What makes an Avalanche get better mileage?

[Sbell111]

Whether one's mileage is 'good' is a relative thing.  Compared to a Prius, my Avalanche gets horrible, inexcusable mileage.  Compared to my old 196k beater Grand Cherokee, my Avalanche gets pretty good mileage and really good mileage if I take it easy and actually make driving decisions that maximize MPG.

Basically, good mileage is about managing your expectations and your right foot.  Honestly, the right foot thing is hardest for me as I am a somewhat aggressive driver.  I often am making decisions to improve my position and get where I'm going a minute or so faster.  This is the trap.  It is far better to find a nice, modest speed and enjoy my vehicle.  Listen to something interesting on XM or a podcast rather than stress about getting there moments faster.  This small change makes for significant gains in highway MPG.  Around town, it's mostly about not rocketing off the line and managing deceleration.  My truck's awesome.  Anybody that cares can already see that and no one believes for a moment that I can beat them at the drags, so there's no point in my charging away from a light.  Right?

 

[jrabenaldt]

Coming from a '06 Commander 4x4  w/ a 4.7 to a '12 LTZ 4x4 my overall mileage has increased by about 2 mpg.  That's a welcomed change for mixed driving.  I have only had it for about 4 weeks but I have noticed that the previous owner replaced the air intake w/ a CAI and that it never enters 4 cyl mode (at least according to the information display) so I'm assuming that the AFM has been disabled. 

Hmmm...  I'm still looking for other things that he may have done to it...

 

[spidey]

I get better (or same) milage as I did with my mid-sized Nissan FRontier with a V6 4.0 litre.  I didnt know until after I owned it that the Nissan trucks get terrible milage.

I drive the same as I used to as well, same places, etc and it probably costs me the same in fuel or a litlle les every month.  I do like I dont have to fill up as often.  My old truck had a smaller tank so I had to fill up in between pay days.  The Avy I fill up on pay day and am good until the next payday or pretty close (with usual driving, no trips out of town)