New Silverado 1500

nofoolin wrote:
When I test drove my 2wd max tow with 3.73, it had 5 miles on it. I put on a few more during my test drive, and it showed something like 7 mpg. Well, I thought about it and realized that it had a service life of cold starts and being shut down. Right off the factory floor, parked in the factory lot, started up again, run over to the rail yard, off and up onto the rail car, to the transporter, to the dealer, dealer prep, out to the sales lot, one test drive before me, my test drive... Lucky to have gotten what it did with all the cold starts, heavy acceleration, etc.

Limiting cold starts and idling where possible, I have gotten 25 mpg going 5 over the speed limit on a 100 mile loop 90% highway and freeway with speeds of about 1/2 @ 60 and the other half @ 70mph through rolling terrain with a several miles of 6% grade. I usually get 20 - 23mpg when not driving for mileage on the highway.

The mileage in this vehicle is very dependent on the way the driver drives and uses the throttle. Use the DIC and try to keep the truck in 4cyl mode as much as you can if you are looking for mpg. My low axle ratio probably helps me in that regard as I'm surrounded by hills and mountains in the valley where I live. With that said, it can be quite a pig when driven moderately hard. Best 400 mile average I had was 20.4 mpg with 50/50 driving. Now I just enjoy the truck and pay the gas bill. Congrats, hope you enjoy yours.

I have a similiar experience with the 5.3 and 3.08. After 17k miles, my vehicle average is 19 mpg. I have had the vehicle since July. It has towed trailers, hauled stuff, and driven daily. It does a great job of running in 4cyl mode if you are light on the throttle. My best 50 miles is 28.4, and my best 400 is 24 mpg. I have noticed a reduction of close to 2 mpg since winter started. I use the OnStar and remote start to make sure my truck is warm when I get in.