Chip for 2007 Chevy

[XD9]

I bought a 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 (new body style) a few months ago and love it.  I just have one complaint.  It only gets 14 miles per gallon.  It's the 4.8 V8 gas engine.  Someone mentioned to me the other day that I can buy a chip for about $300 that is supposed to increase the horsepower and gas mileage.  Anyone know of these or use them?  I also heard that this voids the warranty.  Just wondering if anyone has experience with them and what you can tell me.  14 mpg really hurts the wallet...that's with a K&N air filter too.  I'm thinking about putting in the entire K&N cold air intake.

Thanks for any info...

[Hairtrigger]

I am a firm believer that if it were a diesel a chip will help the HP and mileage.
As far as chipping a gasser..... it is my understanding that you will not be able to put 87 octane through it and probably will not increase the mileage

[XD9]

That was kind of my feeling too.  I've been searching through a ton of them on eBay.  There are TONS of these chips for less than $50 that say they increase mpg anywhere from 4 to 12 mpg...plus add hp and torque.  The guys selling them are getting good feedback.  It might be worth it to try.  If it doesn't work, I'm only out around $30.  Several of them are saying that you don't have to put premium gas in the engine, it doesn't void the warranty, easy to install, etc.  I'm pretty sceptical but I will have to say I'm interested. 

[Hairtrigger]

There are some good forums dedicated to pickups. I only know of the ones for Cummins/Dodge but know there are others. The guys there have tried most everything.

[30-06man]

That was kind of my feeling too.  I've been searching through a ton of them on eBay.  There are TONS of these chips for less than $50 that say they increase mpg anywhere from 4 to 12 mpg...plus add hp and torque.  The guys selling them are getting good feedback.  It might be worth it to try.  If it doesn't work, I'm only out around $30.  Several of them are saying that you don't have to put premium gas in the engine, it doesn't void the warranty, easy to install, etc.  I'm pretty sceptical but I will have to say I'm interested. 

Yeah you will end up getting ripped off for one of the cheap ones on Ebay. Look at someone who is a dealer of one.

[R.W.Dale]

 If the best you can get from a 4.8 is only 14mpg ain't nothing gonna help you. If you drive like a normal person you should be getting 18 to 20 from a 4.8 chevy. 

 Chips for gasoline engines can do a lot of things but improving economy isn't one of them. Usually what happens is the new controller bumps up the timing advance curve and yeah you might get 2 more MPG and some more low end torque but guess what you're engine is now pinging it's a$$ off on anything less than premium, so much for saving $$$

 Anyone telling you otherwise is flat out lying to you!

[XD9]

If the best you can get from a 4.8 is only 14mpg ain't nothing gonna help you. If you drive like a normal person you should be getting 18 to 20 from a 4.8 chevy.

Thanks for the post but you obviously haven't driven one of the new Chevy's.  The window stickers say 14 to 19 and that's what it's getting.  Trust me, I drive it extremely carefully.  I know a few others who drive these same trucks and that's what they're getting too.  I'd like to find some way of increasing the mpg...especially with gas prices over $3 a gallon for 87.


Anyone tried a K&N Cold Air Intake system instead of just the filter??  Any improvements?

[buffermop]

XD9

      I drive the same truck and get around 17 local and 2o highway with my 4.8 Silverado. Bought the truck used and am very happy with it. a little Marvel Mystery oil in the gas tank helps out too!

[loknlod]

XD9

If your truck was new when you bought it, wait until you get about 5000 miles plus on it and recheck the mileage.  A new vehicle will improve in mileage once things get "broke in" a little.  My '06 jumped a couple MPG after I had 5 to 7000 miles on it.  Mine has the 5.3 and I get 17 consistantly.  I really wouldn't mind getting 19 but I just don't see that happening.

[SHOOTALL]

the KN product works , i used the filter only and picked up 1 -1.5 mpg , 10-11 mpg vs 12 -13 mpg combined driving depending on mix . son has whole package and new chip in a 2500 Dodge w/ 360 he gets 18+ , his truck is lifted so we checked with a GPS keeping track of miles and he can't run low grade fuel with out octane booster ! how high ? no body lift and he can run 39 inch tires

[30-30man]

I've own a Dodge 360 and 18+ will only happen if you are constantly going downhill with the wind behind you. I have a 1500 2wd 360 and 14 is about the best it will do on the highway with no load.  I've never seen one or heard of one getting even close to 18.  The K&N doesn't do anything but let dirt into your engine.  Do some research, they've been proven worthless.  The only thing that will truly benefit from a chip is a diesel.  The only thing that is going to help your Chevy in the gas department is a light foot and maybe a camper shell.  The chips are about as useful as that tornado contraption that came out about 10 years ago.

