Not thrilled with my mpg of my Express

[breeze]

I've got a V8, high roof, and run ac; and can still get 17mpg. But that is driving 55 to 65mph and even easier off the expressway. MPH is the main secret to gas mileage imo. And the v8 will handle heavier loads too with less stress and get better mpg than a v6, often when loaded up like a camper. It's just hard to drive a v8 without punching the pedal! It takes commitment to do it: nearly 100% of the time!

Oh yeah, my dealer put nitrogen in the tires, so I would not need to put air in them, or as much anyway. I never had nitrogen before, but the steel radials don't get flat spots in them when sitting up for long periods on hot days (WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP, ...).

Other than possible gas mileage savings, the hassle (!$!) of putting air in the tires and the comfort feature of quiet tires has sold me on putting nitrogen in the tires from now on.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Oh yeah, my dealer put nitrogen in the tires....

{snip}

....sold me on putting nitrogen in the tires from now on.

If you have the bandwidth, (and can tolerate a few cuss words) here is a little video you might want to watch:

 

[closeanuf]

Very easy to understand.  You'd think he grew up in West Texas.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Very easy to understand.  You'd think he grew up in West Texas.

Hey I resemble that remark!

 

[MrNoodly]

Probably!

I get 16 mpg on the highway with my 2002 GMC 2500 but it's got the 5.7 in it so it's powered to handle the size of the vehicle better than the smaller enigne IMO.

My '07 has a 4.8L engine and I get 16 to 17 mpg. I also drive "too fast" according to those who say slower is better for mileage. But most of my driving is on open highways rather than cities with stop and go traffic. You get zero miles per gallon sitting at a traffic light, which is why city MPG is worse.

 

[tx2sturgis]

You get zero miles per gallon sitting at a traffic light, which is why city MPG is worse.

That, and brakes.

You paid for all the momentum with gasoline, then you scrubbed it off and turned it into heat created by the brakes.

Just think: If cars had no brakes they could get a LOT more miles per gallon!

 

[One Awesome Inch]

For the record my second van was a 2001 Express 3500 5.7 litre and it definitely got worse mpg than I'm getting now with my 4.8.

 

[breeze]

The V8 definitely has about up to a 4.5 mpg variance between open road optimizing and city metropolitan daily survival driving, trying to make ends meet. As well, maintenance and a balanced load forward/aft and left/right makes a huge difference: esp. w/ rv home-van or air plane pilots (my best comparison as to the complexity of challenge to both examples.)

Engineering wise, there are so many variables with what we are trying to do, that most don't even try until they figure out it is the optimum way to go for more reasons than I can count. Bob is gracious enough to show us his "golden rule" van that meets all the multidimensional requirements of a live-in van. He saves time for slobs like me by leading by example. It is very unfair to compare any ungroomed vehicle with the van guru's highly evolved new optimized van where everything integrates with everything else in harmony.

After reading about a dozen books from different excellent rv/van authors, Bob's words rang true nearly 100% of the time. There are infinite tweaks anyone can make, but make no mistake that it is the 'system' that makes the most difference. Reading his books over and over highlights the important things to make it all work: and 2 mpg's difference is not even in the top 20 reasons for success, imo. Bob's daily driving habits revolve around optimizing his van's service life, so unless you have done that, then it's hard to make a direct comparison to vehicles.

 

[drysailor]

Oh yeah, my dealer put nitrogen in the tires, so I would not need to put air in them, or as much anyway. I never had nitrogen before, but the steel radials don't get flat spots in them when sitting up for long periods on hot days (WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP, ...).

Other than possible gas mileage savings, the hassle (!$!) of putting air in the tires and the comfort feature of quiet tires has sold me on putting nitrogen in the tires from now on.

I have 78% nitrogen in my tires.

 

[frater secessus]

If you really want an accurate readout while driving, you need to invest in an OBD2 readout like the Scangauge2.
Disclaimer: They are NOT cheap.

Bluetooth OBD2 dongles that use your smartphone or tab are very cheap and provide the same info.  $10 is about average.

 

[Ballenxj]

Bluetooth OBD2 dongles that use your smartphone or tab are very cheap and provide the same info.  $10 is about average.

