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02'-06' Avalanche Owners....How's YOUR Gas Mileage?

Still waiting for the patent to be approved on that one..:0:
 
Comically the vehicle I own that CAN get the best MPG, has the most "displacement" (5.7l '03 Vette) Of course it weighs about 1/2 as much as either of my trucks, and is not shaped like a brick..
 
Gas mileage matters, but, a nice (new) truck for $60K... means I can spend a few $$ to keep my "old" trucks alive, and feed 'em the gas they like.
 
Best I ever got was 16. That's never going over 55, and grany-ing it everywhere. But it's mostly city, and while the traffic isn't too bad off the strip in Vegas, the lights suck donkey balls.
 
Last I checked I was getting 13-14. I should check it now with my new trans, maybe it's better. Sure feels better.
 
My 2013 BDE is driven so gently. I’m lucky to get 11 in the city, if I fuel up and immediately get on the freeway I can see 18 but that 2-3+ hours to get to18.
I’ve been considering a induction cleaning, not much left to do otherwise except change the rear end.
Never expected mileage like a Honda Accord but never thought I’d live down at 10-11mpg.
 
Same here with a 2013, 5.3L, 3.42 gear ratio, pretty much what you all are seeing. Avg 17+, and about 20 mpg at 70 mph. It seems like there is always a 15+ mph headwind though when I'm on the highway and a head on wind again a day or two later on my return! Low 20's with no wind and driving a little slower. The truck really likes to cruise at 75-85 mph unless it's going through a construction zone, so I really don't know what the mpg are at 55 mph 😏. Around 10 mpg at 65 mph pulling a 3500 lb camper unless there is that headwind and then it just gets worse.
 
gfh77665 said:
Fairly poor MPG for a bone stock truck. 14 - 16.5 mpg.
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The topic of poor gas mileage comes up every time gas prices climb...there is a mountain of old threads where it is discussed to death and as a general statement the AV is not a gas economy vehicle and most owners didn't buy it for that reason.
The Av is one of the heaviest and least aerodynamic vehicles GM had. Most owners do their best with proper maintenance and drive it like an old geezer with slow starts and stops for best mileage. Otherwise they buy a small economy car to drive or even a motorcycle during high gas pricing times.
 
I have an 05 full load copper or orange. More of a copper tho. Just wondering what you guys are getting for gas mileage? I'm running about 16mpg town and highway.
 
Northern boy said:
I have an 05 full load copper or orange. More of a copper tho. Just wondering what you guys are getting for gas mileage? I'm running about 16mpg town and highway.
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I believe your color is Sunburst orange metallic.......you can verify by looking in your glovebox for the sticker with all the RPO codes that should have your paint code listed and see if it matches the code in this link,

2005 Chevrolet Avalanche Colors of Touch Up Paint

Touch Up Paint for your 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
www.automotivetouchup.com www.automotivetouchup.com
There is a thread on this site though that decodes all RPO codes listed FYI.
Take some time to read through the older threads on gas mileage to see what others are getting and some tips and ideas that people have tried to improve things. As I mentioned above the AV is NOT a gas economy vehicle and most owners don't expect it either.
 
I use my truck on weekends. Mostly around town. Rarely more than 20 miles in any one start/stop cycle. Several lights, stops here and there in between. I get 14.5 mpg on average.
 
2004 Z71: 17-18 mpg on rolling Interstate highway at 75mph with the AC on. 13-14 average combined local city/highway. 12-13 mpg towing 8000# at 65 mph on rolling Interstate highway (not using tow mode so OD will work and converter still stays locked in most of the time - just gotta slow down and not try to run cruise control at the speed limit). This is with 87 octane 10% ethanol here in Indiana.

Same fuel mileage as my 2001 Blazer 4x4 with a completely stock V-6 and stock size tires. But of course I don't tow with it.

I think the Avalanche does amazingly well in comparison to the Blazer The towing above is with the heavy little Blazer on my car trailer. Each year I take them both across the state to Krown Rustproofing south of Detroit and it certainly doesn't make any sense to drive them separately when the Avy will get 12-13 towing it.
 
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Wait a minute... We're supposed to get more than 1 mile per gallon? :eek::E:

Jokes aside, I started my 4500 mile trip from Pa., to Wright Patterson (Ohio), down to Louisiana, and back up through the Smokey Mountains (near Pigeon Forge, Tn.) with the INTENT of monitoring what type of mileage I was getting, but by the time I was done, was AFRAID to look.

Still am! I will say, with the lift and 33" Nitto's on 20's, I had to air UP, no joke, to 65 PSI, to recover the mileage I was getting with my stock rim/tire setup... and that was "good", but not "great. Maybe I was getting around 16/20. Large tank threw me off, so never really calculated it before the swap.
 
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Running 35s on the 3.42s and get around 12-13. Did an 87 octane tune but not sure if that makes the mpg better or worse.
 
I love to see others mpg. My 2003 1500 Z-71, when new(ish- maybe 40/50k miles) used the average 425-475 per tank at 80mph on long freeway trips from Northern Indiana to Birmingham. Once I slowed down and got 515 miles on a tank. That was with stock tires, intake. And even a roof rack.
Update sucks. Lol: Now, 230k later with aggressive 33-34 inch all terrain tires(not mud tires for sure but more aggressive than BG Goodrich.
2-1/2 inch leveling kit in front, 4-inch lift in back (when unloaded) with 2000lb additional payload, roof rack, rack on bed cover, ranch hand bumpers front and rear.
My mileage sucks at 360-400 mile per tank at 76-85. With extra spare and some tools, high-lift Jack in full length, full width. 3/4 inch plywood drawer set up’ off road lights around roof rack. Super heavy steel skid plate from bumper to tranny. Fully loaded with a weeks worth of camping gear, food water, kayak, tent, etc. and a passenger it drops to 11 mpg at 75-80 mph freeway avg. o don’t even want to entertain 35 inch tires.
 
All Avalanche owners should keep their tires aired up to max PSI allowed, especially for those of you who live in cold locations. I believe that, aside from combining or eliminating trips, is the biggest fuel saver.
 
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