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Duramax L5P Fuel Mileage

Sheepdog78
Explorer
Explorer
Anyone have any real world experience with the fuel economy of the new GM L5P Duramax in a 3500 DRW?
18 REPLIES 18

Here you can look at my Fully page, 2018 GMC Denali 3500 srw 4x
L5P fuel logs


Love my L5P, its been flawless!

Slowmover
Explorer
Explorer
Comparison is against self. The percent change from solo to towing.

1). Set aside a day. Head out to nearest Interstate fuel stop. Top fuel to first auto shut. Tires at lowest per chart. Nothing in truck. Scale it.

2). 100+ miles outbound and then back to same pump. Top off same way.

3). 100% cruise control at 58/9-mph. (No, not 63 as the aerodynamic wall is dead on 60).

4). Ideal trip is only two accel and two decel events with no lane changes.

This (like getting a TARE weight) is a baseline for all that comes in the future.

Guys getting 17-18/hwy SOLO are cracking me up. I hit 17 Towing my 35โ€™ TT.

Mechanical condition and future diagnosis of problems needs a baseline of numbers.

The PERCENTAGE CHANGE from solo to Towing is predicated on same tow vehicle sans trailer, same roads & speed

OP youโ€™ll find none of the respondents or others you ask will ever have made a comparison worth quoting. Speeds, loads, etc, are ignored. And wrong tire pressures are used. Do your own testing.

The same test as above with the truck loaded for camping (simulate passenger load) AND yet another when hitched (max propane & water ) AT THE SAME SPEED AS ABOVE

Will give you the Scale Info and tire pressure data you NEED to make good decisions. . Changes in mpg are idiot lights. Whatโ€™s wrong?

The final result is being able to predict vacation fuel costs while towing. At todayโ€™s prices I can use Fuel Cost = 17-cpm (cents per mile).

Step One is in finding โ€œbestโ€ highway mpg. Solo empty. Solo loaded and then towing.
Use FUELLY or similar to trend.
.
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE RAM 2WD 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 11-cpm solo, 17-cpm towing fuel cost

allen8106
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2018 GMC 3500 DRW Duramax purchased in July 2018. So far I have run about 5,500 miles towing and around 10,000 mile not towing.

Towing avg MPG = 10.7
No Tow avg MPG = 18.8
2010 Eagle Super Lite 315RLDS
2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax

2010 Nights 45
2011 Nights 70
2012 Nights 144
2013 Nights 46
2014 Nights 49
2015 Nights 57
2016 Nights 73
2017 Nights 40
2018 Nights 56
2019 Nights 76
2020 Nights 68

Fred_B
Explorer
Explorer
I just pulled a 40 Aline to the Texas gulf and back computer showed 1 or above the whole trip

lee_worsdell
Explorer
Explorer
I have an 17 3500 dually pulling a 16000 fvr 8.5 in there some where. I just added banks derringer and air filter, also pedal commander. The truck is total different truck now. Now lag when you step on the gas love it.

VolFan9183
Explorer
Explorer
Mine is a SRW and I pull a 7000lb travel trailer, so not an exact answer to your question, but hopefully it will help.

I've owned my truck for 1 year and it is also my daily driver...it's a 2018 Denali Crew Cab. My computer average MPG for that 1 year is 15.6 for all my driving. Towing seems to be in the 11-12 range, my average weekly tank is around 16.5, and hwy/interstate trips with just the family is 22-23. The DRF cleaning cycle will really knock down your avg mpg for a tank.

pcm1959
Explorer
Explorer
chiefneon wrote:
Sheepdog78 wrote:
Whatโ€™s it getting when not towing?


Howdy!

I donโ€™t know, we tow with it and use the Smart Car we carry in the toy hauler to get around in.

โ€œHappy Trailsโ€
Chiefneon


Good point! I don't really care what kind of mpg it gets.....I just know it gets better than my '06 Cummins got towing a lot let weight.
2018 GMC Sierra 3500 DRW 4x4 Duramax/Allison
2014 Lifestyle LS36FW
St Augustine, FL

chiefneon
Explorer
Explorer
Sheepdog78 wrote:
Whatโ€™s it getting when not towing?


Howdy!

I donโ€™t know, we tow with it and use the Smart Car we carry in the toy hauler to get around in.

โ€œHappy Trailsโ€
Chiefneon

frankwp
Explorer
Explorer
laknox wrote:
Sheepdog78 wrote:
Anyone have any real world experience with the fuel economy of the new GM L5P Duramax in a 3500 DRW?


Nope, but I =did= subscribe to one of Gale Banks' videos where they've totally instrumented a new crate L5P engine and are going to keep pushing it until, as Gale said, "the crankshaft's on the floor or the heads are on the ceiling". :B

Lyle


Gale Banks produces some excellent and informative videos. I don't even have a diesel, but I love watching his videos.
2010 Cruiser CF30QB
2003 GM 2500HD, crew cab, SB, 8.1, Allison

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
Sheepdog78 wrote:
Anyone have any real world experience with the fuel economy of the new GM L5P Duramax in a 3500 DRW?


Nope, but I =did= subscribe to one of Gale Banks' videos where they've totally instrumented a new crate L5P engine and are going to keep pushing it until, as Gale said, "the crankshaft's on the floor or the heads are on the ceiling". :B

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 64 Year Member

N-Trouble
Explorer
Explorer
#1Flyboy wrote:
... You might also try posting on Duramaxforum.com for good answers...


Or search the forum. Probably 100 threads on the topic already.
2015 Attitude 28SAG w/slide
2012 GMC 2500HD SLT Duramax
B&W Turnover w/Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch

_1Flyboy
Explorer
Explorer
... You might also try posting on Duramaxforum.com for good answers...

pcm1959
Explorer
Explorer
19-21 solo in FL. 8-9.5 towing 15400 lb. fiver @70 mph in the SE USA. Truck performs very nicely!
2018 GMC Sierra 3500 DRW 4x4 Duramax/Allison
2014 Lifestyle LS36FW
St Augustine, FL

Splashers3
Explorer
Explorer
MY signature TV gets between 9.5 - 10.5 hauling my signature 5ver. I don't use it that much other than towing.
2017 GMC 3500 Sierra Denali, C/C, D/A, DRW, w/40gal Aux tank, 18K B&W Patriot.
2019 Cedar Creek Hathaway, 34RL2 - w/Bells & Whistles and disc brakes
Traded 2009 Cedar Creek Silverback, GII, 32 WRL