Hurley00

iTrader: (3)

Hey guys its been a while since ive posted on here. I just put a leveling kit and 33s on my fiances 2010 ccsb z71 5.3. This thing is an absolute pig now, crappy fuel mileage and it gets way worse when I tow my little 17' boat, not to mention that it downshifts all the time on the smallest incline on the highway.

I called LMR in Houston and they told me they can adjust the shift points so it'll tow better and wont downshift as often. Somehow I see a gear swap
and a tune being better options than a tune alone.

Have you guys experienced this, what would you recommend?

Blackpanther99

iTrader: (8)

What are your mpgs?

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (20)

yeah, mine with stock 20's and 275 tires has that issue big time towing my 21 ft boat. I have been chatting with a member here that went from 3.73's to 4.56's and had good results. He claims to have increased fuel mileage both in and out of town and driveability increased as well. BTW he has the 6.2 so Id imagine we would really benifit from a swap such as this or just turbo the damn thing till she blows.

Hurley00

iTrader: (3)

It gets 17 not pulling, and thats on flat ground. Put a hill in there and itll drop gears and sit at about 3000rpm until your back on flat ground. Pulling is a whole different story it wants to stay around 2500-3000 the entire time. I havent calculated it that way I just know it drinks the hell out of gas.

Hurley00

iTrader: (3)

Man I swear thats the thread ive been looking for, im really leaning hard towards the 4.10s though. I just wanted to get some insight as to whether or not it would improve mpg both loaded and unloaded. I've thought about turbo or supercharging it, but if any of our trucks is going boosted its mine haha. Seriously though, I was really hoping to solve the issue with just gears and a tune.

AUTOT3K

iTrader: (3)

I have a 6l80e and used to have 3.42s
I went to 4.10's and havent regretted a day of it! and my highway rpms are great, even on my factory 245/70r17's
I think you should getsome 4.30's and never look back!

edit to answer your question
my city mileage went up
on the highway I lowered my speed by 5km/h and that made up for the higher rev. I used to go 125 km/h now I just do 120 and I'm fine

craigsix

dont feel bad im only getting 12 average. but i got the fast lsxrt 102mm and 4.10s. im sure i get better hiway only.

KC_kid

iTrader: (5)

I have 2011 5.3 6l80 4x4 stock 20s, 275/55 and HAD stock 3.08s... talk about pig and terrible mileage!! I was getting 14.5 mpg unloaded on interstate, not flat ground. in town was painful to drive too, lug lug lug all day, all around town. I got so I only drove in 5th on hwy, mileage was not affected but it drive way better. swapped in 4.11 and driveability skyrocketed. I'm seeing mileage is up 1-2 mpg but only have 2 tanks on the gears and no long hwy travel yet. I'd do it again in a second but it did cost about $1100 parts and $1000 labor with a true Trac and a new front carrier, which you shouldn't need being 3.42 and not 3.08 like I was. These heavy trucks with the 5.3 don't go well and tall gears make it much worse. they should have never left the factory with anything less than 3.73. And the 5.3 likes to rev, no problem, mine loves 2200-2300 on hwy. And the 6 speed is happy now too.

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (36)

4:56's here with my 6.2 and luvvin them.

NKPPhil

Gears are the first and best thing to improve acceleration and driveability, ESPECIALLY if you're towing. The 5.3 and even the 6.2 are pretty small motors, so they can't remotely compare to the old 7.4 which used to do "OK" with that high of an axle ratio and 33" tires. With my '99 5.3 and 3.73 gears I could tow a small boat sort-of OK with 31" tires.

Get gears.