How many miles per gallon does a 2023 6.6 Duramax get?
The 2023 6.6 Duramax diesel engine, found in select Chevrolet and GMC trucks, is known for its impressive power and towing capabilities. But how does it perform when it comes to fuel efficiency? Let's dive into the details.
Fuel Economy Ratings for the 2023 6.6 Duramax
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2023 6.6 Duramax engine achieves an average fuel economy of 16 miles per gallon (mpg) in city driving and 20 mpg on the highway. This means that on a full tank, you can expect to travel around 400 miles in the city and 500 miles on the highway before needing to refuel.
Factors Affecting Fuel Efficiency
Several factors can influence the real-world fuel efficiency of the 2023 6.6 Duramax, including:
- Driving Conditions: Towing heavy loads, driving in hilly terrain, or frequent stop-and-go traffic can all reduce fuel economy.
- Driving Style: Aggressive acceleration, high-speed driving, and frequent braking can negatively impact fuel efficiency.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Proper tire inflation, regular oil changes, and other maintenance tasks can help optimize fuel economy.
It's important to note that your actual fuel mileage may vary depending on these and other factors.
Improving Fuel Efficiency
If you're looking to maximize the fuel efficiency of your 2023 6.6 Duramax, here are some tips:
- Drive Conservatively: Avoid sudden acceleration and braking, and maintain a steady speed.
- Reduce Aerodynamic Drag: Remove unnecessary roof racks or cargo when not in use to improve aerodynamics.
- Keep Up with Maintenance: Regularly check and maintain your vehicle's tires, engine, and other components.
By following these best practices, you can help ensure that your 2023 6.6 Duramax delivers the best possible fuel efficiency for your driving needs.
What is the fuel mileage for a 2023 6.6 Duramax?
The real-world fuel mileage for a 2023 6.6L Duramax varies, but typically ranges from 16 to 18 mpg in mixed driving and 18 to 22 mpg on the highway. When towing, mileage can drop to 9-14 mpg, depending on the weight and terrain. Factors like driving style, maintenance, and truck configuration also influence the final mpg.
Factors affecting fuel economy
- Driving conditions: Mixed city/highway driving averages around 16-18 mpg, while steady highway cruising can reach 20+ mpg.
- Towing: Towing heavy loads will significantly decrease fuel economy. You can expect anywhere from 9-14 mpg depending on the weight and the terrain.
- Vehicle configuration: Factors like the truck's specific trim (e.g., 2500 vs. 3500, dually vs. single rear wheel) and gear ratio can affect mileage.
- Maintenance: Keeping up with regular maintenance and driving habits, such as avoiding excessive idling, can help improve fuel efficiency.
- Break-in period: Some drivers report mileage improving after the engine has been broken in, with mileage getting better after the first few thousand miles.
- DPF regeneration: The truck's Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) will go through a regeneration cycle that can temporarily lower fuel economy, sometimes down to 14-15 mpg for a short period.
How many miles per gallon does a 6.6 l Duramax get?
The 6.6L Duramax engine's MPG varies, but typically ranges from 15-18 MPG for mixed driving and 17-20 MPG for unloaded highway driving. Actual mileage depends heavily on factors like driving conditions, towing, and the specific model year. Some newer models achieve higher efficiency, with a 2025 Silverado HD hitting 20.4 MPG on a controlled highway loop.
This video shows a fuel economy test of a 2021 Chevy Silverado HD with the 6.6L Duramax engine towing a trailer: 48struckguyjoeYouTube · Jan 15, 2021
Mileage breakdown by driving type:
This video demonstrates a fuel economy test of a 2024 Chevy Silverado HD Duramax: 57sDaily MotorYouTube · Jun 27, 2023
- Mixed/City: Around 15 MPG or lower, especially with stop-and-go traffic.
- Highway (unloaded): Typically 17-20 MPG, but can vary with speed.
- Towing: Expect significantly lower mileage, often in the 10-14 MPG range depending on the load and terrain.
Factors that influence MPG:
- Towing and load: Hauling heavy loads reduces fuel efficiency.
- Driving conditions: Hilly terrain or stop-and-go city traffic lowers MPG.
- Vehicle age and break-in: Newer trucks may improve after an initial break-in period, with some owners reporting increased mileage after a few thousand miles.
- Other factors: Speed, road conditions, and factors like the truck's emissions system (e.g., temporary DPF regen cycles) can also have an effect.
You can watch this video to see real-world mileage results for a 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax: 1mDaily MotorYouTube · Mar 26, 2022
How many miles per gallon does a 2023 Chevy 2500 diesel get?
The 2023 Silverado 2500 diesel (6.6L Duramax) gets around 18 mpg combined in real-world driving, with highway mileage typically ranging from 20-21 mpg and city mileage around 15-18 mpg. While some experts provide an estimated highway rating of up to 19 mpg, real-world results often vary depending on driving conditions, such as towing and city vs. highway driving.
This video discusses the fuel economy of the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine, which is an option for the 1500 model: 44sGetty's GarageYouTube · May 4, 2025
Fuel efficiency by driving type
- Combined: Approximately 18 mpg
- Highway: Around 20-21 mpg
- City: Roughly 15-18 mpg
Important considerations
- EPA ratings: The EPA does not officially test heavy-duty trucks like the 2500, so official ratings are not available. The figures above are based on expert tests and real-world owner experiences.
- Towing: Towing a load can significantly reduce fuel economy, with some owners reporting around 18-19 mpg when towing a 10,500-12,000 lb load, while others report lower figures when towing heavier loads.
- Driving habits: Driving style, speed, and local conditions will all affect your actual mileage.
How do you get 30 MPG on a Duramax?
General Tips for Better MPG
- Don't let your truck idle for long periods of time if you can help it. Idling burns a lot of fuel and your gas mileage will take a hit.
- Don't be heavy on the gas.
- Watch your tire pressure.
- Service and maintain your Duramax truck regularly.
