juddkennedy

05 1500 4x4 v8 4.8l 149k miles, new plug and wires. Standard air intake. No cover on back and tail gat up.

Well I bought my 05 silveado a few months ago and I was curious how many MPG this truck gets.

I decided to run out of gas and keep on hand exactly 2 gallons in a gas can. I ran out of gas and put in the 2 gallons and drove it in city not on highway. I went 39.20 miles until I ran out of gas. So I am guessing I am getting 19.60 MPG.

If I buy a hard cover for the back, would I get a few more MPG's?

Thanks

Mille Racer 69

well 20 mpg for the city is actually really good, I wish I got that much.
a bed cover/tenneau cover will not be noticable in the city,
however it will make a huge difference on the highway

JK23112

I took a trip a few weeks ago - (about 1700 miles round-trip) from VA to Michigan. My truck held myself, my son, our luggage and two bicycles in the bed with the tailgate up and no type of cap or cover. I averaged 70 to 75 mph on most of the Interstate highways (just going with the flow of traffic) - and sometimes a bit faster when conditions permitted.

My mileage (figured by starting with a full tank and dividing miles driven by gallons used to refill the tank) ranged from 16.5 to 19.5 (several fill-ups throughout the week I was on the road) miles per gallon, which is quite acceptable for this type of vehicle at those speeds. I did encounter some brief congestion - which probably reduced my fuel efficiency.

I have a 2004 Silverado LS 2wd with an extended cab; equipped with a 5.3L V8, overdrive automatic transmission, Flowmaster "true" dual exhausts and 17" Chevrolet rims shod with P265-70 Goodyear tires. I had the A/C on the whole time and the windows closed. Not sure what my rear axle ratio might be, but my engine is turning a tad over 2,000 RPMs at 75 mph. Perhaps a fifth gear might be nice, huh?

Mille Racer 69

ya, about 2k rpm's is what my truck is at going about 70mph in my '95 5.7L 1500.

It is more efficient to open your windows up to 45mph. above 45mph it is more
fuel efficient to use your air conditioner because of the drag created by the open windows.
I think I only get around 10 or 12mpg city and 15 or 16mpg highway going 65-70.
Though I have yet to take a road trip in it to see for sure what my true mpg is.

99ChevyZ71

I've gotten up to 19.5 mpg in my truck on long trips. I have no bed cover.

ericnottelin

I get the same rpms as you guys, and I have the 3.73 gears.

in2pro

I think Myth-busters did a show on weather the tail gate up or down and found that leaving the gate up produced better MPG then with it down and I believe the cover performs the same as with the gate down... the pressure difference created with the gate up makes the truck actually more aerodynamic, where as with the gate down the air flow is worse....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3aqHbD-O9E

juddkennedy

you are right in2pro, with the tail gate up it creates an air bubble in the bed that allows the air to flow over the truck. With a cover and tail gate down the air goes over the cab and created a drag on the truck by pressing air down on the bed.
I think they said the best MPG was a cargo net on the back. Then again it was like 1-2 MGP's better. Good stuff!

in2pro

They did one on better MPG with or without the AC running, in the city a lower speeds if the weather is acceptable driving with the windows down and AC off is better for MPG, but on the highway windows up AC on is better due to the drag of the windows being open....

therewolf

I saw only two quantum jumps in gas mileage with my 2500HD.

The first was my aerodynamic fiberglass cap. For a whopping 3MPG. Cost:1400$

The other, was a lower differentials(Yes it KILLS fast takeoffs) ratio. When I went from 410s to 342s(2000$ out the door) I doubled my city mileage, and tacked on ANOTHER 3 MPG.

Needless to say, to see a payback on these kind of upgrades, you need to keep your vehicle for quite a few years.

Sedate driving is the order of the day with saving gas. The bottom drops out real fast when you run & gun.