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Old 01-20-2007, 12:45 AM   #1
Stingray42
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How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Well... I have quite the Diesel Thread going on here... Time to work on my Vortec one!

Heres the story. I have a 94 Chevy Full Size Blazer. Get about 14 mpg. Ok, but I'm workin on better. Its about time for me to move up to a lil newer truck, and now that I'm driving way more, and am in school, I want something with better gas milage (thats not a car or a minitruck) So Here I am picking between a diesel or a 96-99 Vortec Pickup/Burb. New body Style is too pricey.

What Kinda MPG is everyone getting, and what kinda mods have you done?

Also, any tech issues to watch out for? (fuel pumps... )

Thanks
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Old 01-20-2007, 11:12 AM   #2
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I can tell you that the 96 & 97's (maybe all of them, I just know that my friends and coworkers own a few of these)have had problems with intake manifold leaks due to the fact they have less bolts holding them down than the previous small blocks. Fuel pumps seem to last about 90,000 miles or less(fuel pumps for them are also more expensive than for our TBI's). But all in all, they will have about 70 more hp than your Blazer. I haven't heard of them getting much better mileage than my 95. I'd still buy one.
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Old 01-20-2007, 03:01 PM   #3
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I have a 97 GMC Suburban K1500 with the Vortec 350 and my wife just checked the mileage on the highway and it got 16.5. We bought it with 89K on the clock and I have 128K on it now. I did the intake manifold gaskets at 110K and my son and I did the fuel pump at 120K (it was original). Runs very good and has plenty of zip. I think the brocheure says the engine is rated at 265 HP. My oldest son has a 1998 K2500 Chevy long bed with the same engine and 174K and he gets 15 MPG on the highway, but he has a lead foot.
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Old 01-20-2007, 03:18 PM   #4
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

My 98 gets 12mpg! k2500hd, 5.7,nv4500, 410 gears
A 2wd with 308 or so gears will pull 18+mpg for most people.
Don't rule out the 4.3, it is a hell of a motor and will get 20+mpg in a 2wd
Rule of thumb, if it says vortec and really is vortec-not tbi 95 crap- it WILL blow the intake and possibly do major damage as all of the water gets blown out in a couple seconds. They will usually do before 100k and if repaired properly, it won't happen again.
In my opinion, the vortec 96up is great, but I prefer the 87-94 tbi motors. I am willing to give the power to have the simplicity.
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Old 01-20-2007, 03:41 PM   #5
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

1998 Chevy 2500 Crew swb 4x4, 5.7 Vortec, auto.
Best I ever got was 15.2. Thats going across the state going about 75mph with the cruise on. Crossing a pass with some pretty good hills the first half the drive.
I have read the TBI 5.7's are good for 190 or 210hp depending on model. The Vortecs are good for 255 no matter what. Not 100% but pretty sure this is accurate.
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Old 01-20-2007, 03:43 PM   #6
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

PS, Had my intake manifold done at about 65k. It was leaking to the outside so no damage done. I was under the impression it had to do with either the anti-freeze or the gasket material or maybe a combo? But either way once its fixed it was fixed.
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Old 01-20-2007, 04:06 PM   #7
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Hey man, I worked out what my old man's truck gets (It's an 04 Sierra with a 5.3) and he only gets 16 mpg. So it don't think it matters if you go with new or old body style as the same similar.
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Old 01-20-2007, 04:29 PM   #8
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Quote:
Originally Posted by neev_nav View Post
Hey man, I worked out what my old man's truck gets (It's an 04 Sierra with a 5.3) and he only gets 16 mpg. So it don't think it matters if you go with new or old body style as the same similar.
really? dang. Maybe I'll be lookin to save a few bucks and get another truck and work on it for better milage... (get an older one... like another 94 but I want a pickup again) Cuz we figured out my parents burb only got about 15.3 on the way to Florida and back (we thought waayyy better)

Looks like I got alot more research to do.
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Old 01-22-2007, 12:52 PM   #9
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

my 96 c-1500 get around 23mpg hwy i got it at 154,xxx and i got 181,xxx now ive put a fuel pump in it around 160 or so but other than that it runs strong i just need bigger tires
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Old 01-22-2007, 02:50 PM   #10
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

