LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 09:09 PM
  #1  
95z28man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 537
From: Lancaster, Pa
Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

I just got like 130 something miles on one tank of gas. I let it go to about 1/8 of a tank which is about as low as I'd ever let it get because of the screwy gauge. I reset the miles right when I got done pumping and I got only that many miles on the tank. I remember hearing some of you guys getting like 200+ miles on a tank. I didn't drive it heavy either. No higher than 2500 on the tach unless I pulled out in front of someone by accident or something. All the mods in my sig are current. I think my O2's may be bad too. What else could be wrong? Or is that normal for my mods?
Thanks
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 09:13 PM
  #2  
sleeperMULLET's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 164
From: South Jersey
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

i think a PCM tune will help
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 09:47 PM
  #3  
Craddock's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 654
From: Madison/Morgantown, West Virginia
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

You should be getting a lot better mileage than that. I was getting 192 miles on mine with codes for bad 02 sensors (both left and right), bad egr, and a messed up transmission.
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 09:48 PM
  #4  
97Formy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 49
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

Is your car throwing any codes?
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
Ray86IROC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 642
From: Atlanta, Ga
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

You should realistically be able to at least get nearly 300 miles to a tank w/ a good running LT1 w/ average 50/50ish split between city and highway. That would be pulling down an average 19 mpg overall which is easily doable. I fill mine up at between 200 and 250 miles every week and I have plenty to spare, it usually only takes around 10 gallons to fill it back up. So I'm getting around 20-22 mpg mixed city/highway driving week in and week out with mine (little more highway than city, but it's around metro Atlanta so even on the highway there is often a fair amount of traffic and such). Even if you drove 100% city driving, if you don't drive like John Force you should be able to maintain 15-16 mpg, which is lower than the epa ratings, and get well over 200 miles to a tank seeing as it is a 15.5 gallon tank (or is it just 15, I forget at the moment). You do the math, only 130 miles for anything near a whole tank is horrible.

Just use your trip odometer and ignore your fuel gauge. Fill up, then go drive for your week or whatever it takes to get 120-130ish miles. Fill it back up and note the amount it takes to refill. You can then figure what kinda mileage you're getting, and tell how empty your tank really was. Perhaps it's nothing more than your fuel gauge being way off.

Last edited by Ray86IROC; Sep 17, 2006 at 11:28 PM.
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 11:16 PM
  #6  
HardcoreRM125's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,628
From: Pgh, PA
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

FWIW, on the highway, my car gets 24MPG, with me getting on it a bit, and crusing at 75-80. This is on a trip that is I would say 90% highway driving

Driving around my house ( Pittsburgh = GIANT HILLS ) I cinsistantly get 11-12MPG, with me getting on it some, but nothing crazy. I may make one WOT 1-3rd gear run in it, and punch it hear and there coming around a couple bends, so its not like im slamming on it. I bet if I was driving outside of the mountain range it would be WAY better.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 12:40 AM
  #7  
JonZ28SS's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 30
From: Bensalem, PA
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

I get an average of 140mpg on a regular basis. 300 miles on a tank? I'll never ever see that day. Anyone else have similar gas mileage? I just always thought it was because 80% of the time my tach is stuck on the 6k line... or on its way.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 01:44 AM
  #8  
gd1996ss's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 323
From: Latrobe, PA
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

My 93 ta got 18-20 with a lead foot and mixed, but the highways weren't the 60-70s open hwy kind... and lots of turns and hills.

Last edited by gd1996ss; Sep 18, 2006 at 02:44 AM.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 02:40 AM
  #9  
popo8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 778
From: Shillington PA
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

My 96, b4 the 4.10's was getting about 240 a tank driving a 50/50 split town/highway... when i drove it to NC, from PA, I got nearly 500miles to the tank... gotta love 6th gear....
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 04:06 AM
  #10  
Z28LT1_Just_Nasty's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 501
From: Monmouth County, NJ
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

Maybe you have a burnt wire? Happened to me, I didn't hear the usual backfiring of a burnt wire I think it only missed occasionally. With headers I'm sure it's a possiblity.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 06:17 PM
  #11  
95z28man's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 537
From: Lancaster, Pa
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

I know I don't have any burnt wires, I replaced them all with MSD's over the summer with the headers, along with the plugs. I've been driving almost only to school and back each day about 2 miles. So I can last on one tank for quite a while, but only getting about 130 miles on the tank.

Ever since the headers/exhaust this past summer, The airbag, traction, brake and coolant lights have been flashing on and off while driving. The air bag light is usually steady though. I don't know if it's throwing any codes, I don't know how to check them... Don't you need one of those diagnostic things that plug into the dash?

Hopefully it's just the faulty gauge but I doubt it. Once I was on the highway with the needle on E, and it started to stumble, luckily the gas station was right off the exit and I rolled right in. So if it was 1/8 full with only 130ish on miles then I doubt E will allow many more miles.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 07:13 PM
  #12  
Justin Horne's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 96
From: Idaho.
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

Wow...
Doing 60/40 highway, city, with some spirited city sprints, I get at least 320 per tank! Long tube headers/no cat, descreened MAF/and 6 speed...
97 ws6
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 07:27 PM
  #13  
supercharged87's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 248
From: New Jersey
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

Check for knock retard, when my car was getting knock retard, it cut down my gas mileage alot. My '94 Camaro was the only car that I ever got good gas mileage in. I've actually clocked 24mpg highway in mine before with an automatic and bigger gears. A friend of mine got close to 30mpg in his '94 Firebird on the highway.
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 08:50 PM
  #14  
HardcoreRM125's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,628
From: Pgh, PA
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

I think a big part with mine is that I need the PCM worked over since it has 1.6's and such ...
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 08:35 AM
  #15  
Terran2k's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 986
From: texas
Re: Is something wrong with my gas mileage?

in nyc i got 150 miles a tank, in texas I get about 220 or so. alot more stop and go driving in nyc.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:31 AM.