LB7: Fuel milage

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
8
38
35
Goodyear, AZ
I run my LB7s to the fuel light every time. My truck's original CP3 (290,000 miles) was only replaced because I went to a 12mm stroker when I built the motor. Suburban has the original still.

Between the truck and Suburban, I've run out of fuel 5+ times (cracked fuel pickup tube and calibration issues from the swap respectively). No problems so far.

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Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean it isn't an issue, we all know air in fuel is hard on pumps and injectors why risk it
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,683
236
63
Boise, ID, USA
A bad fuel level sensor isn’t going the be fixed by installing a sump.

I’m not a fan of sump anyways and agree that you shouldn’t be running your tank so it has much less the 5gal in it regularly.


Damn we are off in the weeds. This ones about mileage... lol
Well, the OP hasn't come back with any hand-calculated mileage, I thought the consensus was that this was in the realm of reasonable for winter fuel? Not much more we can do for him there.
Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean it isn't an issue, we all know air in fuel is hard on pumps and injectors why risk it
Clearly we don't all know, I'm that one asshat that questions everything. :hug: I do run lift pumps (mostly to mitigate the constant air leaks from the factory filter head-- talk about introducing air!). But if it was that dangerous to go below 5 gallons, GM would've made the low fuel light come on sooner. I don't recall reading anything in the owners manual saying "always fill up before 1/4 tank"
 

2004LB7

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2010
6,422
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Norcal
I'm with DAVe on this one.

I dont think the engine would run long enough when out of fuel to cause any wear or damage to the pump and the injectors operate on pressure so would quit the moment the fuel pressure stopped

Yeah, I guess there could be a chance that you could run out of fuel at speed and coast to a stop which would continue to turn over the engine and thus the CP3. But... How could this be any worse then trying to start engine and prime the fuel system and turning the engine over a bunch. We dont hear of damage from this.

And it is not likely anything to do with cooler fuel as the fuel is pulled and returned to a bowl in the sender so the hot fuel is getting sucked right back in constantly

These CP3s are quite robust. A CP4 on the other hand...
 

AZlml

Member
Jun 5, 2016
278
2
18
32
Goodyear, AZ
If you live in an oven in the summer then you aren't really doing yourself any favors running it to emptyas as far as performance goes. Cycling a small amount of fuel to a hot engine with extreme asphalt temps doesn't allow much cooling.
 

2004LB7

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2010
6,422
1,778
113
Norcal
Like I said before, I cant see having a 1/4 tank or more is going to help much on cooling the fuel when the return gets pumped right back into the bowl that the pickup is located in.

Sure some mixing of the fresh fuel is going to happen but is it really going to be enough to make a big difference in the life of the fuel pump?
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,683
236
63
Boise, ID, USA
Fuel temps do rise a bit as your tank gets lower, but nothing crazy. From all the miles I put on my truck towing, empty, etc. and seeing the fuel temps, I didn't even install a fuel cooler when I did my Duraburb. It sees almost identical temperatures to the truck despite no cooler.

There was a big thread a while back about fuel temps and mileage, and some people said they saw a difference with cooler fuel temps, but really just a bunch of theory and claims. I don't think anyone ever put in the work to prove it out. I suppose I could put a cooler on my Suburban and see if my MPG goes up, but that would take thousands of miles to get a good feel for it, and if I was too lazy to install one with the body off, I sure ain't installing one now :baby:
 
Jul 23, 2016
39
0
0
Kentucky
Check the tcase for fluid and metal flakes. I kept hearing a noise that I couldn't figure out. It turned into a grinding noise that would increased on tc lockup. It didn't start leaking fluid till it came out the front drive shaft seal.

Mine leaks out the fron and back seal very little but it os still full
 

OregonDMAX

NOT IN OREGON, NO DURAMAX
Apr 28, 2013
3,964
8
38
35
Goodyear, AZ
Fuel temps do rise a bit as your tank gets lower, but nothing crazy. From all the miles I put on my truck towing, empty, etc. and seeing the fuel temps, I didn't even install a fuel cooler when I did my Duraburb. It sees almost identical temperatures to the truck despite no cooler.

There was a big thread a while back about fuel temps and mileage, and some people said they saw a difference with cooler fuel temps, but really just a bunch of theory and claims. I don't think anyone ever put in the work to prove it out. I suppose I could put a cooler on my Suburban and see if my MPG goes up, but that would take thousands of miles to get a good feel for it, and if I was too lazy to install one with the body off, I sure ain't installing one now :baby:

Mike proved a cooler does help immensely. Dunno where it was but someone posted that the inside of an LML tank had melted from hot fuel on a high hp truck, which ifcorse the LML doesn't come with a cooler. It's already been proven by scientists, engineers and racers that cooler fuel is more energy efficient in all aspects.
 

torqued2dmax

Member
Mar 26, 2017
646
1
18
Brookville, PA
Jacob , is your truck still running or did something let loose to tell you where the grinding noise was coming from , keep us up to date ! Someone here way have some good advice !
 
Jul 23, 2016
39
0
0
Kentucky
As of roght now i am still chasing this noise, im going to check the parking break and see if it came loose in the wheel?? My parking break barely holds so maybe thats it!
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,826
401
83
TX of course
Parking brakes ain’t very good in these trucks to start with, but worth a look.


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torqued2dmax

Member
Mar 26, 2017
646
1
18
Brookville, PA
Do you have a carrier bearing ? That is why I wanted to know if it is a long bed CC ! They are known to make noise upon light acceleration ! Did you check all the U joints ? Did you push straight up and down on T case output yoke ? Did you drain the $8 worth of T case fluid into your wifes clean white tupperware container , to let us know weather it is full of metal chunks ? You said the T case is full but leaks , so if thats the case the fluid is coming from the tranny seal which you can replace when you do the pump rub kit !