Mileage
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 3
From: Mission, Kansas
Mileage
For you long time experts out there.
Took the Vette on it's first long distance drive today. It performed flawlessly. It's a 1990 with the 3.07 gear. Drove 520 miles today and averaged just under 24 mpg. Had the cruise set at 79 the whole way and was turning right at 2300 RPM. Is the mpg typical for this? It is an automatic, completely stock. All interstate driving with maybe 60 of the miles in town.
Thanks.
Took the Vette on it's first long distance drive today. It performed flawlessly. It's a 1990 with the 3.07 gear. Drove 520 miles today and averaged just under 24 mpg. Had the cruise set at 79 the whole way and was turning right at 2300 RPM. Is the mpg typical for this? It is an automatic, completely stock. All interstate driving with maybe 60 of the miles in town.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Interesting chart. I like looking at data like this.
It also shows something I have been tracking. The difference between summer and winter. Your trend lines are highest in the summer and worse in cold weather. I seem to get better mileage in summer too. (about 2.5 mpg)
It also shows something I have been tracking. The difference between summer and winter. Your trend lines are highest in the summer and worse in cold weather. I seem to get better mileage in summer too. (about 2.5 mpg)
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,423
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
I think the reason for the lower mileage in the winter mainly has to do with people warming up the vehicle and defrosting windshields and preheating the cabin.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
There's a change in the fuel blend that lowers the mileage in winter (here, at least).
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
Well...in that case...
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
I like looking at data like this.
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
Last edited by 3D87C4; Feb 2, 2012 at 12:07 PM.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,423
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
But i'm not complaining one bit. 
Last winter more than made up for it!
Last edited by 96 Vette CE; Feb 2, 2012 at 12:15 PM.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,423
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
There's a change in the fuel blend that lowers the mileage in winter (here, at least).
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
Well...in that case...
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
Well...in that case...
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Mine's a crew cab 4x4. I'm guessing the difference in vehicle weights and aerodynamics arent all that different. Your engine is likely more efficient than the 4.3liter too.
Then there's my lead foot...
I had an '84 Nissan pickup before the S10 & it was getting 25mpg...with a cracked block!!! Great truck, but no airbags, no room for kids, and no anti-lock brakes...no...no rear brakes to speak of when it was wet.
Then there's my lead foot...
I had an '84 Nissan pickup before the S10 & it was getting 25mpg...with a cracked block!!! Great truck, but no airbags, no room for kids, and no anti-lock brakes...no...no rear brakes to speak of when it was wet.
Last edited by 3D87C4; Feb 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
True, but acceleration is where the gas goes.
My commute is 50 miles round trip, mostly freeway, more-or-less at the limit. There is a noticable difference in my mileage if I add some longer freeway stretches to a tank of gas or do more weekend city street driving.
Case in point---look at the droop in 2008. I was out of work & that was all street driving. All the high mileage entries were long trips.
Who really cares about the difference in MPG at highway speeds when the average improves by 3 to 5MPG just by cruising on the freeway?
My commute is 50 miles round trip, mostly freeway, more-or-less at the limit. There is a noticable difference in my mileage if I add some longer freeway stretches to a tank of gas or do more weekend city street driving.
Case in point---look at the droop in 2008. I was out of work & that was all street driving. All the high mileage entries were long trips.
Who really cares about the difference in MPG at highway speeds when the average improves by 3 to 5MPG just by cruising on the freeway?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
There's a change in the fuel blend that lowers the mileage in winter (here, at least).
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
Well...in that case...
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
With fewer daylight hours & weather there are also more accessories used.
I suspect weather & driving behavior and conditions are a factor too.
Well...in that case...
The S10 data is almost every tank of gas since I got it in 2001. The yearly trend has been steadily dropping:
The pink curve is the s10 cumulative average.
The blue and brown lines are 5-day averages for the s10 & vette, respectively.
I also spent a lot of time on a 50 mile 1 way commute to work and tried to figure out the mileage difference with the summer/winter temperature. I think it is just the cold makes things thicker and tougher to turn. I noticed the instant fuel mileage didn't climb to normal until the oil temperature came up to normal. That would take about 15 or 20 miles before it stabilized. Once warmed up fully, the mileage seemed to be very close. I suspect that all the fluids/grease/etc. have a similar influence not just the engine oil.
I also have had a couple of S10's. You must have a 4.3 auto. I had a 2003 extended cab and a Blazer. Their mileage looks a lot like yours. I also have a 1998 2.2 with a 5 speed. It gets a little better mileage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I had a 94 6 speed. I would get about 30 to 31 on the highway with the cruise set on 72 mph. With my commute my mix of driving was nearly all interstate highway and my tank averages were about 28.5 summer and less in the winter. I rarely had tanks of mostly in town, so I don't know, but 20 or so in town might be about right if you are easy on the gas pedal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
I also spent a lot of time on a 50 mile 1 way commute to work and tried to figure out the mileage difference with the summer/winter temperature. I think it is just the cold makes things thicker and tougher to turn. I noticed the instant fuel mileage didn't climb to normal until the oil temperature came up to normal. That would take about 15 or 20 miles before it stabilized. Once warmed up fully, the mileage seemed to be very close. I suspect that all the fluids/grease/etc. have a similar influence not just the engine oil.
The temperature variation here doesn't compare, though, but every little seasonal difference---temperature, fuel composition, etc.---adds up.
And yes, 4.3 auto, crew cab with a heavy 4x4 transfer case.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
I read somewhere and I have verified this but from 55 to 65 you lose 10% on your gas mileage. At faster speeds from 65 on, it gets worse in a hurry. 55MPH is very efficient. I have driven my Corvette on a highway trip easy at a 65MPH cruise on mostly level ground got 32MPG w/ac on. Both ways.
My grandfather 04 Chevy Malibu 3.5L V6 on the stock tires would get 40MPG at a 65 cruise. With the replacement tires only 37.
The one time we took that trip we decided to go 55 just to see what we would get, at 1500RPM the whole way and getting passes left and right, we got 45.6MPG. No joke. Verified by on board avg. computer and via gas pump method.
My 01 Ford Focus gets 36MPG at 65, with its 2.0L spinning at 2500RPM!!!
Shoot in the corvette I made 16 1/4 mile passes, 2 round trips down to the track and still averaged 17.7MPG.
Gotta know how to drive.
My grandfather 04 Chevy Malibu 3.5L V6 on the stock tires would get 40MPG at a 65 cruise. With the replacement tires only 37.
The one time we took that trip we decided to go 55 just to see what we would get, at 1500RPM the whole way and getting passes left and right, we got 45.6MPG. No joke. Verified by on board avg. computer and via gas pump method.
My 01 Ford Focus gets 36MPG at 65, with its 2.0L spinning at 2500RPM!!!
Shoot in the corvette I made 16 1/4 mile passes, 2 round trips down to the track and still averaged 17.7MPG.
Gotta know how to drive.
