C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Gas

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 2, 2010 | 09:01 PM
  #1  
djdeep73's Avatar
djdeep73
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default Gas

Finally was able to drive my 87 Vette after sitting in the garage for the last 2 weeks while i had my dash cluster rebuilt. Drove about 125 miles combination of highway and city and was amazed at the mpg......a whopping 28 avg...............how can this be for a big 5.7 350-V8 ???
I love it !!!
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 09:42 PM
  #2  
RollaMo-LT4's Avatar
RollaMo-LT4
Race Director
20 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 182
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Default

Well, just going 125 miles isn't really going to give you a "true" idea of the mpg.
But it's very possible to get that for what you listed.

Start with a full tank of fuel and reset your trip odometer. Then when you get close to empty, fill it up again.
Now calculate how many miles per gallon you used for that tank.
That will give you a much more accurate idea of what to expect.

But your right, the Corvette is a very fuel efficient car. Most people find it hard to believe.
Not uncommon at all to get between 28 - 31 on mostly flat interstate roads.
Overall totals in the 18-24 range (depending on driving style and terrain) are to be expected also.
But get your right foot into it some more, and the mpg will go down.
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 10:03 PM
  #3  
djdeep73's Avatar
djdeep73
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default

what was done to the engine to make it so fuel efficient ?
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 10:53 PM
  #4  
RollaMo-LT4's Avatar
RollaMo-LT4
Race Director
20 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 182
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Default

Originally Posted by djdeep73
what was done to the engine to make it so fuel efficient ?
Well, compared to earlier generation Corvettes the fuel injected engines are more fuel efficient.
But it's not just the engine. Put that same engine in a truck, and you won't get that kind of fuel mileage.

In the Corvette the engine doesn't have to work very hard to just cruise down the highway.
The Corvette is not a very heavy car, and it's very aerodynamic.
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 11:08 PM
  #5  
JackDidley's Avatar
JackDidley
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,839
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by djdeep73
what was done to the engine to make it so fuel efficient ?
Overdrive and the lock up converter have a lot to do with it.
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 11:15 PM
  #6  
1991-C4's Avatar
1991-C4
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Wentzville MO
Default

Originally Posted by JackDidley
Overdrive and the lock up converter have a lot to do with it.
At 70mph, the engine is taching at less than 2000rpm which means the engine isn't even breathing hard!
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 11:22 PM
  #7  
Blue 92's Avatar
Blue 92
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Default

Originally Posted by djdeep73
......a whopping 28 avg...............how can this be for a big 5.7 350-V8 ???
I love it !!!
You might want to do a tune up. Shouldn't be that low.



LT1 with a 6 speed. They do fairly well.
Reply
Old May 2, 2010 | 11:57 PM
  #8  
corvetteronw's Avatar
corvetteronw
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Originally Posted by JackDidley
Overdrive and the lock up converter have a lot to do with it.
Also driving like Betty White will do this too.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old May 3, 2010 | 12:10 AM
  #9  
djdeep73's Avatar
djdeep73
Thread Starter
Intermediate
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks for all the info ! u guys are great !
Reply
Old May 3, 2010 | 07:55 AM
  #10  
JackDidley's Avatar
JackDidley
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,839
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by corvetteronw
Also driving like Betty White will do this too.
Pics of Betty ?
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
Reply
Old May 3, 2010 | 05:29 PM
  #11  
Blue 92's Avatar
Blue 92
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Default

Originally Posted by JackDidley
Pics of Betty ?




Reply
Old May 3, 2010 | 07:07 PM
  #12  
Chuck Tribolet's Avatar
Chuck Tribolet
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
Default

I regularly see 27 MPG in my '87 4+3 on the freeway.
I've seen 29 for one long freeway run (and it was out
and back, so it wasn't wind or slope).

Drove to Tucson (from Northern California) and saw
26 MPG each way, in spite of AZ's 75 MPH speed limit
and about 15 miles of city streets.

My theory is very low wind resistance and a really tall
fourth+OD.


Chuck
Reply
Old May 3, 2010 | 10:56 PM
  #13  
Harsh20's Avatar
Harsh20
Instructor
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
Default

wedge design on a lite chassis=mileage
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Gas





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:24 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE