I got my 97 z28 a few days ago. I just changed my radiator fluid, and oil. I now want to find a way to improve gas mileage. I know these cars are gas guzzlers but I want to use premium and try to keep gas usage down. I only filled my tank up twice. I think the fact that i have been testing the cars limits and torturing it a little bit could be the problem.

I know the air filter can have an effect on gas mileage. I am going to check mine and possibly replace it with a good one if anyone can make any recommendations.

I have an auto transmission but I know that if you leave it in overdrive, go the speed limit, and don't floor it, the gas can be conserved. