i was looking at the mpg post.

[SUPERSUB87]

I didnt want to ask it on there. but money is really tight (im in high school) and i was wondering if i should spend some extra money from my summer job on the suburban to make it a little bit more fuel efficient. IT has 37" tires and im thinking of going with 4.56 (as of now i have 3.42).

How much of a mileage increase should i be looking for if i add fuel injection and some vortec heads???

and any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mechted]

gear change, with you doing the work is likely cost efficient over a period of a couple years (1 or 2, depends on mileage)

engine mods = LOTS of money for small MPG gain (more HP gains though) and likely not cost efficient over a period of decades.

though both improve how fun the vehicle is too drive... which make you drive it more, and with increased throttle, which overall decreases your gas mileage. I suggest you look at the cost break down... how $ to change the part, vs MPG gain over time... you may be surprised at how much time it takes to pay off.

btw: depending on more highway or more city driving, you may be shooting yourself in the foot for gas mileage. 3.42s and 37's= great highway mileage, and crappy city, 4.56s could swap that around for you.

 

[supersize75k5]

the whole gas milage thing is a freaking joke, it a suburban on 37's...

if you want gas milage spend 1500 bucks on a used saturn or some other beater or older jap car. also now you would have a back up car and a parts runner..

yes you can get a couple more mpg's, but the cost to pick those up you could have a second car. if you want to save money find a job a mile from your house..

 

[SUPERSUB87]

well i live out in the country, so highway driving is pretty much all i do.
I know that the heads and fuel injection cost quite a bit (even if i install them), but i am looking for that horsepower as well. the problem is that i have been building this sub for a DD, and thats what i want it to be, not something i just throw in the garage till it rains. If i were to be able to have 15-20 mpg, like my mothers suburban, then driving it daily would not be a problem. (even if i do step on the gas a bit more)

 

[SUPERSUB87]

the whole gas milage thing is a freaking joke, it a suburban on 37's...

if you want gas milage spend 1500 bucks on a used saturn or some other beater or older jap car. also now you would have a back up car and a parts runner..

yes you can get a couple more mpg's, but the cost to pick those up you could have a second car. if you want to save money find a job a mile from your house..

one. i live in the boonies. no job for 15 miles.

two. yeah. spending money on some beater will help me in the long run. but it's not me. the car doesn't express what i do, and the fact that i have already spent quite a bit on the sub, i wouldnt feel bad spending some more knowing that i can drive it instead of just that, a beater.

the back up car i already have. im just wondering if i could see a significant gas mileage change coming from a carb to a fuel injected vortec. If i spend $1800 on it and get more horsepower, a better wheeling vehicle, and the ability to have say 5-7 more mpg. then i'd do it.

 

[87BrnRsd]

You would be lucky to get 15 on the highway with even fuel injection. Im running 37's with 4.56 gears and fuel injection on my K5 and am lucky to get more than 11-12 on the highway. 9 in town.
-Harrison

 

[4xcrazy]

Well, my Suburban when it was completely stock, with the TBI 350/th700r4, 10 bolts with 3.42 gears and 31"' tires would only get about 15-18 mpg on the highway...

now i have a 14bff with 4.11, 35" tires with 4" lift and the truck gets about 10-12 on the highway,,AT BEST

Not sure what motor you have now, but after you do all the gearing mods, even WITH the 4.56 gears, those bigger tires and lift are helping alot with killing fuel milege.

some people on here are claiming that they are getting BETTER than 22mpg on the highways with their 38" + tires with 6" lifts and 4.56 gears.....

they didn't even get that good of mileage from the factory

personally i think they are,,,,, well,,,

 

[SUPERSUB87]

yeah. true. but most of them have diesels.

 

[fried_guy]

3.42s will be better for more highway driving and easier on your drivetrain. Adding vortecs will help the bottem end be more efficient... which will help MPG and Torque... 2 things that are important in a DD.

An increase in your compression can be beneficial as well if the vortec chambers are smaller... but don't over do it.

And if the heads you currently have on there are original, then the new valves and seats alone will help.

I think that FI would be too costly to justify an increase in MPG (if any).

Personally I agree with everything else said though. MPG and burbs don't mix.