[XD9]

XD9

      I drive the same truck and get around 17 local and 2o highway with my 4.8 Silverado. Bought the truck used and am very happy with it. a little Marvel Mystery oil in the gas tank helps out too!

I bought mine used as well.  It now has 22k miles on it (past the "break in" point) and 14 is what I'm getting.  It gets 17 on the interstate.  I thought about some of the gas tank additives but the point is to save money on gas so I didn't really want to be spending MORE money on the additives for the gas tank.   I may try one though just to see what it does.

[Hairtrigger]

on most engines the intake and exhaust are the places to start, get more air into the engine and away from the engine easier.
I do disagree that K&N are not worth the $$. I have purchased their filters for several different vehicles, keep the filters clean and oiled per instructions and they will last forever and save you $ and fuel.

[XD9]

on most engines the intake and exhaust are the places to start, get more air into the engine and away from the engine easier.
I do disagree that K&N are not worth the $$. I have purchased their filters for several different vehicles, keep the filters clean and oiled per instructions and they will last forever and save you $ and fuel.

I agree.  I'll probably look at purchasing the intake.  I just hope it works because I really don't want to spend $250+ and it not work.  I've heard great things about them though...and I plan on having this truck until it rusts out so, if it works, it will be well worth it.

Thanks for all the posts!

[SHOOTALL]

30-30 man my truck is a 2500 4WD 5 speed man. i get around 11-13 . so i know what you are saying but son has changed gears ( had to so od would work .) he had a replacement chip and K&N cold air set up . The chip has been replaced with org. due to failure and mileage seems to have gone down he hasn't driven on a trip to check . The truck is a hunting /fishing /play truck not a everyday driver . This seems to be normal for trucks with lower gear ratio coupled with tries in the 38-44 inch dia . engine RPM stays same tire covers much more ground per revolution !
have ya'll noticed the taller tires on new trucks ?

[james]

I was thinking of getting a full sized Chevy PU but I guess I'll stay with my Toyota Tacoma and 3.4 6 cyl.  Gas mileage is important to me.   My 18 town, 23 highway looks better all the time. I only hate it when going uphill and pulling a trailer.

[30-06man]

30-30 man my truck is a 2500 4WD 5 speed man. i get around 11-13 . so i know what you are saying but son has changed gears ( had to so od would work .) he had a replacement chip and K&N cold air set up . The chip has been replaced with org. due to failure and mileage seems to have gone down he hasn't driven on a trip to check . The truck is a hunting /fishing /play truck not a everyday driver . This seems to be normal for trucks with lower gear ratio coupled with tries in the 38-44 inch dia . engine RPM stays same tire covers much more ground per revolution !
have ya'll noticed the taller tires on new trucks ?

My 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diseal gets 21mpg on highway and about 19 in the city. Not bad. It has went down a little because of the MT tires I am running on it. I plan to change them soon and it should go back up. Diseal prices are through the roof right now though.

[Keith L]

I was thinking about diesel until the price went thru the roof.  It is 50 cents more per gallon and for that much difference it has to go further just to break even.  Then there is the higher purchase and maintenance cost.

I think in time we will all be using diesel in both cars and trucks, but right now I wonder if it makes economic sense.

[Rainman/GA]

I bought a 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 (new body style) a few months ago and love it.  I just have one complaint.  It only gets 14 miles per gallon.  It's the 4.8 V8 gas engine.  Someone mentioned to me the other day that I can buy a chip for about $300 that is supposed to increase the horsepower and gas mileage.  Anyone know of these or use them?  I also heard that this voids the warranty.  Just wondering if anyone has experience with them and what you can tell me.  14 mpg really hurts the wallet...that's with a K&N air filter too.  I'm thinking about putting in the entire K&N cold air intake.

Thanks for any info...

Well, as the other posters have mentioned, there's not much that's going to up your gas mileage on a gasoline engine.  However, if you're looking for a bit of a boost in HP & acceleration, you could get a programmer ( http://www.edgeproducts.com/product.php?pk=83&pvk=258 ).  I have the Edge Evolution in my 2004 Ford F150 and it will get you slightly better mileage, but only if you're burning 93 octane. Once you figure in the higher cost of premium, it's a wash, but the acceleration is improved and I can program in up to 4 more gauges (volts, engine temp, trans temp, and avg mileage are the 4 I chose). 

There are folks on the various truck forums who swear that they're getting 2-3 more mpg, but it just ain't gonna happen unless your running a diesel.  As for the various intakes and ebay chips, well.....you get what you pay for.

