaking in a new truck on winter blend fuel,
but that still seems pretty low if 80% of your driving is highway.
Are you filling the tank and doing the math or looking at the fuel mileage avg in the truck?
The fuel mileage indicators in the vehicle almost always tell you that you are getting BETTER mileage than you
actually are,but maybe you have one that's showing worse.
That's about all I know to tell you,
other than, when I do mostly highway driving with my '12 4x4 with the 4.8 litre v8 I get around 19,
so your mileage definitely seems low.
Joe
but that still seems pretty low if 80% of your driving is highway.
Are you filling the tank and doing the math or looking at the fuel mileage avg in the truck?
The fuel mileage indicators in the vehicle almost always tell you that you are getting BETTER mileage than you
actually are,but maybe you have one that's showing worse.
That's about all I know to tell you,
other than, when I do mostly highway driving with my '12 4x4 with the 4.8 litre v8 I get around 19,
so your mileage definitely seems low.
Joe
Where are you in the midwest? whats your driving style?
I have just under 300 miles on my Double cab Z-71 4x4 with 5.3 and 3.08 gears, my first tank was 17.68 which is pretty close to what the avg. mpg gauge was telling me, which was 18.1 I believe. Although I'm gonna wait for the next tank since the dealer filled it up and I'm unsure if they a) rest the trip and b) filled it all the way up, overfilled or under filled. My average commute is 75% 2 lane blacktop state hwy with few hills and the rest stop and go traffic. I try to stay under 70(usually lock cruise on at 65) and am a pretty conservative driver.
I always check my mpg on every fill up and keep a log. I'm so OCD about my mileage accuracy that I try to always fill up at the same gas station and the same pump.
For comparison, my previous trucks
12' X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 18-19 summer blend/16.5-18 winter
11' X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 18-20 summer blend/17-18 winter
05 X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 19-22 summer blend/18-20 winter <I had 4 wheel hi engaged for 2 solid fuel tanks and they were both 18+. I miss that damn truck
04 reg cab short bed 5.3l 3.73 gears 16-17 summer blend/14-15 winter blend < I drove this truck way too hard
I have just under 300 miles on my Double cab Z-71 4x4 with 5.3 and 3.08 gears, my first tank was 17.68 which is pretty close to what the avg. mpg gauge was telling me, which was 18.1 I believe. Although I'm gonna wait for the next tank since the dealer filled it up and I'm unsure if they a) rest the trip and b) filled it all the way up, overfilled or under filled. My average commute is 75% 2 lane blacktop state hwy with few hills and the rest stop and go traffic. I try to stay under 70(usually lock cruise on at 65) and am a pretty conservative driver.
I always check my mpg on every fill up and keep a log. I'm so OCD about my mileage accuracy that I try to always fill up at the same gas station and the same pump.
For comparison, my previous trucks
12' X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 18-19 summer blend/16.5-18 winter
11' X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 18-20 summer blend/17-18 winter
05 X-cab Z71 4x4 5.3l 3.42 gears 19-22 summer blend/18-20 winter <I had 4 wheel hi engaged for 2 solid fuel tanks and they were both 18+. I miss that damn truck
04 reg cab short bed 5.3l 3.73 gears 16-17 summer blend/14-15 winter blend < I drove this truck way too hard
I second the "wanting to know" the real midwest location (update profile more specifically please). Having owned my 2014 DC 5.3 w/ 3.42 gears 4x4 for just over three weeks I am pleased with the MPG numbers so far. In fact, I just took a small road trip down to Columbus and on my way back, heading north, I had a very strong tail wing pushing me (the one that brought us that nasty weather on Sunday) and got well over 30 actual MPG for the 150 or so miles 
The truck's current tank is resting between 1/4 &1/2 with 403 miles driven on this tank so far and should get another 100 or so miles more (likely to be all city though)! My first tankful got me 17.1 MPG mixed driving. Will be curious as to what this "record" tanks MPG ends up being.