That's good to know. I guess you would have to download an APP to go with it, or does the software come with it? I hate downloading APPs.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Bluetooth OBD2 dongles that use your smartphone or tab are very cheap and provide the same info.  $10 is about average.

They might provide the same info, but not in the same way.

A plug-in OBD2 unit does not 'tie-up' my smartphone, in the same way that a standalone GPS does occupy my smartphone.

But I'm guessing that some folks will find the OBD2 dongle and app useful.

 

[frater secessus]

Normally the app is a free download.

Neither OBD2 monitoring nor GPS/nav have to tie up your smartphone. They will run in the background and provide guidance or alarms as required. They will also run with the screen completely off (a great way to save battery).

I use an old smartphone for my OBD2 monitoring and nav. Nice to use it for something.

 

[tx2sturgis]

A plug-in OBD2 unit does not 'tie-up' my smartphone, in the same way that a standalone GPS doesn't occupy my smartphone.

^^^^^^
Correcting my previous typo.

Yes, fs, if you have a spare smartphone to use as a display device then that's certainly a good option.

I just like the way the Scangauge works. It is completely powered from the OBD2 port, and powers up when I crank the engine, and powers down when I shut it off.

It fits nicely on the dash, just underneath the factory radio, and looks like it belongs there.

As always, YMMV.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I had an 03 Express with the 5.3 and was consistently getting about 21 mpg on the highway. 18-19 mpg mixed driving.

I now have a 2013 Silverado with the 5.3 and get about 19.5 mpg mixed. It currently has 80k and the mpg has gone up with the mileage, just as it did with my express. I have 80k on it as we speak. My Express had 110k when I sold it.

I rarely drive over 65, try to stay at 60. If I'm driving through a city and the flow of traffic is going 70-75 I'll stay with the flow of traffic as it's safer. I've adjusted my driving habits a lot to match what the computer says gives the best instant mpg. Lots of coasting and cruise control.

 

[akrvbob]

So far I have been disappointed with my 2015 Express with 4.8 also. I rarely ever got over 16 MPG. I've been hoping it was because it was not broken in and that may be true.

I just drove from Crossville Tennessee to Leadville CO and every tank was over 19 MPG (best was 19.8), the worst was 18.8. Not bad considering I'm over 8000 pounds!

Now that is why I bought an Express!!!

I've made two changes that may have caused it:

1) More miles so it may be getting broken-in. I bought it with 12,000 miles in February, and I'll turn 30,000 soon.
2) I put on a high-top. I think that may have increased my MPG. I had a ladder rack with panels hanging out all over the place and now they are very sleek and smooth.

At any rate, I'm delighted with that!!

 

[frater secessus]

I just like the way the Scangauge works. It is completely powered from the OBD2 port, and powers up when I crank the engine, and powers down when I shut it off.

It fits nicely on the dash, just underneath the factory radio, and looks like it belongs there.

Agreed.  I have both.  I use the hardware on my pickup and the app in the Van.

 

[Peterson]

Another happy Scangauge user here.  

We've been using a Scangauge with a 2002 Toyota Echo four door sedan (the model is the same as the "Vitz" outside the US) that we've had for about seven years and the average miles per gallon since buying the car is over 40mpg.  

The instantaneous feedback is priceless when it comes to actually improving our mileage.

 

[cortttt]

I have the 2012 gmc savana 2500 passenger van 6.0 L six speed and I was getting 18-19 hwy.  I put a roof rack on and mileage dropped.  After solar panel install probably drop more.  Plan to build air deflector.  I mainly drive comb city and part 2 lane hwy.  you can improve your driving habits with OBD reader.

gapper2

Nice to know the 6 liter can get that mileage pre roof rack/solar install! What are you getting now?

 

[cortttt]

Bluetooth OBD2 dongles that use your smartphone or tab are very cheap and provide the same info.  $10 is about average.

I have a 2010 4.8L 1-ton which prior to solar panels and loading got from 18-19 on the highway,  Now with the solar, a lot of load on top, alot of stuff in the van plus some big all terrain tires I think I'm looking at 16-17. 

When I hit the city MPG goes way, way down. I probably average in the 13's or 14's but have been in 12 mpg range or even lower once or twice if I'm constantly in stop and go traffic. I don't think that's unusual. 

I wonder, if you take it out on the hwyway a bit what you would see? I would bet 17-18 - right where it should be according to projected MPG.