# 2007 chevy silverado diesel poor mpg **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 1, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329 "2008-03-01T18:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![labhauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@labhauler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/labhauler)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/1 "2008-03-01T18:51:26Z")
Why does my Chevy silverado diesel truck have such lousy mileage? Brand new I got 15.8 and now all I get is 14.9 max. Occasionally I haul a light (3000lb) travel trailer. I buy the lowest (!) price diesel fuel. Is that the problem, or my leadfoot, or the turbo or the exhaust or a hole in the gas tank? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/2 "2008-03-01T18:59:21Z")
Not familiar with this truck, but many problems with mpg are due to driving habits. Don’t forget you are hauling around a lot of weight. you can get milage increases as much as 40% by careful driving and proper car maintenance. recent posts on this topic: [http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/840609.page](http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/840609.page) [http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/837610.page](http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/837610.page) ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/3 "2008-03-01T20:17:37Z")
changed your air breather filter lately? ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/4 "2008-03-01T20:23:42Z")
Leadfoot… ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/5 "2008-03-01T21:16:24Z")
Are you using the Tow Haul mode when pulling the trailer? That makes for a drop in mpg. What truck model, engine size (6.6L?) and mileage? Were you towing the TT when you got 15.8 mpg? I think not. Empty with no TT?, quite likely. What method did you use to calculate fuel mileage and also, what did you take into consideration before calculating? (city/highway/hills/wind, truck bed loads, etc) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/6 "2008-03-01T21:19:49Z")
Hmmmm. 3000# isn’t exactly a light trailer and a 1 mpg loss depending on temperature, terrain, wind conditions, and so on isn’t a big drop. Make sure the timing is set correctly from a diesel shop. Mine never did run well until the timing was set and not according to the marks on the pump like the book said. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/7 "2008-03-01T23:09:48Z")
I buy the lowest (!) price diesel fuel. Is that the problem, ``` No. ``` or my leadfoot, ``` Likely ``` or the turbo Not if it is OEM, unless it is encouraging your lead foot. or the exhaust What is wrong with the exhaust? Not likely. or a hole in the gas tank? No, you have a diesel tank. ---
**Author:** ![labhauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@labhauler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/labhauler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/8 "2008-03-07T21:26:00Z")
Installed a K&N air filter yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![labhauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@labhauler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/labhauler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/9 "2008-03-07T21:30:49Z")
I was wondering about the settings. It sounds as if it running a little fast, but of course the dealer(!) treats me like an idiot. I only go there to get the TPM reset and had them do the first service. I will check out the diesel shops locally. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![labhauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@labhauler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/labhauler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-chevy-silverado-diesel-poor-mpg/11329/10 "2008-03-07T21:35:28Z")
I do use the tow mode ,but will experiment. That is not my main complaint tho’. I see no improvement in mpg while driving empty. Truck is 2500HD 6.6 diesel, mileage is approx 23k. I got 15.8 with the very first tank of diesel, when I picked it up at the dealership. Never again. I caluclate mpg using the readout on the dash. It gives me the average but I also calculated the total mileage and total gallons used. I srive mostly highway, but also I live in the country and drive backroads. I would have thought 400 miles of non-stop highway would improve the mpg, but NOT!