Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives New Silverado Mileage

What about cold air intake,chipping it, that kinda stuff

not familiar with the stats for that particular engine but the whole cold air intake depends greatly on individual setups.....changes can be everything from not at all to quite a bit on some things......but it depends, any more most intakes are set up near ideal from the factory and an aftermarket cold air intake is a complete waste of money....

in poorly designed ones ive seen legit boosts of almost 40hp and other improvements.....with the tests being done immediatly before and after the install.....with alot of newer vehicles the change was small enough to either not be measurable or noticed....

Thanks

There are tons of threads about the diesel vs gas choice, but if I can boil it down to a sentence or two: the diesel excells at power especially at high altitude where any non-turbo engine looses power in thinner air, and SOMETIMES it gets a lot better MPG under load, sometimes not (the pre-urea DPF only engines didn't do so good). But lots of guys bought them because they were macho and just needed to pull 5-6K pounds. Now diesels are very civilized (quiet) and don't ride as bad as they used to, but they are horribly expensive to buy and maintain, complicated, and many times have been a lot more trouble than a gas engine (lots of bugs even though the strength was there). And the gas engines are getting simpler looking even if everything is computerized (look under the hood of my Chevy and GMC - the block is sitting there naked like in the 60's). If you need a diesel, get a diesel in spite of all the emissions crap they are messing them up with. If you tow once in a while and it is parked a lot, get a gas and don't worry about the 5 mpg loss. The $8K earning interest in an investment/6 qt oil changes/no regular fuel filter changes/cheap repairs easily covers that cost. Truth be told, there are a lot of farmers that are starting to realize (that actually own a calculator) that things have changed - especially where high mileage isn't concerned (working on the farm vs hauling an RV across the country).

Thanks for the detailed reply. I currently tow a 6,000 pound trailer about 5,000 to 6,000 miles per year. I want a new 2500 or 3500 hd but am torn between gas or diesel. I know I don't need the diesel right now, but I don't want to upgrade my truck again if I upgrade my camper. I am still contemplating my options.

Speaking of turbos, I'm a Chevy man, but can't help noticing a new, innovative F-150 engine. It's a V-6, the 3.5L, which is turbo charged. I hear it's $700 extra, but gives 23 MPG on the hwy., with major low end torque, a power curve much like a diesel. It'll do at 2,500 rpm what equivalent V-8's are cranking at 4,000 rpm.

My question, how long to you think it will take for GM to match it? I need that engine in a Chevy P/U...

The ford gets 22mpg not 23 and that is only 1mpg better then a current Silverado 5.3 4wd currently configured. I really have mixed feelings about that eco boost motor. Twin Turbos whether oil cooled or water cooled as in the case of the Ford motor cannot add to longetivity. A little over 200 cubic inches highly stressed is not the answer. That said if Ford manages to sell a lot of those ecoboost motors then maybe GM will follow suit.

With the 5.3 4x4 Chevy, what's the best axle ratios for 21 MPG?

I would get the 3.42....a guy I work with has that setup on a 2010 and gets 21-22 . My truck has a 3.73 and I get 20-21 on the highway... DF I know they offer a 3.08 but I know no one that has that gearset in their truck and if you go to the mother of all wisdom(internet) the reviews are mixed on its actual advantage.

How come?? Because that's what he has.

All this stuff about when and where and why to have a diesel is missing the point. You don't have to tow a lot to justify one of these. My everyday driver is diesel and very seldom used for towing......that's not why I got it. The only reason necessary for buying diesel is that it's just more enjoyable driving something with gobs of torque. The 5.3 is a really good engine but I wouldn't get another gas truck.

You might could order something higher but I believe 3.73 is standard.

Most of the 5.3's I have been seeing have either a 3.42 or 3.08 , the 3.08 is definitely as popular. I am also talking about trucks sitting in dealers lots, I have no idea what people are ordering.

I don't care what the dealers have setting on their lots. I refuse to buy any small-block Chevy that isn't a 3.73. A 4.10 would also be acceptable, if I could ever find one, when I am looking to buy. Cripes, 3.73's have always been the best rear axle ratio for a small-block 1/2 ton 4x4, way back when we ran smaller tires and didn't have overdrive. Now all these pickups have bigger tires, plus overdrive, and they want to run 3.08's? I also remember the 80's smog mobile dogs which had 3.08's with small tires and no overdrive, and were doggier than chit! Anybody else remember those?

