2001 Chevy 2500 HD 6.0 GAS HOG!!!!

JDseller · Oct 22, 2012

My son bought a 2001 Chevy 2500 HD last year. It only has 32,000 original miles on it and looks like new. HE borrowed my Dodge diesel to help move his MIL to Dallas. ( Money well spent!! LOL)

He left me his truck for me to use. So I thought why not. I have just had some general running around to do and did haul a friend's Mercury Mountaineer to the auto heaven IE car auction.

It drives like a dream but the fuel mileage is TERRIBLE!!!! I filled it up Sat. morning. I have done some local running around and then I hauled the car 80 miles round trip. The fuel light was on when I pulled into the drive way. I thought maybe a small tank. Heck NO!!! It took 26 gallons to fill the truck. I figured the mileage. 8 MPG. actually 7.6 but I will round it up. LMAO I have a full size semi that gets that when pulling a 53 ft. step deck trailer.

The boy thought that this would be a good buy as it was in such good condition. You could buy a new diesel truck just on the fuel savings. I figure it cost me $90 in fuel for three days of light use.

I went and got the old 1990 Dodge diesel out. I sweep it out and washed the bird poop off of it. I will go back to driving it. It has 375K on it and will still get 18-20 MPG empty and never under 14 when loaded to the max pulling a trailer.

oldtanker · Oct 22, 2012

LOL JD, for most people with a diesel it's a waste of money to be cool. Average guy around here hooks up to a boat once or twice a week for about 4 months and thats about all the trailering they do. Then they are only going 10 miles or less. A guy who really works his truck may make out with a diesel depending on how long he drives it before trading. Most of the used diesels around here have been worked really hard or rodded the snot out of. So I'd be a bit scared of a used diesel. New they are just too expensive.

You ain't supposed to buy the Dodges, says so in the dictionary.....Dodge: ADJ=to avoid!

Rick

LAA · Oct 22, 2012

I had an 04 that was just as bad -- now have a 2010 6.0 that gets 17 mpg on the highway empty or with the bed loaded with a couple tons of feed and 10-11 mpg pulling a cow trailer or hay trailer.

Pete76NY · Oct 22, 2012

Seller, we have a "92 2500 HD 4x4 that we use for towing the tractors around...avg when not loaded is about 14mpg which on the face of it doesn"t seem that good, but considering that"s exactly what I average with my "99 Ranger 4x4 with the HO 4.0 I can"t complain, cuz I"d much rather be drivin" the 2500HD! Dad"s 99 Ranger 2wd w 5 speed on the other hand averages about 26...but sure isn"t fun to tool around in!
The 6.0 drops off quick when ya start drivin" over 65mph though!

Bob Huntress · Oct 23, 2012

I have a 2000 2500HD and it gets fine milage under normal loads. I had a 1991 2500 and I loved that it. I'm not one of those who would rather push a Chevy than drive a Ford, either. Ford makes a fine truck, just like Chevy and GM, which is the same as Chevy. I don't much like Dodge trucks, however, as I find them to be lighter duty. I love my Chevy 2500. It is a great truck, and gets very good milage. It has a 350 gas engine and an automatic transmission. I was a little uneasy about the automatic, though the Coast Guard F350's were all automatics, but overall, it is being a great truck.

oldtanker · Oct 23, 2012

OH and JD while I respect your knowledge on tractors, after working as a auto mechanic I will never own anything made by Chyrsler! Even more so now that they are owned by Fiat. So you can brag your Dodge trucks up all you want too.....I'm not buying it. I will maintain that the Cummins engine (not made by Chyrsler) is a great engine but it comes in a really bad shipping container! Saw a lot of em in the shop, never for the engine but for everything else! I was really disappointed when they never even tried to work out the problems......till they were bought out by another company.

Rick

Bob Huntress · Oct 23, 2012

Rick, I agree with you. I understand that Dodge is greatly improving, but overall, they are not on par with Ford or GMC. I doubt that is releasing secure information, but, when I was the vehicle guy for my second to last unit, the instruction procluded using the Dodge one ton to haul the 25' RBS. The problem for this was the rearends. Other problems that Dodge vehicles seem to suffer include the transmission and climate control of the vehicles. I buy used trucks, myself, so I expect a fair amount of repair work. As the vehicle petty officer I dealt with brand new trucks. Dodge stood by their warranties, but, their vehicles were broken as much as they were on the road. Like I said in my response, I am not anti Ford or Dodge, as I tend to have the Chevy 2500HD. Ford makes a fine truck. I am not biased toward GM. Dodge trucks are, however, specifically not as reliable as I believe a truck should be.

2x4 · Oct 23, 2012

somethings wrong, maybe your calculations. Both of mine get around 13-15 mpg. loaded or empty.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 23, 2012

(quoted from post at 01:28:05 10/23/12) somethings wrong, maybe your calculations. Both of mine get around 13-15 mpg. loaded or empty.

Don't mess up a good story... KOYKERseller's on a badmouthin roll this morning :roll:

doubleN · Oct 23, 2012

My 2500 HD w/ the 6.0 gets around 14 mpg.

