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K2500HD 6.0L Gas Mileage Expectations

Craig Artzner

Craig Artzner

3/4 ton status
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Hey I'm looking to possibly get a new body style ('07-present) K2500HD 4wd with the 6.0L Vortec engine. I either want a single cab or an extended cab truck. What kind of average gas mileage can I expect in one of these? I don't live in a large metropolitan area so I would say my driving is 75% highway and 25% "city".
 
I get about 12 mpg around town with some freeway driving on my 3/4 ton suburban with 8.1L engine. I would say you would hit around 14 mpg if you had more higway driving. Rule of thumb I've used is probably add 1 mpg when comparing the 6.0L vs 8.1L. You might squeeze one more MPG if it's just a pickup and single cab.

Nothing spectacular in any way though.
 
I have more experience with the older bodystyle 6.0s w/ the 4l85e and the 4.10s at work with the 6.0 and they get 13-14 in town, and 14-16 highway. The newer trucks I know you could get 3.73s or 4.10s, all of ours have the 4.10s so cant say if the 3.73s will help the mileage.
 
Any reason for the 2500? I get 18mpg in town and 23mpg highway with a 1500 6.0 and the 6 speed tranny with 3.42 gears.
 
Babaganoosh said:
Any reason for the 2500? I get 18mpg in town and 23mpg highway with a 1500 6.0 and the 6 speed tranny with 3.42 gears.
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No solid reason at the present, but down the road I'd like to maybe get a boat or a camper and be able to easily haul stuff. That and the 2500s look really cool. :D

Is your Silverado 4WD?
 
I get 10-11 around town and 15-16 on the highway. The faster you go the lower the mpg. I'm sure a cold air intake, exhaust and tune would help. I always run 93 octane so it hurts a little more at the pump. I have gotten as high as 21 mpg at 45-50 mph on flat ground. That was cool.
 
the best i ever got with my 8.1 is 14-15 on HW and normal was 8-10 in town.

i have friends with the 6.0 as work trucks and they claim 15 on HW
 
I have a 2003 hd(if it helps) with a 6.0/4l80e/4:10s with 8 inches of lift and 37s, it gets in the 14s all the time. Thats with flowmaster duals/aem cold air/edelbrock headers/hypertech programmer/bbk throttlebody. Im also easy on it to get the mileage. The exhaust will be changed next week to full stainless mbrp sideswept.

The mileage was falling until i did the tuneup.... plugs, wires, clean throttlebody, clean mass air and change fuel filter.

I have no complaints on the truck whatsoever, i have it for 7 years and its been real good to me.
 
Craig Artzner said:
No solid reason at the present, but down the road I'd like to maybe get a boat or a camper and be able to easily haul stuff. That and the 2500s look really cool. :D

Is your Silverado 4WD?
Click to expand...


you looking at new or used?

if your gonna just haul occasionally during the year i would look at a half ton. if going new chevy offers the 6.2 with the 6 speed and 4.10 gears if you want them. slap some air bags in the rear and get the factory optioned trailer brake controler and you will be able to handle any load you will feel comfortable with.

new 3/4 tons offer a few things better than a half ton.

1. bigger brakes
2. thicker frame.
3. stonger axle.
4. heavy springs
the motors and trans are all the same now. yes bigger brakes will help but if you have your trailer adjusted right and the load is not way more than what the truck is rated at then you will be fine.

the frame and axle fall under the area of how much are you hauling and for how long? if your gonna be constantly hauling day in day out get the 3/4. but if your gonna just do it occasionaly the half ton will last forever in those areas.

as for the springs, the air bags will help you out a bunch. i have a set on my half ton and when hauling hay i squat less than the 1 tons do (granted i have 85 psi in the bags)

the 3/4 will burn a hell of a lot more fuel when empty and rides rough compared to a half ton. and is more depending on what options you get.
, im hooked to a 40k pound trailer with a 1 ton all day every day so i know how having the proper truck for the job means. but my personal half ton handles my weekend and monthly hauling just fine


but if you dont mind the sacrificing fuel and ride for bad ass looks then get the 3/4 ton :D thats why my 07 is for sale im wanting a truck that i have only a slight need for the hauling ability but it looks bad ass :pimp:


hope that helps
 
Keep in mind the newer 2500HD's have the 6L80 trans. Because of the lower 1st gear they can have higher axle gears, plus a combination of a higher OD gets you a much lower RPM while cruising on the highway.

A guy here at work traded in his '02 for an '08 (trucks were otherwise identical down to the paint color). He had bought the '02 new and put around 100k on it including lots of time travelling the country with a camper trailer. He said towing there is no real difference in MPG since you can't take advantage of the higher gears, but empty it was getting at least 1-2 mpg better. However he drivers like an old farmer (i.e. very slow) and doesn't spend much time on the freeway (where the lower rpm would really help out).
 
Yeah I may just go with the 1/2 ton. I really like the way the 3/4 tons look, but it's not worth the lower gas mileage.
 
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