What kind of gas mileage do you get with your Tahoe?

[kaskillah]

I was wondering what kind of gas mileage was everyone else getting from their Tahoes. I average an honest 17 MPG's with our '99 LS 4X4. We got it two years ago with 89K miles on it and its never gotten less than 16 MPG's and has even gotten as much as 21 MPG's from straight highway driving.
I've been accused of lying by others who don't even own one.
What do you get from yours?

[bartlanz]

14mpg on an average day.

[gurrzt]

I average between 14 to 16 mpg.

[sprucegoose]

I get an average of around 13-14 city, 15-16 hyw. Have noticed about a +1-2 mpg difference if I am able to get fuel that is non-reformulated. Where I live we are forced to buy reformulated in an effort to keep emissions down. Not only do you get worse mileage, but it cost 5-8 cents more per gallon.

[Kst8er]

'96 'Hoe
148k miles
K&N filter
Flowmaster exhaust

15.5 w/ 50/50 city/hwy
17-18 hwy

I'd like to know how anyone can get 20+ with such a large vehicle. I saw in another post someone was getting 20+ MPG. What kind/size of tires do you have?

[kaskillah]

I don't remember the size of the tires but I do remember that they are the stock tires that are specified in the owners manual and I keep them a little on the over inflated side at around 38 to 40 PSI. When I got the 20+ MPG's it was on regular non-reformulated unleaded gas. With the reformulated fuels, my hwy mileage drops to around 19 MPG's. I don't drive it with a heavy foot but I do cruise in the 70's on the open hwy with the cruise control set. Any time I get the urge to open it up, combined mileage drops to the 16 to 17 MPG range.
BTW, I never have used anything more than regular unleaded in it.

[Obi-Wan]

I've got an '01 LT 4x4 with the 5.3L & 63K miles. My gas mileage sucks. I only get about 11 city / 15 hwy. I've recently replaced the plugs, changed the oil with Mobil 1, replaced the fuel filter, and treated the combustion chambers with "Sea-Foam" carbon-eliminating stuff that many people have raved over. I just did the SeaFoam today, but I've already put one tank on the rest of it with no improvement. I'm gonna pick up an K&N stock-style air filter in the next couple days. We're leaving on a 1500-mile road trip next week, so I'm hoping to boost my mileage a few points before that trip. Filled up today at $1.96/gal.

I usually run 89 octaine, 10% ethanol gas. Haven't tried 87 regular yet. I'm sure I'll run that some on our trip, since ethanol gets pricy when you leave Nebraska.

[ultraviolet]

I have an '02 with about 43k miles on it now. Only real different addition has been a K&N air filter. We get about 19/20mpg on the highway and about 17mpg city.

This goes down to about 15/17 or so if I use 87 octane gas. The few extra dollars for 92 octane *really* does make a difference in the mileage and performance.

[RW5207]

We have a 2003 Tahoe 2WD that my wife drives (already has 42,000 miles).

She gets about 16 in the city and 19-21 on the highway. We live in the Dallas, TX area.

I've always been amazed at the mileage, as we had a 1999 Dodge Durango and it never got more than 18 mpg.

Russ

[kaskillah]

Originally Posted by RW5207

I've always been amazed at the mileage, as we had a 1999 Dodge Durango and it never got more than 18 mpg.
Russ

I'm even amazed by that mileage. I've never heard of anyone getting better than 15 mpg's with them which was one of the many reasons why we stayed away from any Chrysler SUV products when we shopped around for an SUV.

[goodrich2006]

i ahve a 1999 4dr 4x4 tahoe and the gas milage of about 11. i have a k&n air filter headers and true dual exuast.....any suggestions?

[kaskillah]

Originally Posted by goodrich2006

i ahve a 1999 4dr 4x4 tahoe and the gas milage of about 11. i have a k&n air filter headers and true dual exuast.....any suggestions?

I kind of picture your Tahoe with oversize tires as well. Keep the stock sized tires for one thing. I also have my tires on the over-inflated side as well. The computer is calibrated to the stock headers so running any mods may affect your mileage. The stock system has more back-flow resistance than a modified one.

[ch9493]

Its a good bet that with your LS it probably has the 3.08 or 3.23 rear gears. That coupled with a 4th gear in overdrive at speeds above 40mph will get you your 17plus mpg. Those are nice gears for highway, not much use for hauling the boat to the lake tho.......

[kaskillah]

Originally Posted by ch9493

Its a good bet that with your LS it probably has the 3.08 or 3.23 rear gears. That coupled with a 4th gear in overdrive at speeds above 40mph will get you your 17plus mpg. Those are nice gears for highway, not much use for hauling the boat to the lake tho.......

I'm not sure of the rear axle ratio, it had the G80 posi, but it was replaced after it broke by the previous owner. It doesn't say what ratio was used in the replacement but it wasn't replaced with the same set up. I'd have to look up the part # on the R.O. Also the Tahoe only has a 6800 LB rating. It had a tow hitch set up but I got rid of it soon after I got the Tahoe to shed a few unnecessary pounds.

[sgeorge]

2003 tahoe lt 21mpg with the cruise control on. i use full synthetic oil and a k&n air filter. tahoe has 21000 miles on it. no problems so far.