Hypertech makes a programmer called the Max Energy E-Con Gives you the Gas Milage Gains to save you money.  These programmers are advertised to optimize your engine and transmission settings to get better fuel mileage. The manufacturer claims that using their programmer you should notice from a one to a four mile per gallon gain. Since there was a money back guarantee for customer satisfaction I decided to buy one and try it on my 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 four wheel drive pickup truck.

Do programmers like the Hypertech Max Energy boost fuel mileage in the real world?  I conducted several tests of the programmer while traveling to California to visit a family member in February of 2010. I tested the mileage using the programmer on the way back, having picked it up in California. My semi-scientific field test of the Hypertech Max Energy E-Con consisted of driving to and from Loma Linda California from San Antonio Texas. The mileage was 1350 miles one way.

I picked up the Hypertech Max Energy E-Con programmer for my Chevy Silverado pickup while I was in California. On the way out I there I was religiously checking my mileage to test the effect of adding a bed cover. By this point I had already done a few things to the truck to boost fuel economy, including replacing the tires, removing the lift kit and replacing all fluids including transmission fluid with synthetics. The bed cover seemed to help with gas mileage to the point of about one half to one mile per gallon.

My mileage on the way out, without the programmer was around 20 to 21 mpg, which I understand is very good for a 4×4 Silverado . My 2008 Chevrolet has a 5.3 engine, is a crew cab and is four wheel drive. Since it was winter I had the AC off.  I averaged 65 mph, which was less than the speed limit, but was going for maximum fuel mileage. I made sure that I topped off the tank in the same exact spot and averaged the amount of gas used over several fill ups. Through the rough mountain country I was only getting 18-19 mpg. I actually saw the instant fuel economy reading showing 24 for about 100 miles but that was probably due to a tailwind. Winds were average and were not unusually strong from any one direction on the way to California.

In Loma Linda I downloaded a tune from the Hypertech Max Energy E-Con and after a few days returned to Texas.  I made it a point to stop at the same gas stations, often the very same pump, as I had used on the trip out.

Keeping notes of my fuel consumption and a calculator handy, and also looking at the Silverado’s onboard MPG calculator, I saw a gain of a little better than 1 mpg. For 600 miles of the trip my fuel mileage averaged 23 mpg. Again this is with the AC off, bed cover on, and driving 65 miles per hour, accelerating very conservatively, etc.   For roughly the other half of the trip home my mileage averaged 20 to 21 mpg through the rough, hilly and mountain country on IH-10

My conclusion is that the Hypertech Max Energy E-Con does boost your fuel mileage in a Chevy Silverado Truck with a 5.3 engine. I’m aware that when using any fuel saving product there is a chance of the psychological effect, such as subconsciously driving slower, rounding up the the lower number of gallons, etc. I tried to avoid these pitfalls and keep it as accurate and objective as possible. I’d like to hear from any other users of Hypertech Max Energy E-Con or Bully Dog Triple Dog gas programmers, with Chevy Silverado trucks, and see what other users are getting in the real world. I’m especially curious about how these devices boost fuel mileage when pulling a trailer with a full sized Chevrolet or other model of truck.