Gas Mileage

[snagger]

I'm shopping for a new truck. I've narrowed my search to a Chevy Silverado and a Toyota Tacoma (take it easy Ford and Dodge guys....I mean no disrespect). Anybody own these vehicles and what can you tell me about the gas mileage? The Chevy will be the 5.3L and the Toyota will be the V6. Both will be 4-wd. The year will be 2007-2010.

Thanks.

[gixxer01]

From the research I've done (silverado, f150, tacoma) the mileage is about the same for all. The other interesting thing I've noticed is that prices for all three used vehicles are really close to the same, with the silverado being slightly lower. The true difference comes when shopping new. The tacoma prices close to $10k less new. Used tacomas must be made of gold!

[Esox_Magnum]

If you tow get the 5.3, Tacomas with the v6 dont have alot of power towing... My 01 5.3 get 15+ towing 17+ on the open road, 15 around town...

[Jeremy airjer W]

the real difference will be size. If the smaller truck isn't an issue than fuel economy will be about the same. you might get 20 on the open road with the tacoma but it will be much less towing. If your towing that will be a major consideration. towing capacity of the chevy will be almost double. the tacoma is rated around 65,0oo pounds with the v-6 towing package and the chevy is around the 10,000 pound mark.

[fivebucks]

I had a V6 Toyota 4x4 from the year just before the Tacoma. I did not get good mileage. I got around 18 hwy not towing. Now that I upgraded to my Tundra I get 17-18 in the summer so for me the Tundra was the way to go. I was surprised the V6 mileage wasn't better.

[rundrave]

I had a V6 Toyota 4x4 from the year just before the Tacoma. I did not get good mileage.

That was the 3.0L v6 us toyota guys commonly refer to as the 3-slow haha

My 2005 Tacoma 4.0 V6 got 20-21 on the interstate and about 17 in town. I rarely towed anything extremely heavy but hauled plenty of ATV's and a small 14ft boat and averaged about 15-16 mpg on the interstate but again not heavy loads. That V6 has plenty of power to tow 6500lbs like mentioned above.

The tacomas are bullet proof and they come with a high price but I never had to turn a wrench on my 94 Toyota, 02 Taco and 05 Taco and they all were worked hard. They also hold their value extremely well and I have never had issues selling mine private party they all sold fast and for good $$$. I would be skeptical long term reliability and resale value of the Chevy vs the Toyota but that's just me.

Unfortunately the 05 got in an accident and I am now looking to move into a Tundra. I would get another Tacoma but with 2 kids now we have outgrown the back seat.

The chevy will obviously get less MPG but you will make up for it space gained if you have passengers. Pros and cons are you going crew cab, extended cab etc. You can get a Tacoma crew cab with the 4ft bed they are a dime a dozen, but if you search you can find a rare Tacoma crew cab with a 6ft bed. It took me a long time though.

[1johntimm]

Close friend of mine has a 2010 Chevy Extended cab with the 5.3. He is not to happy with his mileage as he averages around 14-15 mpg. Gets less when towing a Yamaha Rhino on a trailer. I don't have the 4.0 but the 3.4 V-6 and have got 18 mpg towing a 16' Lund Pro V with 50 hp motor, boat and truck fully loaded. Best I've ever got with the truck in 12 years of ownership is 22 mpg on a L.O.W's trip. Truck is 4x4 extended cab. Toyota definately has a higher resale value, and a better reliability track record.

[mabr]

Down2earth? Is that mileage based on the gauges or did you check it between fill ups?

Why I ask is I just bought a new 2011 LT Z71 2 days ago and the dash read out says im getting anywhere from low 20's all the way down to 4 mpg if im stepping on it. I pulled a 16 ft box trailer today with it and it never got above 11mpg and that was only when it went into the 4 cyl mode.

Im still learning it but i sure hope I'm getting better than its saying. Man are there alot of monitoring devices on these chevys.

[BoxMN]

My bro has a '07 silverado. Comfy, powerful, and good mileage at 21-22 tops (driving nice) on hwy, and when we went to Redgut Bay Rainy Lake towing a 18' boat (w150) we averaged 16 mpg towing it. We couldn't believe, so even did the hand math. Granted we droive easy, but holy cow were we impressed.

With that said, be aware of the Chevy (especially the 07s) using oil problem. My bro had it, and got a new engine just before warranty was up, and after MUCH documentation of this issue with a dealership. That is a topic for different thread, but just be aware of it if looking at those. Other than that, the truck is awesome! (Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?... haha!)

Good luck!

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Anyone having issues with excessive oil consumption on the 5.3? My buddy's 08 Tahoe is in the shop right now because it was burning over a quart of oil per 1,000 miles. He's outside the warranty, but GM is picking up the tab because the dealer said it was a known problem. He's not real happy right now.

[Scott K]

He should be really happy, since GM is picking up the tab. You know, they dont have to!

[fishhuntwork]

Who buys a truck for gas mileage?

[Mid-Lake Rock]

He should be really happy, since GM is picking up the tab. You know, they dont have to!

