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6.0L Fuel Economy

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358K views 357 replies 180 participants last post by  shakenfake  
#1 ·
Calling all 6.0 owners- what's the average fuel economy you're getting? Regardless of mods, I'd like to hear your stories...

I'm getting about 11.5 on winter gas, with about 75% of the tank spent on city driving.
 
#27 ·
Yeehaw- I was getting about 10.5-11.5 during the winter, but since I put on my throttle body spacer, I'm getting 12-12.7. They just switched to the summer blend yesterday (hence the $0.25 price jump in about 4 hours), so hopefully I'll be hitting 13 soon!
 
#28 ·
starspangled6.0 said:
Yeehaw- I was getting about 10.5-11.5 during the winter, but since I put on my throttle body spacer, I'm getting 12-12.7. They just switched to the summer blend yesterday (hence the $0.25 price jump in about 4 hours), so hopefully I'll be hitting 13 soon!
Really! the spacers work that well! Might have to invest in one of those!!! I thought they only increased mid and low power.
 
#29 ·
There's a ton of debate on the spacer topic, but after installing mine, it's totally brought my engine to life. Even a buddy of mine who occasionally drives my truck was very impressed with the newfound power. Plus, it tacked on an extra 0.5-1.5 mpg!
 
#30 ·
I was told by an engineer that the best way to check your mileage is to put the nossle all the way in to the spring then run pump wide open til it shuts off then wait a few seconds for fuel to settle then hold handle wide open again til it quits the second time. This will give you the same amount of gas every time while checking mileage. I have also found I get my best mileage using 87 octane regular gas. Ethanol drops my MPG by 3-4 MPG I quit using it. I only use BP gas also that seems to work best for me. Hope that helps you.
 
#31 ·
I took my first moderately long road trip yesterday, with the first tank of the year on summer gas. Even though I was towing a light trailer, and it was really windy out, and the trip wasn't all on the freeway with cruise on, I still got 13.9 mpg! I'm so pumped!!!!!!!!!
 
#32 ·
Has anyone heard if Innovative-Energy-Solution.com I bought one of their units about a month ago. I bought the purple one for my V8. I went from 13mpg to 17mpg in town. Cant wait til I get a chance to see what it does for me on the highway. I have noticed that the oil is alot cleaner so it must be removing the carbon like they said. The power from putting this on is also very noticable. Anyone interested in increasing fuel mileage should check this out. They also have units for motorcycles and diesel. I am buying one for my motorcycle next.
 
#34 ·
#36 ·
Throttle body spacers are one thing, but I probably wouldn't let someone install one of those intercharger things on my truck. Like Levman said, it seems a little fishy to me- but hey, I can be wrong, ya know.
 
#37 ·
Well, to the subject at hand, I finally got my econ around 13.75, up from 12.0-big improvement, this is on a 120k truck i picked up a couple months ago, with the addition of amsoil and magnaflow muffler and biablo tuner, set on just the 87 octane tune, I haven't check out the plugs, but starting to wonder if I should...
 
#38 ·
Levman74 said:
Look up the Intercharger stuff on google and the like, there have been several discussions on other forums regarding this product. The people or person with the positive review are the people selling it and usually have a low post count.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/forum/f9/fake-product-intercharger-499/index3.html
Check out posts #42, #43, and #65 of this-http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?s=54d6e71c15aac5f216ef2954bb65c46b&showtopic=101736&st=15
Yea I read up on it...Sounds like a scam, will probably stay away from
 
#39 ·
New truck to us, 2004 HD 6.0 no clue on the mileage, have 35x13.5x20s Micky Thompson ATZ rough. Betting 10 maybe 9 Mpg. We tow a lot and most driving is in town. I have read for this type of driving, don't add cold air intake or dual pipes, as both kill low end. Just swap the muffler if anything. Not really interested in the 1/4 mile figures, like low end power under 25 rps.

Any thoughts on the 20s good or bad for mileage, the 13.5 width is for sure going soon, really wondering if I should go to 17 or 18s for a larger tire selection. 33 range.
 
#40 ·
I'm pretty certain that adding both a cold air kit and a performance exhaust system will do wonders for your low-end power, not hurt it. And in most cases, you'll see the MPG raise after the install.
 
