Getting better gas milage out of Yukon XL K2500

[Fleetcare]

I just picked one of these up and dont get more than 11mpg from the 6 liter. What can I possibly do to get better milage? I drive the car daily so its well worth the investment in a chip or rom flash to get more MPG.

Any idea??

Thanks in advance

[racer_tim]

Convert it to diesel. :LOL

Just kidding. I get 17 mpg around town with my Dodge 2500 4x4 club cab, short bed Cummins Turbo Diesel.

That was killing me as my daily driver too, so I pickup up a $300 VW Cabriolet and put $1k into it to get it "street ready" and now it's my daily driver, getting between 27-31 mpg.

Plus I get to drive "topless"

------------------
Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

[This message has been edited by racer_tim (edited February 01, 2005).]

[This message has been edited by racer_tim (edited February 02, 2005).]

[Fleetcare]

Originally posted by racer_tim:
Convert it to diesel. :LOL

Just kidding. I get 17 mpg around town with my Dodge 2500 4x4 club cab, short bed Cummins Turbo Diesel.

That was killing me as my daily driver too, so I pickup up a $300 VW Cabriolet and put $1k into it to get it "street ready" and now it's my daily driver, betting between 27-31 mpg.

Plus I get to drive "topless"

Tim,
I really wanted diesel! But I wanted a 3rd row of seats even more. It came down to Ford Vs Chevy and while I am not even American I think I made the right choice.

So since I have the thing already I am going to try get some better gas milage some way or another.. I just ditched the small daily driving car for this beast.

Cheers
~Jonathan

First thing to do is a cold air intake and/or K&N air filter or its equivelent.
Cat back exhaust would be the second item.

FWIW, play around with your tire air pressure, you'd be surprised how much you can pick up by just bumping the tire pressures up 5lbs all around. I used to set my air pressures on my 01 2500 4x4 Cummins Ram by how evenly the tire tread footprint looked. I put an extra 10lbs in the tires while towing my camper, and took a short trip without the camper and saw MPG's that were almost 9mpg higher than I had ever averaged before. Tires may wear out a little faster, but then, I've never been a big fan of the factory supplied Michelins, and with fuel prices hanging around the 1.90/gallon mark, I doubt a set of tires will cost more than the fuel I'd be wasting.
I can coax 24mpg easily out of the truck now on the highway, 18-19mpg around town, and 12-14mpg towing a 31 foot long, 8K+ pound travel trailer.

[handfulz28]

I'll second the tire psi info. You should run 60-70psi.
If you haven't yet, check out www.ls1tech.com/forums and scroll down to the Truck section.
Spend the money on the PCM (try www.pcmforless.com, www.nelsonperformance.com). You need to tell them that you're looking for MPG. I think one of the biggest improvements they can do is lockup the torque converter earlier, and remove/reduce GM's "torque management".
I wouldn't recommend intake/exhaust; that's for people looking for more "peak" power. The factory "cat-back" actually flows pretty good for a stock motor. But, if you're gonna do it, do it right: www.dynatecheaders.com Long-tubes running through stock muffler is a good setup.
Something else to help reduce parasitic loss is converting to electric fans and maybe a smaller crank pulley.

And once you've seen it all, check out: www.ststurbo.com
Good luck,
Michael
'01 Yukon XL 2500 w/8.1L and 3.73s
MPG: 10.5/13.5 bone stock w/115k miles

[This message has been edited by handfulz28 (edited February 01, 2005).]

[joeg]

Lots of coasting.

[ITSRX7]

I added almost 85 miles per tank with a K&N FIPK on my 5.4 Expedition.

AB

------------------
Andy Bettencourt
New England Region R188967
www.flatout-motorsports.com

[racer_tim]

I forgot to add that I have a K&N air filter, 4" turbo to tailpipe exhaust system, and a superchip upgrade. I also have a roll-n-lock retractable bed cover from http://www.rollnlock.com/

I towed back from Portland Rose Cup, with the bed fully loaded with parts, etc. trailer with 8 tires on the rack, and the car on the trailer, I got 16 mpg. I didn't have the superchip installed at that time.

The current tires are recommended for 60 lbs PSI. I haven't tried to run them any higher. I might try.



------------------
Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

[Fleetcare]

Originally posted by racer_tim:
I forgot to add that I have a K&N air filter, 4" turbo to tailpipe exhaust system, and a superchip upgrade. I also have a roll-n-lock retractable bed cover from http://www.rollnlock.com/

I towed back from Portland Rose Cup, with the bed fully loaded with parts, etc. trailer with 8 tires on the rack, and the car on the trailer, I got 16 mpg. I didn't have the superchip installed at that time.

The current tires are recommended for 60 lbs PSI. I haven't tried to run them any higher. I might try.

[mlytle]

hmmm, sounds like i need an fipk for my overdog 454 'burban.
thanks for the tip andy!

marshall

[This message has been edited by mlytle (edited February 05, 2005).]

[Fleetcare]

Anyone think removing the cat would help ?

Since its over 8600lbs I dont need to have emissions done yearly.. or ever!

So would it be worth while to remove it ?

[handfulz28]

Not worth it.