What's Your MPG?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,586
Likes: 972
From: Communist Colorado
Thats awesome... sign of a good running engine. For me though... I could care less about mine... Last time I checked it was like 18+ mostly city driving and a few speedy blasts here and there....
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 277
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
My 85 Auto trans with 3.07 rear does around 350 to 400 miles a tank, Way less than the 500 miles the trip computer estimates.
It will show 25 to 30 mpg average on highway estimating 500+ miles range, however have never seen anywhere near that.
Perhaps we have too many mountains and hills here in OZ....
with the 3.07 rear gears it runs at 1800 rpm at 60mph 2000 rpm at 70mph, what ACTUAL miles are we all getting rather than generous trip computer estimates.
It will show 25 to 30 mpg average on highway estimating 500+ miles range, however have never seen anywhere near that.
Perhaps we have too many mountains and hills here in OZ....
with the 3.07 rear gears it runs at 1800 rpm at 60mph 2000 rpm at 70mph, what ACTUAL miles are we all getting rather than generous trip computer estimates.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
A gas mileage thread in a Corvette forum? Sounds like Prius envy. 
If I were to cherry pick as the OP did, mine would get into the mid 20s too. But I leave the computer alone and let the average come up over time. In real world city commuting with occasional short freeway trips my '96 (3.07 rear) struggles to maintain16mpg on Shell VPower 93.
What does your computer say on the way into Santa Monica out of Woodland Hills via 101 and the 405 on a Monday morning?
We're all doing our part to make sure California burns and Florida sinks.
If I were to cherry pick as the OP did, mine would get into the mid 20s too. But I leave the computer alone and let the average come up over time. In real world city commuting with occasional short freeway trips my '96 (3.07 rear) struggles to maintain16mpg on Shell VPower 93.
What does your computer say on the way into Santa Monica out of Woodland Hills via 101 and the 405 on a Monday morning?
We're all doing our part to make sure California burns and Florida sinks.
Last edited by Renfield; Aug 12, 2018 at 07:50 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Really tho, the only way to check gas mileage is ye ol' miles driven/gallons consumed. The instant readout only gives you an instantaneous value. The "average" reading is somewhat closer IF you zero your trip mileage before the test begins. But, even then, the manual method is still the most accurate way to really get an idea - for that day.
I used my cruise control set at 70 mph and drove 40 miles on level road on a low humidity, 70ºF day, premium (93 octane) fuel, and altitude averaging 800 feet AMSL. (This ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE!) I got 26.4 mpg on my modded LT5 - almost exactly what I got before doing the (porting, headers) mods. On the same stretch using the cruise control set at 70 mph, my stock 95 LT1 Vette got right at 30.x mpg.
That said, w/o the cruise set and me controlling the GO PEDDLE, average mpg was in the teens for the Z, and a bit more for the LT1 (both having ZF/M6 tranny,)
However, YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!
.
I used my cruise control set at 70 mph and drove 40 miles on level road on a low humidity, 70ºF day, premium (93 octane) fuel, and altitude averaging 800 feet AMSL. (This ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE!) I got 26.4 mpg on my modded LT5 - almost exactly what I got before doing the (porting, headers) mods. On the same stretch using the cruise control set at 70 mph, my stock 95 LT1 Vette got right at 30.x mpg.
That said, w/o the cruise set and me controlling the GO PEDDLE, average mpg was in the teens for the Z, and a bit more for the LT1 (both having ZF/M6 tranny,)
However, YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!
.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Paul Workman has it right. The only way to check mileage is miles driven /gallons consumed. In other words calculate it after filling it up.
My '88 and '94 dash display numbers were right on, but my '95 is about 1 mpg higher than actual , and my '96 is about 2 mpg lower than actual.
He also said his '95 Vette gets right at 30.x mpg. My '95 6M gets the same on the highway cruise at about 70 on the mostly level roads we have around here. My '96 6M gets about the same to maybe 1 mpg less.
As far as a gas mileage thread in a Corvette forum, being Prius envy, I don't agree. I think it is amazing that our cars do everything so well. That includes performance, handling, and yes gas mileage. I want it all.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 239
From: Sun City West, AZ
With my 93 Ruby manual tranny driving on relative flat terrain from Plumas Lake (about a hour north of Sacramento) to Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, which is about a hour and a half drive, at 75 MPH on Interstate 5 for a hour and 15 minutes, and 55-60 MPH on S.R. 12 with several changes in speed with the A/C on, I got 30 MPG on IS 5 and it dropped down to 28.6 on SR 12. Currently, I only have a tad over 76,000 miles on the odometer. Oh yah, that was without speed control. I very seldom ever use speed control.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
In real world city commuting with occasional short freeway trips my '96 (3.07 rear) struggles to maintain 16mpg on Shell VPower 93.