The truck's current tank is resting between 1/4 &1/2 with 403 miles driven on this tank so far and should get another 100 or so miles more (likely to be all city though)! My first tankful got me 17.1 MPG mixed driving. Will be curious as to what this "record" tanks MPG ends up being.I saw a post a while back by copperhead on this subject.
I believe he said butane is used as an additive in the winter blend fuel for better combustion in low temps, but this
decreases the mileage you will get.
can't remember the thread or I would say,
I have always noticed decreased mileage in the winter time also,
another thing is engines just aren't as efficient until they reach operating temp, nor are the trans or axles since
all the fluids are much thicker at say 30 degrees than 80 degrees.
So if you do mostly short trips like me it's a double whammy with the fuel blend and cold engine and drivetrain.
Joe
I believe he said butane is used as an additive in the winter blend fuel for better combustion in low temps, but this
decreases the mileage you will get.
can't remember the thread or I would say,
I have always noticed decreased mileage in the winter time also,
another thing is engines just aren't as efficient until they reach operating temp, nor are the trans or axles since
all the fluids are much thicker at say 30 degrees than 80 degrees.
So if you do mostly short trips like me it's a double whammy with the fuel blend and cold engine and drivetrain.
Joe
Something seems off. I have 5000 on my 5.3 3.42 crew cab. Mixed driving I was getting 18.5 70hwy/30city. Now getting 17.5 with the colder MT weather. Morning drive is worst and if the day warms up afternoon is better. Not as efficient as it gets colder. All highway with little wind 19-21 (75). Any kind of head wind is a killer 15.5-16.5.
+1 on this. Also in MT... my mileage wasn't as good when it was new but it got better. But I bought it in the fall. So winter may have skewed that.Chewy22 said:
If I drive 65 on the interstate thru town I can get 22-24 mpg but out of town 75-82 mph it is 16-18. Also variant to head wind. Also I will note I didn't get these good numbers til after I got tuned.
have you watched the "instantaneous MPG" screen while driving on the highway? In a brand new truck, regardless of winter gas, it should be registering between 15-22 mpg when you're going 60-75 mph. I can average 16-18mpg in a 6 year old NBS 5.3 (160k miles) with 3.73 gears, a small lift, and big wheels/tires on it while averaging almost 80mph. I'm also in MT (good to see y'all on here by the way) where the weather can be tough on MPGs.
I'd take a trip to the ol' dealership and have them take a look at it. Something's up if you're legitimately averaging around 13mpg. I'm all for working on your own truck, but the new ones are so damn complicated and that warranty will take care of anything.
I'd take a trip to the ol' dealership and have them take a look at it. Something's up if you're legitimately averaging around 13mpg. I'm all for working on your own truck, but the new ones are so damn complicated and that warranty will take care of anything.
There is more butane added to gasoline in the winter months to improve vaporization of the fuel. This is the primary reason that cost (generally), and mpg both go down. Butane does not have as much energy. During the summer months, the vaporization rate must be considerably lower, to prevent the fuel from vaporizing too quickly. Hence the cost goes up and so does the mpg to some extent. Winter is the worse time to try and determine accurately what your vehicle is doing for mpg. Lubes in differentials are thicker, winds generally are blowing more and harder, the cold air itself is more dense and therefore it takes more to push thru it, and on and on. For anyone living in the upper Midwest this year from Nebraska to Indiana, no one is getting anywhere near the mpg that the vehicle is capable of. This has been an especially cold and windy winter.
And to muddy this all up, different sections of the country have different standards regarding gas blends and different dates that changeovers occur. This is why there are dozens and dozens of fuel specifications out there, and that also has a tendency to add to the cost of fuel for everyone. If we could just get the fuel standards on winter/summer fuel down nationwide to say, four, it would knock some of the price off for everyone. Refineries have to put out a mess of different blends depending on where it is going and what month it is targeted for. The EPA was bad enough in all of this, but states have decided they don't want to be left out of the game either, so we have a laundry list of standards that vary all over the country. Yet another example of government gone wild.
