My 01 SuperCrew Gets 22mpg on tha highway but about 14-16 in the city.

 

First off, most of the Chevy guys who claim 19-20 mpg in their 5.3's or the 5.7's are lying. Period. Try lining them out with you on a long haul and see how many gallons each truck takes. I've done it against several and there wasn't a nickles worth of difference.
Second, most of those Chevy guys get decent mileage because they drive around like my grandpa. Never get over 60 and it takes them 3 miles to get up to speed. Again, try lining one out across country running 75-85 and watch their mileage plummet down to about 13 mpg. I've seen it first hand.
Third, every Chevy I have tested against my other vehicles, Ford and Toyota, has been off by about 10% on the speedo. My speedo will say 60 mph, theirs will say 65. This will translate into the same 10% on the odometer and hence about 10% better on fuel mileage if you check it against the odometer. I don't know if the Chevy odometers are off or if every other vehicle I've had ahs been off, but it is a patttern. Maybe to make the Chevy owners feel good about their mileage and also their performance. If the speedo is fast it sure seems like the truck gets to 60 faster. Again, fill 'em up, take off and then see how much it takes to fill 'em up again. It will be within half a gallon, I'll betcha.

 

Most get 12MPG there's no way. I just got 15.5 loaded down with 1500lbs of rod iron fence going to Denver. I get 13 town and 17 highway and my 302 cannot be the exception. My Dad has a 03' Silverado 4x4 and the computer read out says 18-19 average, but real time is actually about 15-16. the ones who say they are getting 20 are just relying on the computer which is not accurate.

 

Well here it is, no hear say, or my buddies....
I own a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500, EXT cab. 4wd with 3.73(actually it is my wifes truck, but that is pointless). It has a volant intake and dual exhaust. My best recorded MPG was cruising at 75 across neb, 19.2 MPG, unloaded. I average about 16-18 on the freeway and 15 mixed. I have only towed with it once, since that is what i have a diesel for, and it sucked, no power at all, and i averaged 12MPG with just a 2000 LB trailer and a 3500LB CJ5 on it. That 12.5 MPG was the average over a 500 mile trip. My old 5.8 ford never got better than 15, loaded or not, freeway or not. I havent driven a 5.4, bot those that have can take this into comparison

 

I think that the MAF 302s in 94+ Fords maybe get better mileage. I do know for a fact that everyone that I know gets 12-13, no exceptions. You are very lucky to get that kind of economy with a 302. I carried an 800-900 lb 3.9 Cummins in my pickup the other day and managed 15.5 mpg (good tailwind). The best ever was 16.5 going from western SD to eastern SD, which is basically downhill, with a good tailwind. Mine can get decent mileage if conditions are right, but that is not very often at all. I get 12-13 most of the time. I do not do much city driving, but I can tell you that my pickup doesn't even get 10 mpg.

 

Heck, I average 15-16 mpg on the interstate in my Lightning. The new 5.4L engines get around 18-20 depending on gearing, driver etc. I've gotten 19 out of a NA 5.4 in a F150 and I drive faster than 75.

BTW, when I am driving side-by-side with my friends and we both stop at the same gas station and we both fill up and we both use dang near the same amount of gas, that is not called hearsay. That is called firsthand knowledge. It just so happens that I was driving the Ford and they were driving the Chevy's. The result would have been the same if we would have swapped.

 

not trying to knock anyone, that isnt hear say, i agree. I wasnt trying to say my gmc gets better mileage either. Just offering my data for comparison. I personally hate the truck. I just hate seeing people ask questions about things and having someone say "Well my cousins neighbors boss got 54 MPG out of his 1975 Chevy 1 ton wiht a blown 454, so everyone should get that"
See my point?

 

Oh, I agree with that. Too many times hearsay and rumors are spread like wildfire on the internet to the point that they suddenly become gospel truth.

Also, none of those guys will let me drive their trucks. I've had several of them say something to the effect of, "I can't believe how hard you drive your truck. If I drove mine that hard it'd be broken all the time."

 

I drive the dog crap out of the GMC, if you dont they are no fun. They dont make any power until the rev. But the locker(factory) in the back and the stock tires sure make some smoke, nothing compared to you lightning i am sure. Sure wish i had one of those.

Dusten