 

[supersize75k5]

and the ability to have say 5-7 more mpg. then i'd do it.

i dont htink you will see this.. f you want to get great gas milage and spend 1800 bucks, swap in a rebuilt 6.2

"ktrustyk5" "sp?" on here does great with mpg's considering he runs 38 inch swampers.. he has an oil burner

 

[SUPERSUB87]

i dont htink you will see this.. f you want to get great gas milage and spend 1800 bucks, swap in a rebuilt 6.2

"ktrustyk5" "sp?" on here does great with mpg's considering he runs 38 inch swampers.. he has an oil burner

the 6.2 was already a thought, and the 350 could go into something fun. hmmm. but how hard are they to come by??
would it work with my body lift, and connect to my trans?

 

[79k20350]

6.2's arent hard to come by. Your not going to get the mileage your looming for with a burb on 37's... No way, no how. That is unless you swap in a diesel.

 

[4xcrazy]

yeah. true. but most of them have diesels.

I was saying that about the peeps that are claiming those mileages with a 350 motor,,,Diesel would probably be the way to go though.

 

[stevos67k20]

the whole gas milage thing is a freaking joke, it a suburban on 37's...

if you want gas milage spend 1500 bucks on a used saturn or some other beater or older jap car. also now you would have a back up car and a parts runner..

yes you can get a couple more mpg's, but the cost to pick those up you could have a second car. if you want to save money find a job a mile from your house..

i agree fully: i have a really ugly 1988 toyota daily driver w/45,000 miles, that way i can drive and wheel my truck on the weekends. its almost embarrasing to drive but, i get about 30mpg, so i get over it real quick.

also once you start driving you rig less you dont feel so bad puttin gas in it cuz it feels like it lasts so much longer (it a psycological thing)

 

[twoslo4five0]

i agree fully: i have a really ugly 1988 toyota daily driver w/45,000 miles, that way i can drive and wheel my truck on the weekends. its almost embarrasing to drive but, i get about 30mpg, so i get over it real quick.

also once you start driving you rig less you dont feel so bad puttin gas in it cuz it feels like it lasts so much longer (it a psycological thing)

x2 i have a 01 mazda 626 i drive everyday...i drive my burb very little and drive my ford (tow rig even less)..my tought on my burb and my ford is not really that big a change...my burb gets 8 and the ford gets 5...when you get in the single digets gas mileage is really not a factor....

if you want power and good fuel mileage go ahead and swap in a cummins but by the time that is done you could have had a beater truck that can seve the same everyday purpose of your truck then wheen you wheel you truck and break it you dont have to find a ride..just my .02

 

[Thunder]

I didnt want to ask it on there. but money is really tight (im in high school) and i was wondering if i should spend some extra money from my summer job on the suburban to make it a little bit more fuel efficient. IT has 37" tires and im thinking of going with 4.56 (as of now i have 3.42).

How much of a mileage increase should i be looking for if i add fuel injection and some vortec heads???

and any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Fuel injection
If it is the 87 burb you have in your bio. Dont you already have TBI???? Or did someone remove it and put on a carb?
If you do have TBI, there are some inexpensive little things you can do to improve MPG a little.
Tell us more about your engine.
Also I can see why you dont want to drive a cheap economy car. Insurance rates for a young man on 2 cars would be a killer. Prolly cheaper to just drive the burb if thats what you want to do.

 

[cbbr]

If ya'll figure out how to get 15mpg out of a Burb on 37's, I would love to know the trick. Mine gets 11 on the hwy on a good day.

 

[twoslo4five0]

If ya'll figure out how to get 15mpg out of a Burb on 37's, I would love to know the trick. Mine gets 11 on the hwy on a good day.

x2 but mine gets 10 on a good day..

 

[supersize75k5]

Re: Fuel injection
If it is the 87 burb you have in your bio. Dont you already have TBI???? Or did someone remove it and put on a carb?
If you do have TBI, there are some inexpensive little things you can do to improve MPG a little.
Tell us more about your engine.
Also I can see why you dont want to drive a cheap economy car. Insurance rates for a young man on 2 cars would be a killer. Prolly cheaper to just drive the burb if thats what you want to do.

my insurance actually stayed the same when I added a second, with state farm it was the same with 2 cars and renters ins. as it was with just one truck, the multiple discount is nice.

ask about it

 

[79k20350]

Re: Fuel injection
If it is the 87 burb you have in your bio. Dont you already have TBI???? Or did someone remove it and put on a carb?
If you do have TBI, there are some inexpensive little things you can do to improve MPG a little.
Tell us more about your engine.
Also I can see why you dont want to drive a cheap economy car. Insurance rates for a young man on 2 cars would be a killer. Prolly cheaper to just drive the burb if thats what you want to do.

My insurance is less WITH a beater. Multiple car discount.