[30-06man]

I was thinking about diesel until the price went thru the roof.  It is 50 cents more per gallon and for that much difference it has to go further just to break even.  Then there is the higher purchase and maintenance cost.

I think in time we will all be using diesel in both cars and trucks, but right now I wonder if it makes economic sense.

Doesn't make sense why it cost more. Its cheaper to produce.

[R.W.Dale]

I was thinking about diesel until the price went thru the roof.  It is 50 cents more per gallon and for that much difference it has to go further just to break even.  Then there is the higher purchase and maintenance cost.

I think in time we will all be using diesel in both cars and trucks, but right now I wonder if it makes economic sense.

Doesn't make sense why it cost more. Its cheaper to produce.

 two reasons

Modern Diesel is as highly refined or more so than gasoline.

With modern refining techniques almost all of a barrel of crude can be refined into gasoline, diesel is no longer a "byproduct" every gallon of diesel a refinery produces is just that much less gasoline.

[30-06man]

I was thinking about diesel until the price went thru the roof.  It is 50 cents more per gallon and for that much difference it has to go further just to break even.  Then there is the higher purchase and maintenance cost.

I think in time we will all be using diesel in both cars and trucks, but right now I wonder if it makes economic sense.

Doesn't make sense why it cost more. Its cheaper to produce.

 two reasons

Modern Diesel is as highly refined or more so than gasoline.

With modern refining techniques almost all of a barrel of crude can be refined into gasoline, diesel is no longer a "byproduct" every gallon of diesel a refinery produces is just that much less gasoline.

Yeah but with the less sulfur. That means less lubrication for fuel pumps so you might need to add sulfur. The old stuff worked better.

[Gary G]

I just bought a new Chevy 4.8, regular cab. It got 19.96 mpg on the first tank and 20.75 on the second. This is to town and back driving. I stay about the speed limit and avoid jackrabbit starts. The v6 ranger I had was getting 18 - 19.5 the same driving. I'll keep it.

[buffermop]

Sweet mileage . I also have the same truck in a extended cab 4x4. Same mileage. Very happy with it.

[ga41]

05 Sierra EC here with a 4.8, mpg ranges from 18-23. I run a Black Bear Performance programmed ECU. Go over to www.fullsizechevy.com and or there is another gmtruck forums or some such. What rear end ratio are you running ?

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a 06 silverado. Its got the 5.3 310hp aluminum motor. It got about 20 on the road when i bought it. I then put 285 tires on it and lost about 2mpg. I then bought a borla cat  back a K&N intake and a diablo programer.  The programer helped a little but the real eye opener was when i sent it out and had a custom program put in it. What id did for me was get the gas milage back to about 21 but now i need to use premium gas so its about a wash. What it did do to the truck though was make it feel ike it had an extra cylinder. The differnce in the stock diablo programer and the custom program was like night and day. I could have for less money just bought a reprogramed computer but with the set up i have now i can put everything back to stock if i go in for warantee work. Bottom line is theres not much a guy can do to a gas motor in a truck to get great gas milage. A few things like exaust and intake can help but i doubt if they help enough to offset the price of buying them.

[Hairtrigger]

If you need to get your money back I doubt you will be able to justify any engine mods, maybe a K&N filter as they will last forever.
Most people just don't drive that much, especially with raising gas prices.
Do the math, take your annual miles and figure your fuel mileage. Then re figure it with a 2 or 3 mpg improvement. The money is surprisingly small.

[Lloyd Smale]

hairtrigger has a pretty good point. My wife gets mad at me when she has to fill the truck up with preimum. I told here it probably cost 6-8 bucks more and whats that in the big picture. Its getting hard to even find a box of .22 shells for 6 bucks anymore. It also amazes me that they sell so many of those little trucks. I guess i cant see what you gain with them. They cost as much as a full sized and I doubt if theres a one of them even with a 4 cyl that gets much better mileage then a full sized chev with a real motor in it and some room.

[30-06man]

hairtrigger has a pretty good point. My wife gets mad at me when she has to fill the truck up with preimum. I told here it probably cost 6-8 bucks more and whats that in the big picture. Its getting hard to even find a box of .22 shells for 6 bucks anymore. It also amazes me that they sell so many of those little trucks. I guess i cant see what you gain with them. They cost as much as a full sized and I doubt if theres a one of them even with a 4 cyl that gets much better mileage then a full sized chev with a real motor in it and some room.

The Ranger gets an estimated 15 city and 20 highway and this is with a 4cly. The F150 gets the same millage with a Trition V8.

[30-06man]

Ohh yeah there is a $5000 price diffrence between the base line Ranger and the Base line F150.