Bret4207 · Oct 23, 2012

I don't know anything much about new trucks. New to me is 15-20 years old! But, you might see if the 4wd is stuck in or the exhaust is restricted or if it's got an exceptionally low geared rear end. I had a Chevy 1/2 with a straight 6 that got lousy mileage- 4.11 rear. Switched it out to a lower gear ratio, a 3.23 or something like that, and it rose into the high teens/low 20's.

ericlb · Oct 23, 2012

you might see if the truck has any fault codes, i got rid of a ford for doing that, got a phone call 4 months later the thing just up and quit over in a town 75 miles away, they hauled it in, the service tech? replaced some sensor, the truck fired right up and fuel mileage jumped from 8 to 14 , dont know about new trucks, i wont buy one, but my 94 dodge diesel gets a consistent 26 on the road now, used to get 28, but at 300,000 miles it may be getting a little wear lol fixing to make a 3000 mile trip in it this week pulling a trailer too, the old 12 valve will pull anything a normal pickup truck should try to, [ the problem with owning and driving big trucks is it makes you realize how light duty a 1 ton is lol] the others are old chevys, mileage is rough there both 1 ton flatbeds and carburetor, the 454 gets 6 the 350 gets 8, but there are no mysterious black boxes, computers or that kind of junk and i can fix em, on the very rare occasion that they need fixing, all 3 have been payed for for decades and are still doing their respective jobs and your right my peterbilt gets better millage than both of those

dhermesc · Oct 23, 2012

have a full size semi that gets that when pulling a 53 ft. step deck trailer

------------------------------------------------

What type of semi is that? Our 2007 Kenworth gets a consistant 3.8 MPG. Our 1988 IH Eagle gete 4.3 MPG.

mkirsch · Oct 23, 2012

Ok, the fuel light was on, and it took 26 gallons to fill the tank?

GMs only come with two tank sizes: 26, and 34 gallons. Short bed trucks get the 26 gallon tank, long beds get the 34.

If you had the 26 gallon tank, you were running on FUMES when you pulled in the driveway.

8MPG is not at all unexpected if you're towing something and you stomp on the skinny pedal as if it were a diesel. It should get 12-14 running around town empty with a reasonable touch on the gas pedal.

JDseller · Oct 23, 2012

It is a 2001 Int 9200 with a Cummins ISM motor. It gets 6.5 average pulling the belt trailer. Pulling the step deck hauling hay it will consistantly get in the 8 to 8.5 average. We have a 2002 Int 9400 with the same motor and it gets about a 1/2 mile per gallon less.

JDseller · Oct 23, 2012

The rest of the Dodge leaves a lot to be desired but I will put up with that to have a motor that runs good, pulls real well and gets fairly good fuel mileage while doing that.

My 1990 Dodge is the same cab and body as my 1979 one. The only good thing about them it that they have a real big cab.

This Chevy has a 3.73 rear end. We have had it to several Chevy mechanics and none of them can find out why it is a fuel hog. The exhaust system has been checked as well. I even found a friend that has the exact same model that is getting 12-14 miles per gallon with his. We switch ECM and some of the other sensors trying to see it it would make a difference. It did not.

There is a place that claims that they can program a chip to make it better but they want $800 plus a $1000 deposit to send us a different ECM and we sent them ours back to them and then they send us the deposit back. Not real trusting to send anyone $1800 to CA and hope they send some of it back.

Bobl1958 · Oct 23, 2012

I will absoutely agree with you on this one. I had been driving Dodge diesel trucks. Decided in '03 that I would go to a gas since I didn't drive as much as I used to. Traded a '96 Dodge Cummins in on a '02 Chevy HD2500 with the 6.0. The truck had 18,000 miles on it. Pulling a trailer I got about 5 - 6 miles per gallon. I had headed from KS to Az with 4, 3 bottom plows. Not much of a load and very little wind drag. I needed to start looking for gas about every 140 miles. Pitiful. I kept the truck for 3 months and traded it for a Duramax. Best thing I ever did. I was taught a very good lesson on the 6.0 gassers. Would never have another.

buickanddeere · Oct 23, 2012

I drive something similar, a 2003 crew cab 4x4 HD 3/4 ton . Mileage averages 13mpg just putting around on short trips.
Highway 17-18 on a trip.

Rick Kr · Oct 23, 2012

I was going to tell you to look at the RPO to see if had a 4.10 (GT5) in the glove box. I see you said it has a 3.73. That mileage seems a little low for a 3.73.

I know a lot of guys that have the 6.0s, the 4.10s get around 10mpg, 3.73s around 13mpg. Most could get a little better if they would push a little lighter on the pedal.