I believe the late model 1/2 tons with the 403 horse 6.2 comes with the 6-speed transmission comes with 3.42's. Supposedly the 3.42's with the 6-speed auto lower first gear ratio actually has more dig than the older models with the 4-speed autos. Can't say, I don't have one.

If you plan on doing any towing, especially in hilly or mountainous regions, go 3.73's or 4.10, if you can find such a critter. If you drive nice flat level terrain, and the last 1/2 mpg is a really big deal to you, maybe 3.42's. As always, just my humble opinion.

As a FWIW, I once drove my (now) old '02 5.3 Z71 3.73 265's from Vernal to Casper. I filled up just before I left Vernal, drove through Flaming Gorge, Rock Springs, Rawlins and on to Casper. Filled up as soon as I got into Casper. Figured my mileage, and that truck got 21 mpg! I was astounded! Whatever.

The four wheel drive extended cab 2003 GMC Serria 1500 had the 5.3 and had the 3.73 gears. Best I ever could do on the highway with it was 19.8 MPG hand calculated. I traded it in on my current truck (2006 CC 2500 HD, 4X4 Duramax) I have got 22.8 MPG with the Duramax. It weighs about 7500 pounds and the 1500 weighed probably between 5000 and 6000 pounds. Duramax will tow about anything with ease. I pull campers and farm tractors from time to time. If I did not pull those items I would go back to a gasser. I bought the Duramax for the long haul and in the future might purchase a good used gasser to run around in.

My 2011 has the 5.3, 6 speed and 3.42 gears. As far as I could tell the 3.08 and 3.42 were all that was available. I wanted the 3.73. It only comes on the Trailer MAX with the 6.2L engine. It also takes high octane gas.

My 2005 had 3.73 with the 4 speed. Seemed more like a truck and got better mileage..

First gear in the 4 speed was 3.06 coupled with the 3.73 gave a final gear ratio of 11.41. Fourth gear was .70 and gave a final gear ratio of 2.61.

First gear in the 6 speed is 4.02 coupled with the 3.42 gives a 13.74 final gear ratio. Fifth is .85 which yields 2.90 and sixth is .60 which yields 2.05. This is providing my data and math are correct.

The 2011 feels like it has as much take off power or more than the 2005, which it should. I haven't pulled a heavy trailer so I don't know how it will handle one in sixth on the road.

The transmission does noticeably search for gears when you hit the hills.

My mileage may be getting a little better, but is seems the least little thing, such as wind, a little weight, or a dog pizzing on the tires really pulls it down. I still think it would benefit from a 3.73 ratio..I know Chevrolet advertises on this forum, I wish a Tech would chime in.....

No "mixed reviews" here. Traded a perfectly good '06 Sierra Z71 w/3.42 gears, on a 2010 Siverado Z71 w/3.08s and it sucks by comparison.

Less "stomp", less fuel economy. That GMC was a friggin' rocket from a dead stop.

Make sure you inflate your tires fairly high - like at least 50 psi or more if they are rated for it. The E load range tires will go up to 80 psi, but lots of people still do 32 psi like in their cars. Now it won't ride as good if you have rough roads, but it will help mpg. Watch the tread wear pattern. If you go too high for the weight, it will wear in the middle. Also, make sure they are balanced and you have a good alignment. And drive slower, of course.

Von

The 5.3 in our Yukon XL with 4.10 gears is a consistent 18 mpg on the highway, if the speed is right around 65 mph or so. About 12-13 in town and most mixed tanks will yield about 15

You will have a long wait if you plan on ordering a 1500 with a 3.73.

I can not fathom anyone haveing a truck with 308 gears in the rear end. I guess they don't wish to haul a payload or even pull any weight over 1500-lbs. Those 342 are better but more suited to a half-ton pickup that doesn't haul much.

I will not purchase or drive a pickup truck that does not have 373 gears in the rearend! Now most of the guys I know that run gas rigs towing use 410 gears. My cousins diesel 4 x 4 uses those 373 and has plenty of pulling power. I run a V-10 gas rig 1-ton and I have 373 gears and pull 10,000 like it is not behind me on level ground.