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Towing milage 17MKE with 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd SLT

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  • Cate&Rob
    replied
    Originally posted by jesseart View Post
    with highest octane gas i am getting close to 9 mpg traveling in south Texas flat roads with very little wind.
    Hi jesseart,

    9 mpg towing is not bad. I would stay far away from K&N filters or aftermarket calibration mods. The engineers who designed and calibrated your engine know far more about it's abilities, limitations and necessary safety margins than any aftermarket add-on supplier could ever hope to know. "Performance" chips typically use up built in safety margins to provide a little better performance at the risk of engine damage. Don't go there . . .

    Rob

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  • Country Campers
    replied
    Originally posted by jesseart View Post
    thanks again for all your inputs. i have tried deferent transmission gear setting and have concluded that at setting 7 (8 speed) at 55 mph, with highest octane gas i am getting close to 9 mpg traveling in south Texas flat roads with very little wind. so for future planning i need to estimate 7 mpg average. i will see if there are any upgrades i can do on my Gmc to improve the MPG such K&N air filter, exhaust, program the chip or get a new truck design for towing. We love out 17MKE RV, it tows great, the floor plan is ideal for my wife and I.
    In regards to the K&N filter , I have tried this , twice , and had seen no improvement in performance or mileage. I tried this on 2 different GM gas engines. I have never tried a programmer or chip so I can not say that adding a programmer and a filter may help. Good luck.

    Brian
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  • jesseart
    replied
    thanks again for all your inputs. i have tried deferent transmission gear setting and have concluded that at setting 7 (8 speed) at 55 mph, with highest octane gas i am getting close to 9 mpg traveling in south Texas flat roads with very little wind. so for future planning i need to estimate 7 mpg average. i will see if there are any upgrades i can do on my Gmc to improve the MPG such K&N air filter, exhaust, program the chip or get a new truck design for towing. We love out 17MKE RV, it tows great, the floor plan is ideal for my wife and I.

    Leave a comment:

  • Guest
    replied
    The GM 5.3L has a torque curve that is almost identical to the older L96 6.0L where at around 2000 RPM the torque curve is rising and this area on the curve can provide the best efficiency. However there are trade offs where with a headwind, lower speed and RPM will win out.

    The 5.3L depending how you drive it will achieve between 19 and 24 mpg HWY with those out in Nebraska or Iowa achieving up to 30 mpg at steady state, 55 mph speeds in AFM as an example. These would be warm weather numbers as winter fuel (lean) and additional drag due to lower temperatures will drop MPG by 10-15% or so.

    For the OP, what is your final drive ratio?

    Jim
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Guest; 02-01-2020, 08:49 AM.

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  • Cate&Rob
    replied
    Originally posted by Oregon Fun-Guy View Post

    Have you tried the mileage at higher speeds. I found that my Silverado has a sweet spot around 65 - 66 mph in tow/haul mode. At 60 - 62 mph I get 7 - 8 mpg and at 66 I get 9 - 10 on fairly flat grades. This was counter-intuitive but consistent. If I go faster the mileage starts going down. But, I do have the 6.0 L engine.
    Hi Norm & Karla,

    This makes some sense. My fuel economy is best at 2100 RPM, which is 60 MPH in 5th gear (of a 6 speed trans). Lower RPM drops me out of the turbo boosted range which needs more fuel and higher RPM needs more fuel. Every engine has a "sweet spot" where it runs best. Like your description, I get greater fuel consumption at 55 MPH and 65 MPH than I do at 60 MPH.

    Rob

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  • Oregon Fun-Guy
    replied
    Originally posted by jesseart View Post
    I am a new owner of a 17MKE 2020, i have notice that i am getting 6-7mpg, needless to say this is very disappointing. I have a 8 speed automatic transmission, with 5.3 gas engine, crew cab towing a 17MKE with empty tanks. I would appreciate input. I have tried lower gear such as 6 and 7 speed. I notice i get the best milage at gear setting 7 at 60mph. I normally get 20 mpg not towing.
    Have you tried the mileage at higher speeds. I found that my Silverado has a sweet spot around 65 - 66 mph in tow/haul mode. At 60 - 62 mph I get 7 - 8 mpg and at 66 I get 9 - 10 on fairly flat grades. This was counter-intuitive but consistent. If I go faster the mileage starts going down. But, I do have the 6.0 L engine.

    Leave a comment:

  • Guest
    replied
    Jesseart,

    I was not able to post earlier due to an init issue with my PC evidently.

    These numbers do not look right for what your towing. My 2015 GMC 6 speed with 3.42:1 final drive while towing a 2017 Imagine 2600RB will achieve 9-11mpg at 60-65mph. In the PA mountains, the fuel economy will settle in at 9mpg.

    Curious where are you towing? Also what is your non-towing numbers and at what speed?

    Also are you using the tow haul function? Your RPM while towing should be in the 1700 - 2200 range, depending on speed, for best efficiency.

    Jim
    Last edited by Guest; 01-31-2020, 08:43 PM.
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  • jesseart
    replied
    thanks Folks for your input. I am currently traveling in south Texas flatlands, yes some headwinds at times.

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  • Cate&Rob
    replied
    Hi Jesseart,

    You mileage does seem low for towing a trailer weighing less than 6000 lbs at 60 MPH . . . unless you are at higher elevations, climbing hills or pushing into a head wind.

    I also tow with a (different) gasoline engine, but am pulling a much heavier trailer. On the 1500 mile more-or-less level (except for the Appalachians) trip back and forth to/from Florida/Canada, I typically average about 9.5 MPG. As you have mentioned, I tow in a lower transmission gear to keep my engine RPM at 2100 for 60 MPH. This seems to be the "sweet spot" for my turbocharged engine. I also run premium fuel when towing to help engine efficiency.

    Attached picture is from a recent trip between Ontario and Florida.

    Rob

    Attached Files

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  • TucsonJim
    replied
    Hi Jesseart! Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you could join us.

    Actually, I'm not all that surprised with your towing mileage. I tow a 34 foot Reflection travel trailer with a Ford diesel F350. Even with the diesel, I usually only get about 9.5 MPG. Gas powered tow vehicles usually get 20-30% less mpg when towing when compared to a diesel.

    What part of the country do you hail from, and are there a lot of hills? Do you frequently fight a lot of wind in your area? Hills and head winds really play havoc with my mileage.

    Jim

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  • jesseart
    started a topic Towing milage 17MKE with 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd SLT

    Towing milage 17MKE with 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd SLT

    I am a new owner of a 17MKE 2020, i have notice that i am getting 6-7mpg, needless to say this is very disappointing. I have a 8 speed automatic transmission, with 5.3 gas engine, crew cab towing a 17MKE with empty tanks. I would appreciate input. I have tried lower gear such as 6 and 7 speed. I notice i get the best milage at gear setting 7 at 60mph. I normally get 20 mpg not towing.
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