What I find interesting is that my 2500HD 4x4 (diesel of course) might even come close to besting the Vette on combined figures.
Last edited by drcook; Aug 12, 2018 at 12:13 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
I got 28mpg highway back when I just had an LT1 with a cam and bolt ons. (T-56 with 3.07 gears)
I now get around 17-18 highway with my 383 LT1, H/C and all bolt ons. (T-56 with 3.73's)
Still I don't seem to burn that much fuel around town but of course I don't DD the car either so I have never checked the city mileage. I assume it's bad, haha.
I now get around 17-18 highway with my 383 LT1, H/C and all bolt ons. (T-56 with 3.73's)
Still I don't seem to burn that much fuel around town but of course I don't DD the car either so I have never checked the city mileage. I assume it's bad, haha.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Hang out on some pickup truck forums...this is nothing.
My '85 C4 (AT, 2.73 rear) is somewhere in the mid 20's, which is way better than my truck. With a 20 gallon tank, it's a refreshing vehicle to drive and not fill up constantly.
My '85 C4 (AT, 2.73 rear) is somewhere in the mid 20's, which is way better than my truck. With a 20 gallon tank, it's a refreshing vehicle to drive and not fill up constantly.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,865
Likes: 67
From: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, L.A California
A gas mileage thread in a Corvette forum? Sounds like Prius envy.
If I were to cherry pick as the OP did, mine would get into the mid 20s too. But I leave the computer alone and let the average come up over time. In real world city commuting with occasional short freeway trips my '96 (3.07 rear) struggles to maintain16mpg on Shell VPower 93.
What does your computer say on the way into Santa Monica out of Woodland Hills via 101 and the 405 on a Monday morning?
We're all doing our part to make sure California burns and Florida sinks.
If I were to cherry pick as the OP did, mine would get into the mid 20s too. But I leave the computer alone and let the average come up over time. In real world city commuting with occasional short freeway trips my '96 (3.07 rear) struggles to maintain16mpg on Shell VPower 93.
What does your computer say on the way into Santa Monica out of Woodland Hills via 101 and the 405 on a Monday morning?
We're all doing our part to make sure California burns and Florida sinks.
I dont care about miles per gallon. its about SMILES per gallon
just saying the old girl didnt do bad on the road at all. hiccup free 180 mile round trip
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
Road trips can be nice (depending on the traffic) and certainly provide the best possible gas mileage. But my commute is the best part of my work day. So while I might only feel slightly smug about my **** poor mileage when passing a Hummer, I get a boatload of SMILES per gallon.
As for pickup trucks, my '83 F100 gets better MPG around town. But it rarely elicits a smile.
Glad you had a nice trip to SB. Enjoy that Corvette and ignore her drinking problems.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,865
Likes: 67
From: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, L.A California
You asked about miles, not smiles. Totally different subject. I would still smile in bumper to bumper traffic on the Sepulveda pass while my computer reports zero mpg.
Road trips can be nice (depending on the traffic) and certainly provide the best possible gas mileage. But my commute is the best part of my work day. So while I might only feel slightly smug about my **** poor mileage when passing a Hummer, I get a boatload of SMILES per gallon.
As for pickup trucks, my '83 F100 gets better MPG around town. But it rarely elicits a smile.
Glad you had a nice trip to SB. Enjoy that Corvette and ignore her drinking problems.
Road trips can be nice (depending on the traffic) and certainly provide the best possible gas mileage. But my commute is the best part of my work day. So while I might only feel slightly smug about my **** poor mileage when passing a Hummer, I get a boatload of SMILES per gallon.
As for pickup trucks, my '83 F100 gets better MPG around town. But it rarely elicits a smile.
Glad you had a nice trip to SB. Enjoy that Corvette and ignore her drinking problems.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
I average 15 but it's mostly because my right foot is 20 lbs. On a 200 mile trip the car pulled 24 mpg. 383, stealth ram, 280xfi, 4l80e, 3.07 rear gear, lockup converter. running about 72 mph without any excitement.