Real Mpg
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: boulogne buenos aires
Real Mpg
I'm sure this topic is not new for this site but well, I guess in this days of expensive fuel why not hear the experience of other corvette users:
I´d like to know the real mpg of a corvette. In my case I have a 1973 L82 with edelbrock performer intake and carb (1405). Petronix ignitor 2 and an msd box. My mpg for my opinion is lousy around 8-10 miles per gallon in a average use (city/highway). IT freaks me out to actually see the fuel gauge go down so fast!!!
I´d like to know the real mpg of a corvette. In my case I have a 1973 L82 with edelbrock performer intake and carb (1405). Petronix ignitor 2 and an msd box. My mpg for my opinion is lousy around 8-10 miles per gallon in a average use (city/highway). IT freaks me out to actually see the fuel gauge go down so fast!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 0
its average MPG, unless you do major mods for gas saving needs, some will get up to 14, but any higher than that and you kind of need to mess with the engine in depthMiles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
My '69 427/435 with L88 cam, 4.11 rear = 6mpg. No more than 125 miles to a tank of gas, and I don't drive it hard.
A small block should be able to get better fuel economy than 8-10 mpg. Maybe your carb isn't adjusted correctly, maybe its jetting is mismatched to the cam, profile, etc. The '78 L82 I owned got 15 mpg.
What transmission do you have? Automatic or manual? The auto is a 3-speed. While an excellent automatic, it does turn some rpm's compared to later overdrive automatics. If you have a 4-speed, is it a close ratio or wide ratio? Close ratio for performance...wide ratio for driveability and better economy.
A small block should be able to get better fuel economy than 8-10 mpg. Maybe your carb isn't adjusted correctly, maybe its jetting is mismatched to the cam, profile, etc. The '78 L82 I owned got 15 mpg.
What transmission do you have? Automatic or manual? The auto is a 3-speed. While an excellent automatic, it does turn some rpm's compared to later overdrive automatics. If you have a 4-speed, is it a close ratio or wide ratio? Close ratio for performance...wide ratio for driveability and better economy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
IT freaks me out to actually see the fuel gauge go down so fast!!!
This was my first weekend driving my 73 L82 4spd with 3.70 rear end
it has the performer intake, Q-jet, headers and 268 comp cam.
I burned up a tank and a half without even trying! Soon as I got home I wanted to go out again to hear the pipes and enjoy cruising.
The area where I live has tons of secondary highways so I am seriously thinking of a 5 speed upgrade for next season...it will probably pay for its self pretty quick.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: boulogne buenos aires
4sp muncie m21. don´t no the ratio. regarding carb I just pull it out of the box and installed to the engine. I know I´d probably should take the car for a tune up and see if get any better.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Streator Illinois
'75 Stingray with 4 speed, 3:36 gears, and ZZ4 with Holley Street Avenger 670 cfm.
Easy Sunday drive 40-60 MPH with no hard accelerations got me a little over 17 mpg but this was not my usual type of driving. Yeh, I know - I had a hard time believing it too and was very surprised.
Terry
Easy Sunday drive 40-60 MPH with no hard accelerations got me a little over 17 mpg but this was not my usual type of driving. Yeh, I know - I had a hard time believing it too and was very surprised.
Terry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Ditto...almost exact copy here ..3000rpm@70 mph ~15mpg...but thats mostly cruising...and after I fixed my ignition/timing issues. I found out the hard way..if your advance curve is out, your mileage sucks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
69 Coupe with a 71 LS5 454/365hp and I just got 12.68 on a fill-up Sun. That's about 65% cruising,around town, but I am not scared to mat it either. I was very suprised. Others have told me it's **** gas milage, but it was a kid, what do ya expect?
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
From: MI
I just got 15 mpg on the road between detroit and indiana. base l48, auto. i know i need a tune.
my question: what do people with crate motors get? I am gonna probably get the 350 H.O. with...330 hp?...and eventually a 5 spd from kessler. what are people with something similar getting?
my question: what do people with crate motors get? I am gonna probably get the 350 H.O. with...330 hp?...and eventually a 5 spd from kessler. what are people with something similar getting?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park Kansas
What was wrong with your curve? I have a 383, edelbrock 1903 q-jet, 700r4 with lockup converter, medium cam but high compression and I get 10mpg on a good tank. I do need a tune but I'm wondering what's causing my horrible mileage.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,013
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
that's about as good as it gets. others with low mpg need to spend less time typing, more time tuning.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Jun 10, 2008 at 08:42 AM.