Preliminary observations of my first 2014 GMC

gbieber05 · July 12, 2013

Not that I really give two craps about fuel economy but its always a bonus I know in mine it really fluctuates alot more here lately. I always reset the trips and calcs and my last two tanks which have a good bit if idle time ( 4 month old diaper changing and feedings) and good combinations of Highway and town the dic says 19 mpg at the fill ups. No I'm sure if I were to stay completely highway the entire tank which I did early on and had a thread about I can and did get about 24-25 mpg. That's with the cruise set at 75. All of these numbers too are with 100% 87 octane gasoline no ethanol. Now with the great summer months of Louisiana kicking in high gear right now that's all changing. Now all of that said does the air dam really put a huge damper on the equation for fuel economy? I tend to believe not, nor do I believe it's there just for looks it serves a purpose for one our beloved government and two possibly wind noise. But I'll tell you the cab of these trucks are sealed really well.

I will add two those last two tanks I have gotten a little heavier footed trying to see what this engine has got.

jeffreydc · July 12, 2013

I just love it when people who DONT OWN your vehicle tell you its not possible to get the fuel mileage you KNOW you are getting...lol

gbieber05 · July 12, 2013

I just love it when people who DONT OWN your vehicle tell you its not possible to get the fuel mileage you KNOW you are getting...lol

I don't think anyone here is calling you a liar by any means. All I have seen Is people want more numbers coming In to obtain the median number. I don't doubt these number will fluctuate all over given terrian, atmosphere, and driving habits.

MikeNH · July 12, 2013

I don't think anyone here is calling you a liar by any means. All I have seen Is people want more numbers coming In to obtain the median number. I don't doubt these number will fluctuate all over given terrian, atmosphere, and driving habits.

Exactly. My point is your driving may be more fuel-efficiency focused than mine or others so I'd be curious to see what others get. If it is indeed widely able to reach that, great. If not, whatever. It's a truck.

GMCDriver1 · July 12, 2013

I didn't have to remove the airdam on my old 07 GMT900. The snow did it for me.

Stex · July 12, 2013

I will add two those last two tanks I have gotten a little heavier footed trying to see what this engine has got.

Yes I go by the manual calculation of miles driven and gallons added to fill tank. To be real accurate I use the same pump when possible to fill up, park same, low flow on nozzle and let it click off and no more gas after that.

I have never reset my dic mpg on my 09, CC, 5.3 4x4 and it reads 17.0 mpg over 52,000 miles.

Note that Justin with blackbear recommends using 89 oct as he says the engine will run better and is pinging on 87 oct even if you cannot hear it. He reads the files...

gbieber05 · July 13, 2013

Note that Justin with blackbear recommends using 89 oct as he says the engine will run better and is pinging on 87 oct even if you cannot hear it. He reads the files...

I didn't know that thanks. Ill try that from now on. I'm in and out of refineries all the time and some times go in the labs where they do the octane testing of fuel, never past my mind to ask their opinion they might know a few things too. But for sure will start using 89 octane. Is that the lowest? I assume that's mid grade should I run premium?

Stex · July 13, 2013

I think for a non-tuned trk 89 would be fine. I think Justin said it was the best trade off.

See Justin's comment in thread 'ordered new 2014', post 48 last sentence of para #4

MotoMedic · July 13, 2013

I didn't have to remove the airdam on my old 07 GMT900. The snow did it for me.

That won't happen on the 2014's. While GMT-900's were only held on by 2 bolts, the new trucks use 18!

MotoMedic · July 13, 2013

As for MPG, I bought my truck in Texas and immediately had a 150 mile drive home to Louisiana. I averaged 21 MPG with the cruise set at 77 MPH (temp outside was 85-90 degrees).

I haven't had a chance to get back on highway for extended time to check the MPG since I removed air dam, lifted front, and changed tires.

newdude · July 15, 2013

I liked the step bumper but I won’t have that if I buy a Denali of course. And GM apparently offers no alternative like Ford’s fold-out side and corner steps or Ram’s full-length running boards. I’m not infirm yet but I feel like I’m definitely heading that way. Back to using the rear tire “step” I guess.

There is an accessory side bed step that swings out from under the truck that will be available. See here: http://www.gmaccessorieszone.com/Chevrolet/en-US/All-New%202014%20Silverado/2014/Accessories/Bed%20Products/Bed%20Step/

Front seats seemed very nice, wish they reclined a bit more for occasional sleeping. Found the straight up seatbacks in the rear borderline uncomfortable. No load flat floor in this truck of course but the floor was better than I expected in terms of relative flatness.

Other observations; the power fold mirrors are very nice and operate fast. While the console bin is huge, the lockable glove box is very small and the other one not much bigger. I noticed the repositioned door pillar right away – that might take some getting used to. GM used real aluminium trim on the dash yet kept that disgusting fake wood trim too? Sigh. Don’t like those thick (6” ?) running boards, hopefully 4” running boards will be an option. The Goodyear tires, even with the Z71 package didn’t have an aggressive tread at all. Rear axle looks very robust. Paint quality seemed very good.

4 inch boards are for sure an available item.

Forgot to check the payload capacity on the door – that’s a rather important number for me but something a lot of light-duty truck buyers don’t seem at all concerned about (Ram 1500 buyers in particular…). Hopefully I won’t get sticker shock from it, like that 880lb payload I saw on a Ram Laramie Longhorn.

Payload shoud be 1957lbs for the 5ft 8" box and 1883lbs for the 6ft 6" box crew cab.

Derodeo · July 16, 2013

There is an accessory side bed step that swings out from under the truck that will be available. See here: http://www.gmaccessorieszone.com/Chevrolet/en-US/All-New%202014%20Silverado/2014/Accessories/Bed%20Products/Bed%20Step/

4 inch boards are for sure an available item.

Payload shoud be 1957lbs for the 5ft 8" box and 1883lbs for the 6ft 6" box crew cab.

Thank you for that information.

Unfortunately the actual payload on the door sticker of any GMC I buy won't be anywhere near that 1883 lb figure (that's the most optimistic amount based on the lowest trim level 2 wheel drive with no factory options installed). I will be pleased if a Denali standard box with 4-wheel drive and sunroof has a 1400 lb payload. Hopefully some new owners here will start posting their actual payloads and factory installed options (GVWR minus vehicle weight equals available payload).