[Shop-talk] Improving truck performance

[Ronnie Day]

Dave,

There should be a sticker with a list of option codes on the inside of the
front of the glove box. If it's there, shoot a picture with your phone and
do whatever you need to do to get it into you computer. You can research
the codes easily on-line.

I have an '02 Suburban 1500 with the 5.3 and trailering package. It's got
plenty of pep for the 5.3. Basically that's a couple of extra oil coolers
(engine & trans) and 3.73 gears. If you're getting 16 mpg towing,
especially in the mountains, you're getting what we get with our's on
highway trips down here in Texas. If we do any pulling or hauling the
mileage drops quickly.

The simplest and probably least expensive way to increase performance would
be to change the rear axle ratio. If your's is 3.73, you could go to 3.90.
But that's almost certainly going to hurt you mileage. We're looking at
buying a 20 foot or so travel trailer, but if we do I'm having the rear
axle rebuilt and a limited slip added. That's going to run around $110.
We'll probably keep the 3.73 gears. I think it's a good compromise. We more
often use the Suburban if we're carting more than 4 people. We can load it
up quickly with 4 grandkids, 2 and 1/2 great grandkids and everybody's
"stuff".

Overall I think we, and you, are doing pretty good. By comparison our '98
F150 with 4.7(?) and 3.55 gears struggles to get 13 mpg. Plus it doesn't
run well at all. I plan to get it looked at soon.

FWIW,.
Ron
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