And to muddy this all up, different sections of the country have different standards regarding gas blends and different dates that changeovers occur. This is why there are dozens and dozens of fuel specifications out there, and that also has a tendency to add to the cost of fuel for everyone. If we could just get the fuel standards on winter/summer fuel down nationwide to say, four, it would knock some of the price off for everyone. Refineries have to put out a mess of different blends depending on where it is going and what month it is targeted for. The EPA was bad enough in all of this, but states have decided they don't want to be left out of the game either, so we have a laundry list of standards that vary all over the country. Yet another example of government gone wild.
I'm having the same crappy fuel mileage issue with my new '14 Dbl Cab 5.3 4x4 3.08 gears. 13.5 mpg seems to be the best I can get around town. But I'm figuring it has to be the winter blend fuel, plus I only have a 1000 miles on it. I would expect an improvement after at least 5000 miles of break in time. I have to remind myself, its a truck not a Prius.
I work at the refinery in Lima, Ohio. yes they put butane in the winter mix. Im averaging 16.5 combination and 13.5 in the city.... But you got to take into consideration of letting the vehicle warm up in the morning and its a whooping 6 miles round trip to work... P.S. What parts of Montana are you from Chewy22? I lived in Cody, wy and traveled to Kalispell, Mt a lot. Wanting to retire around there. Miss the mountains and this flat land is boring.
I have a '14 double cab Silverado 1500 Z71 with approximately 7200 miles and I have seen plenty of average changes.
I have heavy city driving (I see about 14mpg)
Hilly Highway driving (18.2-20mpg)
Cross town driving, with some lights and stops signs and plenty of hills and turns (17.6mpg)
Now after installing the new exhaust (Borla S-type) it's bumped up 1mpg for each
One question is, has anyone noticed a different initial fuel range when filling up a full tank?
First time I had it off the dealer lot it showed 419 miles to empty and now sometimes it'll show 370's-390's
I have heavy city driving (I see about 14mpg)
Hilly Highway driving (18.2-20mpg)
Cross town driving, with some lights and stops signs and plenty of hills and turns (17.6mpg)
Now after installing the new exhaust (Borla S-type) it's bumped up 1mpg for each
One question is, has anyone noticed a different initial fuel range when filling up a full tank?
First time I had it off the dealer lot it showed 419 miles to empty and now sometimes it'll show 370's-390's
Unless there's something mechanically or electronically wrong with your truck, I'd have to say it's your driving habits. Keep in mind those sticker EPA estimates are based on driving test results. They ARE achievable but not under most people's driving habits. I can exceed my 2012's mpg rating of 21 highway IF (and only if) I drive no higher than 65 on the Interstate. And....there are also ideal gear spots where you can minimize fuel consumption so slowing down doesn't necessarily put you into a better mpg setting. It may make it worse depending on the torque/power curve and where you are sitting. It puts too heave of a load on the engine requiring more fuel and/or a downshift (and jump from V4 to V8). Also, ease on it when accelerating. Obviously, the harder you accelerate the more gas you consume. You wouldn't think that it would affect overall/average mpg over a tank, but it definitely will.
ok ive read all the posts here about the MPG and I know you guys wont believe this but here goes...
when my 2014 all terrain 4x4 6.2l GMC was new (about 400 miles) I managed to average 23mpg using the last 25miles MPG average selection on my way to Denver from Colorado springs.
now I did not say I got 23 the entire way but for the purposes of answering the OP question it would be hard to argue I wasn't averaging 23mpg HIGHWAY considering the last 40 were all highway during that trip.
on subsequent trips I have easily got 22 or better mpg on the same stretch of highway and I've got this MPG driving at 75-80 mph! also keep in mind we do not live where it is FLAT! it is rare you aren't going slightly up or down hill in my area if not climbing significant hills.