#42 ·
Hi Guys;

Newbie as of yesterday, great site, will be on here a lot. Anyway I'm right there with Spangled6.0, 12.9MPG all the time. Best tank yet was 13.1 returning from Reno to Cali. Only had my truck for 7 months, It just won't move off 12.9MPG. Truck is all stock for now, but TBS,CAI, 50 seriesBB Flowmaster soon. I hope to pick up at least 2+MPG. I keep track of all services and each fuel up so I'll keep ya posted on what improves where.
 
#43 ·
I just picked up a 2011 Silverado 2500 HD and am only getting 12.75 so far with only 800 miles on it. I was trying to decide which would be better between the 6.0L and the Duramax. I'm starting to think that going with the Duramax was the way to go based on gas mileage and power. I would like to know if anyone has figured out what they are getting when towing and roughly the weight that they are towing?
 
#47 ·
Hey dascst;

Welcome to the forum, I'm new my self, few days ago. U'll find the site very helpful and interesting at the some times. :? Anyway congrats on the new rig, very nice. I had a new 06' DMAX until 08' when the fuel prices went through the roof ($5.25gal here in CA.). Biggest and dumbest mistake I've ever done traded it, (don't ask please). Anyway I just acquired In Oct. my current truck a 07' Silverado 2500HD 4x2 6.0 Std bed. I'm a happy man again. :p As for your MPG remember your far from being broke in yet, as is loosens up you should pick a little not much though. I'm currently right at 12.9MPG and that's pretty much where it locked into. My best to date is 13.1 returning from Reno to Cali. :p
Did you pick up any MPG after you installed the K&N? I myself haven't done any modes yet except to install a soft tounou cover and stainless steps. My plans are the CAI,TBS, and a 50 series BB Flowmaster muffler.
I miss my DMAX terribly I was getting 14.8MPG right out of the box 15.6 after the Flowmaster install. You can see and hear it on there web site in the street muffler section under the 50 series HD. Anyway keep it touch and enjoy your new rig, I know I am :mrgreen: Rich...
 
#48 ·
I'm hoping that the MPG's increase because everything that I am reading is that the mileage on the band new DMAX is well above what I am getting now even pulling 10k. It is still stock becuase I want to give it time to break in and see what kind of mileage I get then and then do my mods. I'm have only found that volant makes a CAI for it and have been unable to find a company that makes an exhaust kit for this truck yet. So I will have to wait for a few more months or go to a local exhaust shop and have them set me up with something. How often do you pull or haul with your truck and about what does it weigh and what kind of MPG's do u get then? Reason being is that I am starting to kick myself for listening to my friends and buying the gas engine since everything I have seen shows the DMAX to be soooo much more efficient even though I won't be using it to haul a lot of weight very often just having the better mileage will help set off the cost of maint and the upgraded engine granted that engine was $7500 more than tye 6.0L and that diesel fuel costs considerably more, but at about 7mpg more empty based on the diesel power mag test would make it worth it.
 
#49 ·
Hey das;

I agree that the DMAX is the way to go and if I could have found one in my price range without a ton of miles on it when I bought mine I'd be diesel now. Ya the $8200 here in Cali for the diesel is quite a jump in price. Even in used trucks as well. FYI, fuel prices here in Cali are about ($4.45gal. diesel) and $4.19gal for reg. in NOR-CAL.
It looks like your truck is a long bed, correct? You might be in luck with Flowmaster in regards to a kit available. They don't make one for my Crew/Std. bed; only the long bed. My friend at Flowmaster (Marketing) when I asked why, he said there was no demand for that application, go figure. There is a lot of trucks like mine out there.
Like I said before I seem to be locked in at 12.9MPG. Oh and my truck has the 3:73 gear.
 
#50 ·
Hey Carl;

Just wondering, does your truck have the 6.0 or the 6.2LMAX engine. That's one thing that gets me. Why didn't GM offer the 6.2 L 403HP 373FT. LBS torque engine as an option for our trucks. It stands to reason that would be a good engine for our towing needs don't you think. Just a thought. Rich...
 
#51 ·
You are correct. It is a crew cab long bed. I also have 3:73 gearing as well. I have not been able to find anything on the website. Maybe they will have something on there later. I was looking at the mufflers that they offer and found that the series 80 sounds pretty agressive. Maybe getting something custom with that muffler would work really well.

What I was looking at getting my truck ordered I asked my salesman the same question and he said that the 6.2L is offered as more of a sport package than a work package. Still to me it makes sense to have the bigger engine in the work horse too. But then they didn't ask us when they built the options.