Thursday, May 2, 2013

Five Simple Tips to Improve the Gas Mileage in Your Chevy Full Size Truck



With no apparent ceiling to the price of gas, consumers in this country and around the world are looking for any way to get the most mileage out of each gallon of gas. I own an 03 Chevy Silverado 1500, bought it used in 05 and the 5.3-liter v-8 is still running strong. We have a Prius for the family car, but there is no substitute for the V-8 power when it comes to hauling materials or towing equipment. The list below includes simple, inexpensive strategies to improve gas mileage in your full-size Chevy truck.

Regular maintenance will increase the gas mileage of any full-size truck

Changing the oil, checking tire pressure, replacing the air filter, all these routine items can have a significant impact on the gas mileage of your Chevy truck. An added benefit will be reduced repair costs and down time. While synthetic lubricants do work better, keeping the fluids full and changing them as needed will lower your fuel costs and help your truck to spend more time on the road and less with your mechanic.

Install a Tonneau bed cover or remove the tailgate

To increase your Chevy trucks gas mileage you must reduce the drag it creates as you are driving. Trucks are by nature not aerodynamic, but some changes can improve these characteristics and also add to the look of your truck. Adding a Camper will decrease drag, but also add significant weight. A better choice for increasing gas mileage is to use a bed cover. These are much less expensive than a camper, but still eliminate the additional drag caused by the tailgate. Another option is to remove the tailgate entirely, leaving it open or secured with a net. You can easily anchor any items in the bed with ratchet straps when needed, and you will reduce fuel costs whether you are hauling materials or just driving around.

Slow down to go further in your Chevy truck

As I previously mentioned all trucks suffer aerodynamic shortcomings, and this problem is magnified as speed increases. The same truck needs significantly more power to go 65mph than 45mph. Slowing down just 10mph can have a real effect on your fuel expenses. The same goes for "jack-rabbit" starts and speeding up to red lights. The faster you go, the more gas you burn, plain and simple. Once you put this into practice, you will probably also notice that you do not have to replace or repair other parts as frequently as well. Saving on brakes, transmission, and other drivetrain repairs directly translates to savings on your overall auto expenses.

Limit use of the Air Conditioning

One thing that will reduce the fuel mileage on your full-size Chevy truck is using the A/C. Although you may need it in the summer months, when the temperature drops you are much better off using the fan to cool off with outside air. The defroster will use the A/C system if the thermostat is set to cool, so flip it over to hot whenever you can to remove condensation from the windshield. Below 45mph, cracking the windows will let in a nice breeze, but at higher speeds, the additional drag will actually reduce your fuel efficiency. Driving down the highway it is preferable to use the A/C set on a moderate setting to rolling down the windows.

You cannot manage what you cannot Measure

Using the gas gauge and the odometer is iffy at best, to keep track of your fuel economy you may want to keep a log, writing down the number of gallons you purchase at the pump, and the miles youve driven since your last fill-up. Since running all the way empty can be risky to both you and your engine, I suggest letting the gauge drop to a quarter tank, and then fill-up. This way you can have a standard to base your figures without risking being stranded or messing up your engine by running it dry. No automobile engine should be run completely out of gas as this can cause major problems.

I hope that you can use this information to get the most from your Chevy full-size truck. Given the economic situation today, we might be driving these trucks for a few more years than originally planned. Following these tips will help ensure that your Chevy Silverado lasts as long as you need, and gets the job done for the least cost.