Surprisingly high MPG.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Surprisingly high MPG.
OK, I'm not one who is obsessed with fuel mileage, but every time I get a new vehicle I try to get a baseline, just to know what to expect from it. So Sunday I get up and run over to the Shell station and fill up the Vette, I decide to take a cruise, no destination in mind.
I end up driving all over southern Arizona, all on two lane highways (no interstates), so then Monday and now today I drove all over town. As I was coming home I looked at the fuel gauge and it was just above 1/4 tank so I pull in and fill it up (15.4 gal.), I then look at the trip meter (298 miles), that 19.35 MPG. WOW!!
Is anyone else getting this good of mileage? I don't remember any of my other C3s getting this kind of mileage. Although I think the 700R4 w/ lock-up converter has a lot to do w/ it.
I end up driving all over southern Arizona, all on two lane highways (no interstates), so then Monday and now today I drove all over town. As I was coming home I looked at the fuel gauge and it was just above 1/4 tank so I pull in and fill it up (15.4 gal.), I then look at the trip meter (298 miles), that 19.35 MPG. WOW!!
Is anyone else getting this good of mileage? I don't remember any of my other C3s getting this kind of mileage. Although I think the 700R4 w/ lock-up converter has a lot to do w/ it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
When I first started thinking of getting a C3 as a DD my wife asked "what kind of mileage do you think you'll get?" I told her anything above 10 MPG is a bonus, because that's where I thought it would be (10-12).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,647
Likes: 1,871
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
5-7 mpg around town 9-10 hwy. Must use super 93 & 2 cans of boost. Cost me almost $75.00 to fill up Cost to drive in fuel only is almost $1.00 per mile. Around town it's fill up every hundred miles or so, i feel like i live at the gas station !!!
Ho Hummmm, I guess thats The Price you pay for a BB W / 3 Carbs
Ho Hummmm, I guess thats The Price you pay for a BB W / 3 Carbs
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
5-7 mpg around town 9-10 hwy. Must use super 93 & 2 cans of boost. Cost me almost $75.00 to fill up Cost to drive in fuel only is almost $1.00 per mile. Around town it's fill up every hundred miles or so, i feel like i live at the gas station !!!
Ho Hummmm, I guess thats The Price you pay for a BB W / 3 Carbs
Ho Hummmm, I guess thats The Price you pay for a BB W / 3 Carbs
Yea, but driving a car that nice is worth every penny...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
Best highway tank for my '78 350ci 4spd manual was 18.43mpg.
The average is 16.26 mixed driving.
The worst was 14.19 (excessive use of the loud pedal)
These figures were before the TPI conversion.
The average is 16.26 mixed driving.
The worst was 14.19 (excessive use of the loud pedal)
These figures were before the TPI conversion.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa OK
I can get in the 24 mpg range with my 700r4, but even with the th350 it wasn't really that bad. Remember, 81-82 vettes will have a 2.87 or even higher rear end in it. They're built for gas mileage (at least as much as was possible back then).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,172
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
OK, I'm not one who is obsessed with fuel mileage, but every time I get a new vehicle I try to get a baseline, just to know what to expect from it. So Sunday I get up and run over to the Shell station and fill up the Vette, I decide to take a cruise, no destination in mind.
I end up driving all over southern Arizona, all on two lane highways (no interstates), so then Monday and now today I drove all over town. As I was coming home I looked at the fuel gauge and it was just above 1/4 tank so I pull in and fill it up (15.4 gal.), I then look at the trip meter (298 miles), that 19.35 MPG. WOW!!
Is anyone else getting this good of mileage? I don't remember any of my other C3s getting this kind of mileage. Although I think the 700R4 w/ lock-up converter has a lot to do w/ it.
I end up driving all over southern Arizona, all on two lane highways (no interstates), so then Monday and now today I drove all over town. As I was coming home I looked at the fuel gauge and it was just above 1/4 tank so I pull in and fill it up (15.4 gal.), I then look at the trip meter (298 miles), that 19.35 MPG. WOW!!
Is anyone else getting this good of mileage? I don't remember any of my other C3s getting this kind of mileage. Although I think the 700R4 w/ lock-up converter has a lot to do w/ it.
after swapping to 3.73s, I made similar trip (A/C on ), this time to Huntingdon, Pa. and back, followed by around-town driving, getting 17.6 MPG over 440 miles of driving.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
When the motor was stock, I was getting 17.9 mpg on trips. 14mpg in town.
Now...With dual exhaust, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600cfm carb & slight cam 14 mpg on trips. 12-13 in town.
You would think with the newer/more modern efficient intake system & less restrictive exhauset that the MPG would have gotten better....Or that was my wishful thinking
Now...With dual exhaust, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600cfm carb & slight cam 14 mpg on trips. 12-13 in town.
You would think with the newer/more modern efficient intake system & less restrictive exhauset that the MPG would have gotten better....Or that was my wishful thinking
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,172
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
When the motor was stock, I was getting 17.9 mpg on trips. 14mpg in town.
Now...With dual exhaust, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600cfm carb & slight cam 14 mpg on trips. 12-13 in town.
You would think with the newer/more modern efficient intake system & less restrictive exhauset that the MPG would have gotten better....Or that was my wishful thinking
Now...With dual exhaust, edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600cfm carb & slight cam 14 mpg on trips. 12-13 in town.
You would think with the newer/more modern efficient intake system & less restrictive exhauset that the MPG would have gotten better....Or that was my wishful thinking
tore-out the cat & installed dual straight-pipes, .450"/220* cam, 650 double-pump Holley, headers, intake, etc., got 14-city/18-highway, while ET/MPH went from 16-flat @ 82 to 14.40 @ 97.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
Thanks for making me feel better
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
My best to date is 19. I avg 12. When I come home from a drive that has plastered a grin to my face, 7.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
When I ran a 350/350 with slant plug heads, Torker Intake, 600 Holley DP, and water injection to stop detonation (11:1 CR) , I typically got 16 mpg on the highway with a peak of 20 mpg.
With my built 355 (Comp Cams 294S, 2.055" intake Aluminum Brodix -8 Pro Heads, Victor Jr Intake, 10.67:1 CR, 750 Holley DP) I get 11 to 12 mpg on the interstate.
With my built 355 (Comp Cams 294S, 2.055" intake Aluminum Brodix -8 Pro Heads, Victor Jr Intake, 10.67:1 CR, 750 Holley DP) I get 11 to 12 mpg on the interstate.