Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kevinr1970 · 02-08-2006, 02:13 PM

Me and the little woman are looking at a 1990 2wd Suburban and have seen (on Autotrader) that they are rated at ~18mpg on the freeway. Just wondering what others are getting. We will be using for mostly taking trips this spring and summer.
The one we are looking at has 61,000 original miles but the paint is coming off the roof real bad and it has few dings. Other than that it is pretty nice.
Also, I've seen advertised HP ratings from 175 to 210 for the 5.7 this year? Anybody have any ideas what it actually might be.

Jonboy · 02-08-2006, 02:25 PM

I think mine gets inteh neighborhood of 15 or so, but it could probably use a bit of a tune up. The HC was high when it went for the inspection.

u2slow · 02-08-2006, 04:49 PM

The mpg numbers vary a whole bunch depending on the transmission, engine, axle ratio, and tire size.

Anywhere from 10-20 mpg what I would expect without knowing the exact specs and driving conditions.

HP rating is 190 or 210hp depending is above/below 8500# GVWR. Pic

kevinr1970 · 02-08-2006, 09:58 PM

Thanks for posting that, it was informative!
Any idea how you tell what the GVWR is?

rgray71 · 02-08-2006, 10:50 PM

I have a 90 and it gets about 18 on the highway and it has 198000 miles. It has the 5.7 efi and 700r4 tranny.

jimfulco · 02-08-2006, 10:52 PM

My dad said he gets ~15 around town in his '94 Sub 2wd w/350, TBI, & automatic trans. I drove it ~250 miles on 2-lane highways on a parts run and it got about 17.

kevinr1970 · 02-09-2006, 12:39 AM

I wonder how much, if any, the change to the body made for mileage?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimfulco

My dad said he gets ~15 around town in his '94 Sub 2wd w/350, TBI, & automatic trans. I drove it ~250 miles on 2-lane highways on a parts run and it got about 17.

u2slow · 02-09-2006, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

Thanks for posting that, it was informative!
Any idea how you tell what the GVWR is?

Sticker is on the edge of the drivers door.... or you can decode the VIN to get the GVWR range.

1/2-tons are under 8500# for sure. 3/4-tons can be either... 7200(?) or 8600#.

The difference is a TH700 (OD & lockup trans) with say a 3.42 ratio is gonna do a heckuva lot better in the MPG department than a TH400 (non-OD, non-lockup) and 4.10 ratio.

Old Dave · 02-09-2006, 09:28 PM

My 86 with a freshly rebuilt 350 and old 700R4 got about 14.5MPG on the highway. My 97 with 116k and Vortec 5.7L gets about 16.5 -17 on the road. I think the 97 is more aerodynamic so it has probably less drag than the older body style. Lots more things to break though, and I'm finding out there's not a helluva lot I can fix on this one.

screwballl · 02-12-2006, 01:43 PM

with a 350 TBI you can expect around 12-15mpg
with a 454 TBI you can expect 8-12 mpg

around town in my 91 R2500 with 454TBI I get about 8mpg but on the highways I have seen up to 12mpg... and this is with it at 170K miles....

aggiedave98 · 02-15-2006, 05:04 PM

go to www.carpoint.com to see GVWR's, engine specs, etc...

sticker for my '89 1/2ton 2wd w/ a 700r4 and 3.73 axle was 14/19 (still have the sticker). I get about 16mpg highway... once I got 18 with cruise on and literally gas station to gas station, both on the highway... and going 70mph.

with this body style, I get the feeling the wind resistance makes a big difference... it's much easier for me to go 55 than 70 (and I think I'd get much better milage at 55mph)...

02-08-2006, 02:13 PM	#1
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? Me and the little woman are looking at a 1990 2wd Suburban and have seen (on Autotrader) that they are rated at ~18mpg on the freeway. Just wondering what others are getting. We will be using for mostly taking trips this spring and summer. The one we are looking at has 61,000 original miles but the paint is coming off the roof real bad and it has few dings. Other than that it is pretty nice. Also, I've seen advertised HP ratings from 175 to 210 for the 5.7 this year? Anybody have any ideas what it actually might be. __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

02-08-2006, 02:25 PM	#2
Jonboy Slots go on anything! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 5,957	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? I think mine gets inteh neighborhood of 15 or so, but it could probably use a bit of a tune up. The HC was high when it went for the inspection. __________________ 1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241

02-08-2006, 04:49 PM	#3
u2slow Web Wheeler Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: BC, Canada, eh? Posts: 388	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? The mpg numbers vary a whole bunch depending on the transmission, engine, axle ratio, and tire size. Anywhere from 10-20 mpg what I would expect without knowing the exact specs and driving conditions. HP rating is 190 or 210hp depending is above/below 8500# GVWR. Pic __________________ '66 C10 longstep - Clifford equiped '84 C20 Suburban 6.2L - awaiting 4x4 conversion '91 V3500 Crewcab - awaiting diesel swap

02-08-2006, 09:58 PM	#4
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? Thanks for posting that, it was informative! Any idea how you tell what the GVWR is? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

02-08-2006, 10:50 PM	#5
rgray71 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tonganoxie, Ks Posts: 180	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? I have a 90 and it gets about 18 on the highway and it has 198000 miles. It has the 5.7 efi and 700r4 tranny. __________________ http://www.danasoft.com/sig/rgray71.jpg

02-08-2006, 10:52 PM	#6
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? My dad said he gets ~15 around town in his '94 Sub 2wd w/350, TBI, & automatic trans. I drove it ~250 miles on 2-lane highways on a parts run and it got about 17.

02-09-2006, 09:28 PM	#9
Old Dave Is a bullfrog waterproof? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: OLATHE, KANSAS Posts: 1,130	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? My 86 with a freshly rebuilt 350 and old 700R4 got about 14.5MPG on the highway. My 97 with 116k and Vortec 5.7L gets about 16.5 -17 on the road. I think the 97 is more aerodynamic so it has probably less drag than the older body style. Lots more things to break though, and I'm finding out there's not a helluva lot I can fix on this one. __________________ "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Ben Franklin __________________ 1970 Chevy shortbed 2002 Harley Custom Chopper (Long sucker) 1998 K2500 5.7L 5-speed Longbed 1st two are My son's toys...they just live in my garage! 1997 GMC K1500 Suburban 1993 S-10 Blazer 4D (youngest son's daily driver) 2000 Dodge Ram 4WD Ext. Cab (5.9L) Wife is a late year 1951 Last edited by Old Dave; 02-09-2006 at 09:30 PM.

02-12-2006, 01:43 PM	#10
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? with a 350 TBI you can expect around 12-15mpg with a 454 TBI you can expect 8-12 mpg around town in my 91 R2500 with 454TBI I get about 8mpg but on the highways I have seen up to 12mpg... and this is with it at 170K miles.... __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

02-15-2006, 05:04 PM	#11
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: Mileage in '90 2wd 'Burb? go to www.carpoint.com to see GVWR's, engine specs, etc... sticker for my '89 1/2ton 2wd w/ a 700r4 and 3.73 axle was 14/19 (still have the sticker). I get about 16mpg highway... once I got 18 with cruise on and literally gas station to gas station, both on the highway... and going 70mph. with this body style, I get the feeling the wind resistance makes a big difference... it's much easier for me to go 55 than 70 (and I think I'd get much better milage at 55mph)...



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