1996 1500 Silverado V6 4.3 gas mileage.

Hi Karen, easy easy, think you already read one of my fixes for this on another post...... Clean your throttle body with the battery disconnected. Will fix your problem, need to clean the Throttle body at least once a year. You'll get better gas mileage too.

Installing a cold air intake kit like a K&N or Airaid will actually do both, give you a horsepower gain and better fuel mileage. you will notice better throttle response and you will not need to give it as much throttle to go the same speed as before and therefore you should see an increase in gas mileage(if you dont go hotrodding around!).

Just my opinion, but dealer is blowing smoke up there! Clean your throttle body. This is idler control code. It is VERY common for our TB's throttle body to gum up and get clogged with carbon, because we don't have a pcv system. Disconnect the battery, clean the throttle body, best done if you remove the throttle body. You can even re-use the plastic o-ring/gasket many times over. I find that using Seafoam to clean with plastic bristled brush is the best. Seafoam is sensor safe and cost about $9 a can. Look up on the TUBE, there are many videos there showing how to clean a Trailblazer/Envoy throttle body. Very easy and inexpensive. After that's done, clean that throttle body at least once a year. You'll get better gas mileage with it clean.

This happened to me with my old car. It ended up being a dirty throttle body. Take of you air intake from from the throttle body manually open and close the throttle and clean it. I used intake cleaner and a tooth brush and it worked awesome even got better gas mileage.

When was last healthy tune up? Plugs, wires, ALL fluids & filters? I'd start there, then check tire pressures to make sure they're up.

It will tend to stall when you have the A/C on and or the defrost, not the heater correct? The defrost uses the A/C to dry the air. The battery was probably disconnected or changed recently. Clean your throttle body with throttle body cleaner while the battery is disconnected. When finished, drive around for 5 miles or so with the A/C and Defroster off. Your computer will relearn the the newly cleaned throttle body. This will fix this very common problem. Will cost you about 7 bucks for the cleaner and you're gas mileage will be better.

Easy one, around $7 to fix. The battery was recently unhooked right? Clean your throttle body (should be shiny) with throttle body cleaner ($7) while the battery is unhooked. Perferred method is to remove the throttle body, but can be done without removing it too, just won't be as clean as it could be. After you're done, drive the car around for 5 miles or so, your problem will be solved, and you'll get a little better gas mileage. Very common problem with TB's.

The 2001 Dodge Caravan with the 3.3L has absolutly no clearance above the intake - I have replaced these by removing the intake and throttle body - be sure and place a cover, rag or something to prevent anything from falling into the engine. Rear plugs can then be accessed fairly easy. While intake is off, clean it by introducing a can of foaming engine cleaner - make sure all sensers have been removed before hand. Clean throttle body and idle solenoid with carburator cleaner. Idle solenoid can be removed for better axcess but do not remove TPS throttle position sensor - this is in direct line with the throttle plates. Wash out all carbon and gas deposits. Take your time with the gaskets and you will be greatly rewarded with improved gas mileage and idle control. When replacing the plugs, put antiseze on threads to make them easier to install and remove next time.

This is because your throttle body is dirty. What you are doing when you give it gas is just giving it air the computer gives it gas. Clean around your butterflyin your throttle body so air can get by without stepping on gas pedal That will fix it.P.S only use throttle body cleaner to do this,they sell it at any auto part store.

TIM

I would do the usual tune-up stuff first.. plugs, wires, cap, rotor, filters, PCV valve, etc. Try to avoid aftermarket parts if possible. You may pay a little more for OEM GM / ACDELCO parts, but my past experience showed me it's not worth the aggravation.

I'm guessing this is a TBI. The throttle body may be getting gummed up. This is a pretty common issue with the 4.3 & 5.0 / 5.7's. Even the thirsty big blocks were prone to this. Pick yourself up a base gasket while you're at it, and a can of "Berkible 2+2 gum cutter". Wear rubber gloves when using this stuff (don't worry, it's "sensor safe"). Remove the throttle body and when you turn it over, you'll be surprised at the carbon build-up in all of the passages, etc, and how much better it will run afterwards.

Check for cracked / dry rotted vacuum lines too while you have it all apart.

I'm actually surprised you were getting the mileage you were (8-12), considering it's a 350, and the weight of the camper.