another trip to commerce city Colorado had me on the same highway but the last 15 miles of my trip were through the city traffic that rolls along at about 45 mph with the occasional stoplight. when i reached my destination having just driven the last 15 miles in town through traffic my 25 mile average was 27 mpg!
recently I towed a small trailer and 4 dirt bikes with myself and 3 other guys with all our gear in the bed of the truck from grand junction to Colorado springs. my average MPG was 15.5 and that was my average for the tank at 331 miles. keep in mind I was towing a trailer and hauling people and gear totaling about 3,000 lbs over the continental divide, and there was also a winter storm blowing through I had to be in 4X4 for about 50 of those miles and was rolling along at 30 mph for some of that trip. other than the 50 miles we were going 5 over the limit the entire time. so parts of the trip were 80 mph and some 70 mph
in sort in the 2,000 miles I have driven in the past month since getting the truck, I can easily get highway mpg 20+ without making any effort or special driving using the cruise control at 75 mph. if I drive without cruise and actually make an effort to save fuel I can get about 23+ depending on my speed. I also have found that with the 6.2 I can keep it in V4 mode on the highway at 65 mph on the flat and that saves gas, ive gotten as much as 25 mpg in this situation steady cruising.
something else I should mention. ive noticed in my old Tacoma and an ultra gauge it will cut fuel off at 1700 rpm or higher under deceleration. the GMC will cut fuel at as low as 1000 rpm. this is obvious by the instant MPG going to 99mpg (infinity) because there is NO fuel going through the engine while coasting.
so for some advice to the OP if you want to try getting better MPG try this suggestion as it works for me... you ay not realize it but your foot may be continually pressing and releasing the gas pedal without you realizing it! this of course will yield bad MPG since I cannot drive your truck to see if I can replicate the MPG I get try this suggestion.
get to your cruising speed and try resting your right foot against the tunnel as a means so steady it. gently roll your foot or ankle right or left so that the left side of your shoe will press more or less on the gas and while doing so watch your instant mpg's this will help you verify your right where it needs to be, at 75 mph try to shoot for 23 mpg and then after a minute note your speed. if you are above or below 75 mph this will tell you how much MPG you need to maintain that speed.
you can also use cruise control to help with mpg by setting a speed and when your going down hill and as long as you don't mind speeding over the posted limit a little, I will step on the gas just enough while going down hill to hold the MPG's at 25. what this does is allow the truck to gain momentum at higher MPG than the average, pick up some speed and hopefully clear the majority of the upcoming hill. as you ascend the next hill keep holding the gas in exactly the same place 25 mpg and as the truck slows eventually the cruise control will take over if your speed falls below the preset 75mph.
also keep in mind you can use 0 fuel if your coasting at just about any speed, so if your nearing the crest of the hill and you have the momentum to clear it and roll for a while just letting off the gas will allow you to use 0 fuel. and I downshift using engine braking to slow the speed if I get too fast, still using no fuel and no brakes!
anyway, this is my experience with my 6.2L and I am quite impressed with the fuel economy. my 6 cyl Toyota Tacoma would get 19 mpg on the highway average. considering how much larger this truck is and how much more it weighs I think it does pretty good.
when my 2014 all terrain 4x4 6.2l GMC was new (about 400 miles) I managed to average 23mpg using the last 25miles MPG average selection on my way to Denver from Colorado springs.
now I did not say I got 23 the entire way but for the purposes of answering the OP question it would be hard to argue I wasn't averaging 23mpg HIGHWAY considering the last 40 were all highway during that trip.
on subsequent trips I have easily got 22 or better mpg on the same stretch of highway and I've got this MPG driving at 75-80 mph! also keep in mind we do not live where it is FLAT! it is rare you aren't going slightly up or down hill in my area if not climbing significant hills.
another trip to commerce city Colorado had me on the same highway but the last 15 miles of my trip were through the city traffic that rolls along at about 45 mph with the occasional stoplight. when i reached my destination having just driven the last 15 miles in town through traffic my 25 mile average was 27 mpg!
