Gas Trucks MPG

[Mike.O]

Figured this would be a good place to ask this since most all here have a truck.In the next few months looking to get a new truck. Time to upgrade the 98 s10.

Now my Chevy has been a great truck, but I also grew up with my dad having only Ford, so I'm exploring both brands.

I'm leaning towards getting a GAS F250 or 2500, extend cab, 6.5' bed. Haven't ruled out a Chevy 1500, but will not consider a Ford F150. HATE the direction they have gone with their engines.

How do you guys do for every day MPG on the 250/2500?

 

[Ridger]

My response may not be much help to you since my truck is 12 years old. I'm sure the engines are more efficient now. However, I have a 2005 GMC 2500HD crew cab, short bed, 6.0 gas engine, and automatic transmission. The truck will pull my equipment like it's not even back there but it loves gas. I typically get about 12 MPG for my everyday use. I don't drive on the highway much so I can't really say about that MPG, but it would probably not increase by much. I would also be interested to hear what others are getting on newer models.

 

[skeets]

Lil Brother has a 16 Ford 150 heavy half, he is getting about 16 on the highway about the same as my old Silverado. My new Silverado ( 2016,5.3 auto, 4 door short bed 4wd) avg 20.something around town and the trip to the GWN 23.something. But then I have never been one to use the cruse much, so it may well have been better had I used cruse control

 

[Mike.O]

Good to know, Thanks for the info.

The need is really for a 1500, the want is for a F250 / 2500. I only will tow my tractor a time or two a year at most, so I could get by with a 1500.

If consensus is 10-12 MPG in the real world vs the +/- 20 MPG of the 1500 then that's would be a huge factor in most likely choosing the Silverado 1500. But if its 15 -16 on 250/2500 vs 20 on the 1500, I could live with that and would have an easier time justifying the larger truck.

 

[Mike.O]

Lil Brother has a 16 Ford 150 heavy half, he is getting about 16 on the highway about the same as my old Silverado. My new Silverado ( 2016,5.3 auto, 4 door short bed 4wd) avg 20.something around town and the trip to the GWN 23.something. But then I have never been one to use the cruse much, so it may well have been better had I used cruse control

Skeets, ever tow your BX with the Silverado? How does it do?

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Not sure what your problem is with the F150. My 2013 with the Ecoboost and 90,000 miles will; out pull out, out run, and get better millage then the 2 V8 F150s I previously owned. It runs around 22 mpg locally and 20 mpg on the Interstate (most of my local is 55 mph very little in town). Pulling a loaded 5000# dump trailer it gets about 17 mpg and it will still pass another vehicle like the trailer isn't back there. If you plan on pulling a trailer I don't think any of the GMs have a 36 gallon fuel tank available.

 

[Creature Meadow]

I have a 2011 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7, average 16 mpg general driving and 20ish on the road.

I have a L4600 I tow with it on a 18' trailer and it does fine. Get 9-10 when towing trailer.

Good luck.

Jay

 

[bearskinner]

Hey Mike, look at the F150 with the Coyote motor (OHC 5.0) it has only 5 hp less than the ECO boost,( eco is measured with turbos spooled up) but you don't have to deal with all the turbo issues, and you get power and torque right off without spooling up turbos. There's way less to replace down the road also.
I have a 2012 F150 4x4 super crew with the 5.0. I regularly get just over 18 mpg highway driving ( not towing) the newer trucks have a 10 speed now, over my 6 speed. I tow my BX on a 16' double axle trailer with brakes and it tows like a dream. I actually traded down from my HD F250 diesel, as the F150 is a much nicer daily driver. I got it with the towing package, so it's set up very nicely to tow.

 

[Mike.O]

Not sure what your problem is with the F150. My 2013 with the Ecoboost and 90,000 miles will; out pull out, out run, and get better millage then the 2 V8 F150s I previously owned. It runs around 22 mpg locally and 20 mpg on the Interstate (most of my local is 55 mph very little in town). Pulling a loaded 5000# dump trailer it gets about 17 mpg and it will still pass another vehicle like the trailer isn't back there. If you plan on pulling a trailer I don't think any of the GMs have a 36 gallon fuel tank available.

It's just my opinion. Thank you for the info thought, I do appreciate it. I'm glad your F-150 has been great for you. I prefer to get a good ole fashioned V-8. I don't need twin turbos and more things to have issues down the road.

 

[Mike.O]

Hey Mike, look at the F150 with the Coyote motor (OHC 5.0) it has only 5 hp less than the ECO boost,( eco is measured with turbos spooled up) but you don't have to deal with all the turbo issues, and you get power and torque right off without spooling up turbos. There's way less to replace down the road also.
I have a 2012 F150 4x4 super crew with the 5.0. I regularly get just over 18 mpg highway driving ( not towing) the newer trucks have a 10 speed now, over my 6 speed. I tow my BX on a 16' double axle trailer with brakes and it tows like a dream. I actually traded down from my HD F250 diesel, as the F150 is a much nicer daily driver. I got it with the towing package, so it's set up very nicely to tow.

Bearskinner, this is a truck I would consider. I guess in my initial post I was referring to the ecoboost F-150s, which seem to be 95% of them on the lot. I had roughly ruled out the 5.0 F-150 due to cost, seems to be quite a bit of $$$ to upgrade from the standard 2.7 ecoboost to this engine. Not too sure why, you would think the 5.0 is simpler without the turbos. But I will definitely include the F-150 V-8 in my search, although I think the price might rule this one out.

Plan to head to the local auto-mall one of these weekends do some real shopping.

 

[scdeerslayer]

Don't go with the Chevy 1500 with Active Fuel Management either unless you like adding 2 quarts of oil between oil changes.

