Interesting SO mileage

[Bertram65]

I wanted to see if I could get as good mileage as everyone talks about. Last week I drove down to southern Jersy and back, going down I was in a rush and didn't do anything that I don't normally do. I ran about 73 to 75 the whole way, through the hills in western CT I was running close to 20 Lbs boost at about 2200 RPM. Coming out of all the tolls I did not hold back on the go pedal, she was shifitng at 2500+ RPM. Got to Jersey drove a round made a couple dump runs with my father in-law. Filled up prior to leaving got 17. 6 MPG, my best ever!!. Trip back I did not go over 65 the whole way, slow out of all the tolls boost stayed below 10 Lbs, running 2000 RPM even on the hills in CT. I had filled up right before I left and when I got back so the total was about 400 miles, filled up, did the math (no computer on my ST) got 18. 2, a new record!!. Must be the 235HP trucks with MA emmisions just cannot get as good mileage as the non restricted trucks. My truck has about 8000 miles on it so I assume this is as good as it's going to get. I am not complaining about this mileage just find it interesting that there is such a difference between the trucks.

 

[Tony T.]

Mileage

I also have the SO but, have the . 373 gears. Just town driving it will average 14. 5 to 15 mpg. City, and some hwy (mixed driving) I'll see 16. 3 to 16. 9 mpg. Only had it out once, on one those Sunday drives that was two lane US hwy, lots of small towns, red lights, etc, filled up when I left, and filled again when returned same location, same pump, and figured mileage (hand calculated) and got 18. 8 mpg. This was around when the truck had 8000 to 9000 miles on it. The best my 2000 Chevy 4x4 crew cab with the 350 vortec, and . 373 gears would do is 13. 2 mpg hwy, and that was babying it running about 60 or 62 mph. I won't mention city driving.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by Bertram65

Trip back I did not go over 65 the whole way, slow out of all the tolls boost stayed below 10 Lbs, running 2000 RPM even on the hills in CT. I had filled up right before I left and when I got back so the total was about 400 miles, filled up, did the math (no computer on my ST) got 18. 2, a new record!!.

I tend to set the cruise at 85 (the maximum) and have been getting about 17. 5MPG running unloaded on the highway, no significant headwind . I have the smaller gear set in the rear end. Considering the speeds I drive I am very happy with my mileage. With a headwind it's dropped to 16. 5MPG. If I keep the RPMs just below 2000 I can get up to 21MPG, but a few people have reported even higher mileage by keeping it at or below 65. More power to them, but my foot is too heavy to do that for any length of time.



But even getting 17. 5MPG I was able to do a 560 mile trip with only one stop, and that was in the last 200 miles. Naturally, I was by myself because if a chick was riding with me there would have been a lot more than one stop. Total travel time was just over 7 hours, making this the 3rd time I have been able to average 80MPH for a trip that long.

 

[GLolas]

Mine is an SO and in mixed city/frewway commute driving unloaded, I'm getting about 16. 5. Its a 4x4, A/T with 3:73 gears and it has a hair over 13K on it.

 

[hdfxrsconv]

My 2003 SO with 4. 10 gears averaged 14 pulling a 5K trailer from Minnesota to Florida and back. Around town I avg 18, and have gone as high as 22. Winter fuel in Minnesota hurts a little, but I still can't complain.

 

[DPearson]

Just got back from a 2200 mile run from Tracy, CA to Tacoma, WA, then over the Cascades to Chelan, WA. Then back home to Tracy. Ran the speed limit when I could, but the snow slowed me down a good part of the time up north. No towing. About 100 miles 4X4. Just 3 people, luggage and 350 lbs of sand in the bed. Total average was 19. 7 mpg (hand calculated, computer showed 20. 6) in my 2004, 2500 4X4, CTD SO (CAL), Auto, 4. 10 Diff. Turned 3500 miles on the way home. I was pleased.

 

[ACerf]

mileage

It is funny some days I will be 13 mpg and other times 17. But my wife drives it to work and it is not that far from the house. Pulling our 11,000lb F/W we have gotten between 9 and 13 mpg. But on the average mostly 11mpg. We have just under 11,000 miles on the truck and it may still get better with time. I installed a AFE intake system today in hopes that will help both, MPG and Power. We will see!

 

[sag2]

This is from my 04 HO, but the 03 SO was similar, just got better mileage.



I was fooling around Friday on my way home from work. Just wanted to see what the mileage change is at different speeds, as the new 04 (HO vs SO 03) is getting worse mileage (15 vs 18). I used the overhead (which was very accurate on the 03) and with cruise ran each speed for one mile. The road was straight and flat, and there was no wind, ambient 57 degrees.

80 MPH-14. 8

70 MPH- 18. 4

65 MPH-19. 2

60 MPH-19. 6

55 MPH-20. 4

50 MPH 25. 3

46 MPH (slowest speed to stay locked in high) 27. 2



So the actual numbers are not that important, but what is important is you can't compare your mileage to anyone else. You can see that the guy who drives 50 no mater what, is going to get significantly better mileage than I do. I drive this truck faster and harder than the 03 because it has more power.

 

[JARichard]

I have a SO auto with 373's and never get below 16 city and highway. Highest was 19. 6 all highway Lafayette to Houston with cruise at 70. I consistently get 16. 8 with a mix of city and highway. I was wondering if larger tires and recalibrating the speedometer would help with mpg?

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Not sure how you guys get such good MPG but maybe it's because I drive too fast? I am honestly still happy with my results.



I got just about 18 MPG going 75 mph all highway some hills some flat.



Got about 12 MPG pulling a 8 foot high V-nose 25 foot long 7000# sled trailer going a little slower 70mph.