Rick

Josh in Pa · Oct 23, 2012

Mine too. 2001 2500hd gets 15 on a long trip, has been averaging around 11 the last few weeks, spending a lot of time in 4wd and a lot shuttling bin wagons around.
Josh

OliverGuy · Oct 23, 2012

That's interesting, 7.6 is about what everything around here gets when hooked to a trailer all day every day. Guess I don't fell bad. 5.7 vortecs, 7.4 vortecs, 6.0's and even (3) 8.1's. All of my crew trucks just don't get enough miles per year put on them to make diesels pencil out. I've got one Duramax and love it, but everything else is gas. Yep, you nailed it, they do suck gas. I always thought it was weird how an 8.1 would get the same mileage as a 5.7 but they just about do for me, except the 8.1 will pull a house down for a gas motor. Most of mine have low rear ends also, plus all push snow in the winter time, 3-4 mpg, awesome!!!

buickanddeere · Oct 23, 2012

Anything old enough to have a 350 or a 454 doesn"t exist in the rust belt. Unless it"s oiled twice a year or parked from Thanksgiving until Easter.
15+ old vehicles here are either restored collectables. Or on a tow hook being dragged to the scrap yard.

buickanddeere · Oct 23, 2012

Anything old enough to have a 350 or a 454 doesn"t exist in the rust belt. Unless it"s oiled twice a year or parked from Thanksgiving until Easter.
15+ old vehicles here are either restored collectables. Or on a tow hook being dragged to the scrap yard.

Stuart · Oct 23, 2012

Really? I live in Wisconsin and there are a ton of 15 year+ old cars and trucks still on the road in
good shape. Proper QUALITY undercoating and rust proofing helps so much in these conditions.

GordoSD · Oct 23, 2012

My 5.7 with 3.73 gears averages between 15.5 and 17.2

IndianaRed · Oct 23, 2012

Ya, sounds like something's wrong maybe. Should get about 12-14 city and 16-18 highway. A couple tanks with your favorite injector cleaner might make a difference. I use the Lucas, I think it lubricates the pump too. Got 570,000 miles on mine, all original.

VicS · Oct 23, 2012

I bought a used super-chips thing that plugs in under your right knee. Has a gas mileage 87 octane setting. You can set all the shift points and the shift point pressure. Really makes a diffrence. Also has a 91 octane over 6000 lb trailer tow setting. Will burn the back tires off in this setting. I beat around in a 91 Dodge Cummins, neat old truck. But diesel is 4.15 and gas is 3.15 in our town. Hard to believe but has been that way for 3 or 4 months. Fairfield Il.

ericlb · Oct 23, 2012

ok lol ill make it worse, the 454 is a 1980 k-30 dually, flatbed with pto powered 12,000 lb winch and gin poles, 0 rust anywhere ,original faded blue paint, i still have the original factory window sticker for this one, now has 53,000 original miles, this thing has the 454, 4 speed trans, 4x4, with 4;56 gears and locking differential in the rear, 6 mpg tops, now you know why the miles are so low Roswell NM is 50 miles away, pulling a 20 foot stock trailer it took 2 tanks of gas to go there and back, umm, its mostly been on the farm since gas went over 2.50 per gallon , the 1983 is a c-30 dually, has 125000 miles, original 350 4 speed, 2 wd, 12 flatbed with dump, and stock racks and rolling tailboard, 8 mpg, rear end is open with 4;11's no rust,small dents and several 20/20 paint jobs here by me , just good old work trucks im keeping them

casenut1 · Oct 23, 2012

drive a 94 F150 every day. not rusted out yet. 300/6 in it gets 14 mpg's .best engine ever built. it's a 4x4 too.

Buckeye Oliver collector · Oct 24, 2012

Yes Dodge means to avoid and Ford is Fixed Or Repaired Daily. Next topic please.....

MARK ROBKE · Oct 24, 2012

This is an interesting post to me as i have been considering looking for a 2500 chev with the 6.0. But I was wanting a manual trans, so my question is : what is your's, manual or automatic? In my mind, the manual would do better on mileage.
Mark

JDseller · Oct 24, 2012

It is a auto but I am not sure the transmission will make a lot of difference on this motor. Talked to several of the local GM brain trust fellows. They all stated that they where a great running motor that held up well but would not pass a gas station.

MARK ROBKE · Oct 24, 2012

I like the way chevies drive : seem be easier to hold on the road than the fords. I have a'92 2500 350/5spd.beautiful,great driving truck,but has no power and poor fuel mileage; also I want an extended cab. Most farmers around here have chevies-75% maybe. I may have to rethink what I am looking for; also prefer manual trans.
Mark

JDseller · Oct 24, 2012

Guys I only pulled the trailer with the Mercury Mountaineer on it 40 miles then 40 miles back with just the trailer. I had driven it the other 120 miles with just the bare truck. I never did go over 60 MPH and did take it easy on the gas. So the 7.6 MPG when only lightly loaded would have been bad enough but considering that over half the miles where just the bare truck makes it real bad.

I called the guy my son bought it from. He laughed. He had told my son that the mileage would be bad. The original owner said it would only get 8-10 from day one. He had it back to GM many times to see if anything was wrong with it. They never could find anything wrong with it.

All he ever needed 3/4 for was to pull his camper to Roswell, Nm. twice each year. He winters over there and then comes back to Dubuque. He said the last time he had a head wind going out and it cost him $750 in fuel for the 1200 mile trip. He sold it as soon as he got home. He has a new Dodge. I don't know what engine he got or any details.

2001 Chevy 2500 HD 6.0 GAS HOG!!!!

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