2003 Tahoe MPG
 

Hey guys, I have recently purchased a used 2003 Tahoe with approx 44,000 miles on it, and although I have asked a question or two on here recently I still consider myself a newbie. I love the Tahoe for the features I need it for but over the course of the last few weeks I have averaged out my MPG and seem to be getting around 11-12 with mostly city driving. Now I know that if I do highway or longer distances the mpg will go up, but my current driving practices don't allow for that right now. I was wondering from anyone with a comparable vehicle what they are averaging and if that is the best that I'm gonna get...or any ideas on how to see if I can improve on it (even a little) without selling the farm for any major upgrades.

Specs:

2003 Tahoe
Vortec 5.7 V8
Basic vehicle...no bulky add-ons or excessive cargo

- I know before anyone says it..."It's an SUV not an sedan" but I would like to try to see closer to the estimated 13 mpg.

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

When I'm not hauling stuff or driving like an a$$, I can get up to 15mpg mixed driving. On long distance trips, I try to draft behind rigs. Last time I did this, I got +20mpg. I was within '40 - 60' of the rig at highway speeds. This might be considered tailgating, but I didn't think it was unsafe.

I have a 99 Tahoe 4x4 4 door with a 5.7l Vortech.

Hardwarz

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

06 tahoe stock, 16.1 mpg in town according to the computer...also thats with the wife no me driving..also I think you have the 5.3 not the 5.7...

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

yeah. 5.3 sorry. So it appears I'm being short changed by my truck, any ideas on how to get the most out of it?

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

Actually that was a stupid question, now for a serious one. I have noted that fuel usage is not even across the tank. It appears that for the first 1/4 tank I am getting approx 9-10 mpg and the remainder of the tank 13-14. Does anyone have an idea as to why this happens, and if so is it correctable. The GM dealer seemed to have no clue as to what I was talking about. If it is a Chevy thing just let me know, as I am new to Chevy. Thanks

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

Thdrill.....I have an '03 Tahoe 5.3, LT, 2WD, 3:42, 89k with fresh tune and all stock. I moniter fuel mileage very accurately and get 14.49 to 15.5 with around town mixed driving (no cargo, no towing, and very conservative throttle work). More aggressive driving would push my mileage down into the 13 range immediately I'm sure. The figures above are summer driving with the AC on Auto but here in the south, that means that the AC compressor runs all the time.

I've had the vehicle about 6 months and frankly expected better mileage but it is what it is as they say. I expect that when the AC can be left off this fall that I'll see a slight improvement. I believe that aero drag on these '03 bodies is significant....which means that there's not much you can do about it except not run 70+ on the interstate. (Drag increases with the cube of the speed). If your tune is fresh, you might do little things like confirming tire pressures and possibly front alignment, and try 5w-30 Mobil 1. Also, don't depend on the trip computer for mileage. It's pretty inaccurate in many cases and is probably why you're seeing wide mileage swings from different levels of fuel in the tank. Do your calculations the old fashioned way and you'll have dependable figures.

I hope this helps.

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

yes it does have the 5.3 that is......

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

thdrill,
One other thing to consider is that there are different types of "city driving".
If your type of city driving involves commuting in a very congested large city where you spend a lot of time at (or near) stand-still speeds in traffic jams then you are doing about right.

In some city's the traffic flows fairly freely with just the normal stoplight delays in which case your economy would be much better.

RE: 2003 Tahoe MPG
 

Thanks all for the input. LT I didn't realize the trip computer could be off by that much over the course of a tank. As for the last thing is everyone using the OEM Platinum plugs from Chevy or are they using plugs from elsewhere?