LB7: Mpg lb7

jppowersports

New member
Feb 9, 2014
11
0
0
What are you guys getting hand calculated on your lb7s? I'm looking to improve my mpg because I would like to save some money over the life of my truck when I am driving it 60 miles a day.

I have a 04 cc/sb 7 inch bds lift 20 in wheels 275/60r20 Cooper Zeon tires airraid intake big air horn nicktane cat filter adaptor high flow ex manifold on drivers side muffler deleted stock exhaust and an efi live single tune about 100hp over stock done by Justin at pickups and power sports in mn. The best I've seen hand calculated was 17.5 mpg that was all highway.

I'm looking to get better mileage and would like to know what else I could do to get better fuel mileage. I'm saving money right now (which is hard with just starting as a homeowner and having a child and a wife who is going to school full time) and hopefully building my tranny this summer. Also going to get smaller blocks in the rear and lower the truck down a couple inches.

Do lift pumps help with mileage? What else can help my mileage other than the normal "take the lift out and run small tires" deal. I see people posting on these diesel Facebook pages saying they are getting 20 to 24 mpg with their duramax. I find that hard to believe.

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jppowersports

New member
Feb 9, 2014
11
0
0
Lower it to stock height or below. I got 23.5 on a road trip with 4 guys and their luggage!

Not what I was looking for haha I really dont want to pull the lift out. I think If I put smaller blocks in the rear and crank the torsion bars down that will be low enough.

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9mmkungfu

Member
Aug 29, 2011
158
0
16
Northern Virginia
Not what I was looking for haha I really dont want to pull the lift out. I think If I put smaller blocks in the rear and crank the torsion bars down that will be low enough.

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Can you crank the bars down that low?

I'm curious because I'm going to drop mine down a bit too.

Is it safe to ride with the torsion bar adjustment bolts completely removed?

I think I remember experimenting with it a couple years ago and my truck rode like crap.
 

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
8
38
36
Goodyear, AZ
T-bolts completely gone, hangers/shackles in the back on 265/70/17 nitto terragrapplers with the mods in my Sig on my level 5 100hp trans safe tune. 6750lbs. I get on average 16 city 20 highway with a personal highway best of 24.6 from Oregon to Idaho @ 75mph.
 
Last edited:

02greysixer

Active member
Jun 4, 2011
1,829
7
38
North Central FL
A good lift pump will help. I have an lly lowered 1" up front and 3 in rear with 285/75/16 terra grapplers but same principle applies. Before my Fass I got about 17.5-18mpg hand calc, after Fass 19-19.5 hand calc. That's 90% highway cruise set on 70mph and 10% stop and go city. (110 miles per day)

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Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
3,361
64
48
Lincoln, Ne
Lower it to stock height or below. I got 23.5 on a road trip with 4 guys and their luggage!

X2 My old lb7 got 23 on road trips empty.

Either loose the lift or be happy with 17.5. In my opinion that's pretty good for a lifted truck. Grandpa looking trucks don't look cool but get awesome mileage, easy on wear parts and perform better in most cases.
 

sawmilldmax

Active member
Apr 2, 2013
292
32
28
63
Mount Airy,NC
A little over 24 on my LB7, highway miles, single cab, 265-16's, Air Dog, S&B air intake, 4" exhaust, never tuned, 275,000 miles. It's just an old beater, but I use it everyday.
 

saltydogg61

New member
Jan 5, 2014
4
0
1
plus.google.com
I have a 04 cc lb with 245 tires I get 18.3 around town and 23.8 - 24.2 on Highway keeping it below 80 mph can't complain I run the shit out of it around town

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Antiher03

New member
Nov 10, 2013
165
0
0
Utah
Id like to know how you guys get that good of fuel mileage!

I get about 14.5 in town about 18 hwy iirc
 

Joemackey

New member
Jun 16, 2013
7
0
0
Kodiak Alaska
I'm getting 20 tops on the highway, but in town with stop and go and different speed limits I haven't seen above 14. Keep in mind I haven't tuned yet.
 

baggedLB7

Goer
May 1, 2011
688
4
18
Utah
Running in tune 3 45-60 miles a day mixed city and freeway with my big wheels I would avg 15.5- 17 depending on my foot.
Long trips freeway if I keep it under 2000 rpm 20-22 no problem.
This is hand calc.
Also this is summer time to it dose not do that good in the winter.
 

workin' diesel

factory tuned
Nov 13, 2010
630
0
0
Coalhust, AB Canada
My daily driving affords me around 15, but I have gotten near 21. Seriously though, in my opinion, the further from stock you go the worse it gets, especially with big tires and a lift(added weight). Unless you go to the extreme opposite end and have more than one turbo and injectables, but then you are not really cost effective. Gotta remember that it is a truck, not a Prius!
 

Mpsoldier

That just happened!
Mar 10, 2010
646
0
16
In my House
mpg effects where you live personally. When i am in florida i get 21-22mpg in CT i cant break 20 if i wanted to 18 majority of the time!
 

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
8
38
36
Goodyear, AZ
mpg effects where you live personally. When i am in florida i get 21-22mpg in CT i cant break 20 if i wanted to 18 majority of the time!

exactly. altitude plays a huge role. im between 3500-6000 ft. elevation depending what part of town.

also winter fuel is so shitty
 

diesel53

New member
Sep 16, 2010
907
0
0
AZ
What are you guys getting hand calculated on your lb7s? I'm looking to improve my mpg because I would like to save some money over the life of my truck when I am driving it 60 miles a day.

I have a 04 cc/sb 7 inch bds lift 20 in wheels 275/60r20 Cooper Zeon tires airraid intake big air horn nicktane cat filter adaptor high flow ex manifold on drivers side muffler deleted stock exhaust and an efi live single tune about 100hp over stock done by Justin at pickups and power sports in mn. The best I've seen hand calculated was 17.5 mpg that was all highway.

I'm looking to get better mileage and would like to know what else I could do to get better fuel mileage. I'm saving money right now (which is hard with just starting as a homeowner and having a child and a wife who is going to school full time) and hopefully building my tranny this summer. Also going to get smaller blocks in the rear and lower the truck down a couple inches.

Do lift pumps help with mileage? What else can help my mileage other than the normal "take the lift out and run small tires" deal. I see people posting on these diesel Facebook pages saying they are getting 20 to 24 mpg with their duramax. I find that hard to believe.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

7 inch lift and those little tires? what i would do, drop torsion in the front, take the bolts out with stock keys, run whatever block in the rear to level it out, and run a nice set of 20x12 wheels with nitto 420s 305 50r20's. Tires are cheap, and light to make up some weight savings.

as far as the rest of the truck just make sure the tune is reputable and if you do alot of highway driving you could always do a suncoast 6 speed conversion. Its expensive though.