He's happy that GM is covering the bill and admitted it is a known problem. He's not happy that a vehicle with 75K is drinking a ton of oil and has major engine issues related to the oil consumption. The dealer told him they needed three days to get it right. I can see his point after spending the money on a new Tahoe a few years ago. He wants to dump the vehicle now that he knows all the problems. Dealer loaned him a 2011 Sierra with bells and whistles. I wonder how many guys end up getting a new vehicle after driving "the loaner."

[Scott K]

Quote:

I wonder how many guys end up getting a new vehicle after driving "the loaner.

Thats kinda the reason they have new loaners, instead of a 1995 Saturn

Well, an 08 is 4 years old, and 75,000 miles is a lot of miles, 3 trips around the earth!. Things can, and do wear out, or sometimes just break. I would be leaving with a huge smile on my face, and happier then ever to own a GM in that case. (I am not a GM fan either)

[Opie]

I have had the same issue with my 08 Silverado. Besides poor gas mileage (16 at best not towing), it uses about a quart of oil every 1500 miles. One thing that I have read on the excessive oil consumption issue is that many of the cases involve the engines that switch from 4-8 cylinders. I have 48000 miles on the truck and it is going in to the dealer next week to replace a front axle seal. The shop I have been getting my oil changes done has been documenting the low oil, but I haven't talked to the dealer about that issue. It may be time. Have been a "bowtie" guy for years, but this truck is making me look at Fords.

[BoxMN]

Opie, start documenting it at a GM dealer. My bro dealer had him come in every 1000 miles and they documented it. It was a hassle, my bro got sick of it, but he ended up with new engine. It will help if you have/find a good dealer. Good luck.

[Pistol Pete]

had an 08 chevy, started using a quart per 1000 miles around 70000. Got rid of it. Got a F-150 with Ecoboost. Way better truck, more power and way better milage. Chevy would only get 11mpg towing a 18 ft boat. Ford gets 15.5. Always called the chev a gutless truck,can't say that about the new f-150. F-150 get a solid 3-4 mpgs better than the Chevy. Chevy had the 5.3 engine.

[Macgyver55]

had an 08 chevy, started using a quart per 1000 miles around 70000. Got rid of it. Got a F-150 with Ecoboost. Way better truck, more power and way better mileage.

Funny isnt it, how a few years newer technology can change things?

[Dave S]

I witnessed a guy chewing a service manager's arse becausee his truck ('08 Silverado) wasn't getting over 16 mpg. He had no time to hear what they had to say. But he listened to another customer who told him that he won't see 21 mpg when he's burning E-85.

[snagger]

Wow. This has been helpful. I think I'll stay away from the Toyota (I have two kids and a 17 foot boat) and also stay away from the 08 chev. So the Eco boost ford is good? Maybe I'll wait 1 more year and then get one of those

[B-man715]

My buddy has a newer Ford f-150 (2011 I believe). Good mileage empty, but dragging a 5000 lb fishouse he still only gets 9mpg.

He traded his 07 chevy half ton in for the same oil problems discussed.

It doesn't matter what kind of truck you have, when you tow, the mileage goes way down.

The drop is less noticable with a bigger engine, but of course your highway mileage will always be less, compared to a smaller engine.

(ex. my 6.0 chevy drops from 12.5 empty to 8 when towing, my buddy's Ford drops from 17 empty to 9 towing.)

[PurpleFloyd]

My first truck was a chevy with a 350 that got 13 empty and 10 pulling a 6x12 utlilty trailer. I traded that for a ford with the I6 and got 15 empty on the highway and 9 pulling a trailer. Next came a dodge with a 5.9 and that got 11 empty and 10 pulling the trailer. This past summer I bought a Dodge with the 6.7 Cummins and get over 20 on the highway and I went to a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer and it pulls like the trailer isn't even there and i get 16 in the summer with no wind and the worst has been this winter against the wind getting 13.5. I will never run a gas truck again.

[Scott K]

My first truck was a chevy with a 350 that got 13 empty and 10 pulling a 6x12 utlilty trailer. I traded that for a ford with the I6 and got 15 empty on the highway and 9 pulling a trailer. Next came a dodge with a 5.9 and that got 11 empty and 10 pulling the trailer. This past summer I bought a Dodge with the 6.7 Cummins and get over 20 on the highway and I went to a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer and it pulls like the trailer isn't even there and i get 16 in the summer with no wind and the worst has been this winter against the wind getting 13.5. I will never run a gas truck again.

It all depends on what you are going to be using the truck on. If you can get by with a half ton truck, you save about $8000 ove the 1 ton. If you get the diesel, there is another $5000, then add on top that that diesel costs more per gallon, it will take a lot to catch up and be ahead in the millage dept.

[harvey lee]

I have a 2007 Chev Silverado and I have been overjoyed with this truck.

Close to 175,000 and it uses no oil. Mileage on the road going 59, 20. Towing the boat about 15.5.

I have the 5.3 and I could not be happier with this truck. I only hope my next truck is as good as this one.

[PurpleFloyd]