2005 Suburban MPGs on long trip...very happy!

[creed82]

I tracked fuel economy on a trip I took a trip with my oldest two boys in the Suburban to Arizona this weekend to haul back a bunch of stuff from home.

On Thursday we drove the Suburban from Springville Utah to Taylor Arizona, down HWY 6 to HWY 191 to HWY 77 to Taylor. I filled up at the Maverick on Mn Street in Springville Utah, then drove 516 miles to Taylor Arizona. We did not stop for fuel, and I still had just over 1/4 tank left when we arrived. I filled up in Taylor, and my manual calculation gave me 23.7 mpg for the trip down. Details: I drove at 70 mph or less, mostly 65 mph, cruise control on, A/C on, 89 octane fuel.

In Taylor I loaded up the entire back half of the Suburban with heavy stuff, cabinets, large speakers, totes full of scrap books, etc. Then drove to Mesa, AZ to visit family.

Yesterday morning I topped off the loaded Suburban on McKellips/Horne in Mesa and drove the 202 loop to the 101, to the 60, to the 93, to Las Vegas NV, then took I-15 home to Springville Utah and filled up at the Phillips 66 just off the 400 South exit. I never had to stop for fuel. I drove 683 miles on 29.15 gallons of 89 octane fuel = 23.43 MPG. I pretty much drove 70 mph with the cruise/AC on the entire way.

The vehicle in question is a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 2wd 5.3 V8, all original/stock with Michelin LTX MS2 245/75R16 tires.

 

[zora]

glad to hear, usually most posts on the topic complain about poor gas mileage

 

[VanGo]

That's amazing! They are only rated at 16-18 highway
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=21514

 

[bfunke]

My 2005 Suburban K1500 has 180K miles and has averaged 16.1 mpg over it's lifetime. My driving is a mix of small Southern town, rural roads and Interstates. I'm fairly easy on the gas and on the brakes so the mileage doesn't seem to vary much. 23-24 seems impossible unless somehow you got a V6 option.

 

[jsavage3]

I just drove from OH to the Smoky Mtns in TN. On the way back, I paid close attention to my MPG. I got 18.2 mpg with four people plus luggage, AC off and cruise set at 67 mph. Not bad, I think. If I slowed it down to 55-60 mph, I think I'd see a little better MPG. I recently made a couple of small and relatively cheap mods...K&N air filter, Tornado and throttle-body spacer. These mods definitely made a difference in how much power it seemed to have. At 67 mph and right at 2000 RPM, it never down shifted one time when going thru the hilly terrain of I-75 between Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN. I was quite impressed. Very happy with our Burb!

 

[VanGo]

I doubt the tornado made any difference. They don't work, just Google "review tornado air intake turbonator".
The filter and spacer should help. I hear controversy over the K&N but I have them in 2 vehicles. If you want real gains and HP go to CFM Technologies

To the OP: If you " drove 516 miles to Taylor Arizona. ...did not stop for fuel, and I still had just over 1/4 tank left " and then refilled, you burned about 30 gals which is a more credible 17MPG. The only way to get even close to accurate measuring is to start with a full tank, drive, fill up and calculate miles/gals. And do this a few times to avg out the tank top off because you can never know when the pump really shuts off.