holliday

I recently picked up a 97 Chevy z71 with the 350 in it. It has 220,000 and runs great. Only problem I have with it is I'm only getting 11mpg. Could any one tell me how to get it better. I don't have a heavy foot much so I'm already paying attention to my driving.

country_09

It is a truck so don't expect too much better but I'd say go get a custom tune and that should help out about 2-3 mpg with you not drivin like a bat out of hell

holliday

Yea I wasn't planning on much more but any thing would help. If i got a custom tune would i need a new ecu or what?

holliday

Plus I have herd of people with trucks older than mine with the 350 getting 14mpg stock. So I'm just wondering what's goin on with mine

country_09

14 mpg stock would be on stock rims and tires...your pic shows bigger rims and tires and possibly a true dual exhaust. Both effect mpg, and no with a custom tune you wouldn't need a new one, they reprogram the one you have

holliday

Yea it does have true dual exhaust. That would hurt my mpg? Who programs them and around about what do they charge?

country_09

It doesn't have the same scavengin affect that a single exhaust does...you can add a x-pipe in there to balance that out and it would help out a little more in airflow. Blackbearperformance.com, gowheatley.com, or any dyno shop around you that can tune a truck. Blackbear and Wheatley are just the 2 big ones in the chevy truck world

holliday

Thanks for the advice I'll look into getting that done.

country_09

You're welcome sir...with a tune, intake, and x-pipe on my exhaust I saw a 3 mpg gain so good luck