recently I towed a small trailer and 4 dirt bikes with myself and 3 other guys with all our gear in the bed of the truck from grand junction to Colorado springs. my average MPG was 15.5 and that was my average for the tank at 331 miles. keep in mind I was towing a trailer and hauling people and gear totaling about 3,000 lbs over the continental divide, and there was also a winter storm blowing through I had to be in 4X4 for about 50 of those miles and was rolling along at 30 mph for some of that trip. other than the 50 miles we were going 5 over the limit the entire time. so parts of the trip were 80 mph and some 70 mph
in sort in the 2,000 miles I have driven in the past month since getting the truck, I can easily get highway mpg 20+ without making any effort or special driving using the cruise control at 75 mph. if I drive without cruise and actually make an effort to save fuel I can get about 23+ depending on my speed. I also have found that with the 6.2 I can keep it in V4 mode on the highway at 65 mph on the flat and that saves gas, ive gotten as much as 25 mpg in this situation steady cruising.
something else I should mention. ive noticed in my old Tacoma and an ultra gauge it will cut fuel off at 1700 rpm or higher under deceleration. the GMC will cut fuel at as low as 1000 rpm. this is obvious by the instant MPG going to 99mpg (infinity) because there is NO fuel going through the engine while coasting.
so for some advice to the OP if you want to try getting better MPG try this suggestion as it works for me... you ay not realize it but your foot may be continually pressing and releasing the gas pedal without you realizing it! this of course will yield bad MPG since I cannot drive your truck to see if I can replicate the MPG I get try this suggestion.
get to your cruising speed and try resting your right foot against the tunnel as a means so steady it. gently roll your foot or ankle right or left so that the left side of your shoe will press more or less on the gas and while doing so watch your instant mpg's this will help you verify your right where it needs to be, at 75 mph try to shoot for 23 mpg and then after a minute note your speed. if you are above or below 75 mph this will tell you how much MPG you need to maintain that speed.
you can also use cruise control to help with mpg by setting a speed and when your going down hill and as long as you don't mind speeding over the posted limit a little, I will step on the gas just enough while going down hill to hold the MPG's at 25. what this does is allow the truck to gain momentum at higher MPG than the average, pick up some speed and hopefully clear the majority of the upcoming hill. as you ascend the next hill keep holding the gas in exactly the same place 25 mpg and as the truck slows eventually the cruise control will take over if your speed falls below the preset 75mph.
also keep in mind you can use 0 fuel if your coasting at just about any speed, so if your nearing the crest of the hill and you have the momentum to clear it and roll for a while just letting off the gas will allow you to use 0 fuel. and I downshift using engine braking to slow the speed if I get too fast, still using no fuel and no brakes!
anyway, this is my experience with my 6.2L and I am quite impressed with the fuel economy. my 6 cyl Toyota Tacoma would get 19 mpg on the highway average. considering how much larger this truck is and how much more it weighs I think it does pretty good.
I am driving a 2013 4x4 extended cab with 4.8, 4 speed auto and 3.42 gears and surprisingly I am getting right about the advertised 15 MPG combined highway/city driving. I thought it would be worse. I have said it once and I'll say it again. If your driving needs necessitate good gas mileage you probably shouldn't be driving a truck.
hey guys I am new the forum, and I got a 14 sierra crew cab with the 5.3 and 3.42 gearing. I have had the truck for about a month and have put about 3700 miles on the trucks. I have been averaging around 17 MPG, most city. However, I recently did a 990 mile road trip, from phoenix to Tucson to san diego to LA and back to phoenix. On my way to Tucson there was a slight head wind and I averaged around 19 MPG at 80 MPH. driving from tucson to san diego and up to LA, there a horrbile head wind and I averaged around 17 MPG at 80 - 85 mph, but from LA to phoenix there was a slight tail wind and at 80-85 mph, I averaged about 24.5 MPG
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