 

[skeets]

MikeO no I havent dragged the BX with it, have pulled a 21 foot Grady White, locked in the trailer mode. Yes you knew there was something back there, and it was not a big deal , Im not sure what the boat weighs in at but I had no problems brakeing was fine highway it was stable though the mileage did drop to 15. The new beast has some pretty high gears I think compared to the old one. And when it comes to trucks, boats, motorcycles, and women,,,,Ya pays your money and takes you pick.. Pick the one YOU like, because your the one that has to live with it!
And so far I have not had to add any oil between oil changes but then theres only 30,000 on it too

 

[Bunker Buster]

We traded my wife's 2015 Silverado for a 2017 1500 2wd, crew cab, short bed. It's been a great truck so far and averages 19-20mpg. She drives mostly highway with a little in town. I can't speak to the oil consumption claim because we've only put 6k miles on it so far. However, the 2015 never had an issue and we traded it at 32k miles.

 

[Bmbbm]

My present truck is a 1500 series 2011 Silverado crew cab short bed 4x4 with the 5.3 litre V-8. I average a little over 19mpg. I pull a 20' fiberglass runabout on a tandem axle trailer without any problems, however my mileage drops to about 14mpg. My BX on the trailer weighs much less. BTW mine does not use oil.

BIG incentives out there now!

 

[Fro65]

I have a 2016 Silverado 4 door 4X4 with the 5.3 for work and a 2017 F-150 4 door 4X4 with the 5.0 for my personal truck. The Silverado averages 14.3 MPG and the F-150 averages 18.2 MPG. The best the Silverado has done on the highway is 21.8 MPG and the F-150's best has been 22.7 MPG.

The Chevy just turned 20,000 miles and the Ford only has 2,000 miles on it. Was told the Ford would Improve eventually?

I am a stickler for keeping records. Just some numbers that might interest you FWIW.

I do have a preference but I'll leave it with "to each his own".

 

[Yooper]

Just got my new 2500HD 6.0 gas yesterday. It won out over the Ford F-250 6.2 gas because of power. Dealer handles both brands and I drove them back to back. Have to go by what my a$$ometer tells me. But I'll say this for the Ford, the interior puts the Chevy to shame. Very well thought out and comfortable. Both trucks you need a ladder to get into the cab, or at least a side step which I got. Don't know why they are so high now. Sorry I can't answer your fuel mileage question yet. Will have to run a few tanks of gas through before I can establish the data.
Like scdeerslayer said, I stayed away from the AFM engine. My research on them made me nervous about owning one. Maybe they got the issues worked out on the new models. I don't know and didn't want to find out the hard way.

 

[Mike.O]

Thanks guys. I wasn't all that aware of the AFM issues and I did some HW on it yesterday. Sounds like they got most of it worked out after the 5.3 with aluminum block, but still something to be skeptical of.


Yooper, I'm also leaning more and more to the two trucks you test drove. No fuel management equipment. As long as a can commit my self to not commute with it (and drive my civic), I think I can have an easier time justifying one of the BIG boys.

 

[Mike.O]

I have a 2016 Silverado 4 door 4X4 with the 5.3 for work and a 2017 F-150 4 door 4X4 with the 5.0 for my personal truck. The Silverado averages 14.3 MPG and the F-150 averages 18.2 MPG. The best the Silverado has done on the highway is 21.8 MPG and the F-150's best has been 22.7 MPG.

The Chevy just turned 20,000 miles and the Ford only has 2,000 miles on it. Was told the Ford would Improve eventually?

I am a stickler for keeping records. Just some numbers that might interest you FWIW.

I do have a preference but I'll leave it with "to each his own".

What is your preference?!?!?!?!?!?
Would be cool to hear from someone who drives each daily

 

[RCW]

I did buy a 2017 Silverado 2 months ago. It's my 6th in a row, all red. 1LT Crew this time with 5.3. Been getting 19 mpg in town, including hauling tons of pellets. Got 23+ on a 2-lane trip in the Adirondacks.
Is the AFM synonymous with VVT? Didn't hear issues with that. My '13 had VVT without issue. (I also often use "manual " and block OD and VVT with 5th gear, since I live in a rural area).
What's the issue with AFM and oil loss? Burning oil? Where's it going?
I did hear about an oil seal (?) problem in 5.3's from a mechanic.
REALLY suggested the 6.2 available in some 1500's over the 5.3.
Honestly, but for several fuel tank vent solenoids, I've had no issues with Silverado for 20 years. I guess a leap of faith.
I did look at a 2500HD on the lot, but just couldn't swing it. 6.0 has been great a long time, but does like gas.

Two interesting things to me with this engine are 0-20 motor oil, and it takes 8 quarts.
Ironically, the mechanic had a 2-day old LTZ 2500 crew cab Duramax. He was born a Chevy guy...grew up with my kids.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scdeerslayer]

VVT and AFM are two different things. AFM turns off 4 cylinders when the power isn't needed. Don't know exactly why but the oil is burned. A tech told me it's because the oil builds up in the cold off cylinders then is burned when they are turned back on. Mine started about 30k or 40k miles. I had an oil leak repaired under warranty at that time, and oil was still disappearing with no leaks. I looked on line and there were countless discussions about the same thing. I didn't look into it much, I just decided that I'll keep it as long as I can or at least until I am able to get a 2500 (which I probably need anyway when I'll need to start towing my tractor), and never get AFM again. I also had to get both cats replaced at about 70k miles under warranty, I'm sure it's from burning oil. Hopefully I can get rid of it before they need replacing again.

But I'll say this for the Ford, the interior puts the Chevy to shame. Very well thought out and comfortable.

They must be greatly improved in the last ten years. I had a rental F-150 for a couple of weeks after getting rear-ended and drove some for the company I worked for at the time, and that was awful.