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my 96 c-1500 get around 23mpg hwy i got it at 154,xxx and i got 181,xxx now ive put a fuel pump in it around 160 or so but other than that it runs strong i just need bigger tires
4.3L?
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Old 01-22-2007, 03:04 PM   #11
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I have a 2006 CC 4x4 with 3.73's and I get 14mpg at 80, 17 at 65, and 20 at 55.
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Old 01-22-2007, 03:27 PM   #12
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stingray42 View Post
4.3L?
yep but only draw back i have is i got 245/45/17s and my speedo is 10mph off so im gettin a programmer to fix that
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Old 01-22-2007, 03:54 PM   #13
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I have a97 k1500 z71 5.7 and i get 13 city and 16 highway, and that is after doing dual exhaust, k&n intake, throttle body spacer, tornado fuel saver. I also have bigger wider tires which doesn't exacty help the mileage. I have had to replace the fuel pump, I now have 147,000 miles on it. Over all a awesome truck, highly reccomended
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Old 01-22-2007, 06:36 PM   #14
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Cool guys, thanks, looks like I'm probably gonna keep the Blazer (my 94 5.7 TBI) unless i decide that I really need 4 doors among a few other things in a newer model. It seems to me I am getting the same milage out of my TBI as most are getting from a Vortec (I get 14, and am gonna work towards getting better)

Thanks for the replies
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Old 01-22-2007, 09:26 PM   #15
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

my 2000 k2500 extended cab 4x4 6.0 auto 3.73 gears got 15 mpg on the highway
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Old 01-23-2007, 10:01 AM   #16
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Hope im not hi-jacking. But this thread gave me a question.

I have a 89-93 tbi motor. with low miles. I was considering doing a head swap with the vortech heads, but keeping the same tbi intake.

will I have the same intake problems if I do this swap?
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Old 01-23-2007, 04:22 PM   #17
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

Switched back to stock rims for the time being and let off the pedel quite abit. Seen big difference in my gpm 17 city 17+ highway. But then again its a 5.0L 305 so... Burned fuel pump up around 100k cuz of low gas and intake blew out around 110k. Runs perfect at the moment.
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Old 01-23-2007, 05:40 PM   #18
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I have a 98 tahoe with a 5.7L get 17 pretty consistent. I had the intake gaskets changed at 77k (when i bought it)has 108k know just to put better ones on it and got rid of the junk orange coolent (causing the gasket failure) and flushed it several times and refilled with green coolent. My 95 c1500 extcab 5.7L get 13 city driving. don't know on highway and has 216k miles.
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Old 01-23-2007, 05:46 PM   #19
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I have a 98 tahoe 4x4 which gets 20 on the highway, I also have a 98 k1500 4x4 which gets 18 on the highway. Different gears, and both have throttle body spacers
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Old 01-23-2007, 06:01 PM   #20
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

My 96 GMC 1500 (2wd) with 350/3.42 gear/4l80 tranny/31x10.50x15. AC always on. I average 13-14 around town and normally 18-19 on the road (averaging 75-80). I have seen 20 on a few occasions. It had 170,000 on it.

Like many mentioned and every other small block I have had. Intake gaskets. Mine went out at 100,000. I never replaced a fuel pump, but it made noises the entire 5 years I had it. water pump and alternator were the only other major failures before the ABS computer/controller went zappo and fired everything else.

I miss it!
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Old 01-23-2007, 09:57 PM   #21
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Re: How Many MPG does your Vortec get?

I avg 20-22 highway and 15-16 in town and around 19-20 pulling my motorcycle trailer loaded down with tool box and bikes. Intake gaskets done at 69k under ext warr. If you do them, get the new Fel Pro metal/rubber ones, the factory ones are plastic and fail with the constant heating and cooling of the engine. I used a similar set on my wifes 99 Malibu V6 and they are great. Oh by the way, 98 Sierra reg cab/short bed, 305, auto, 3.42.
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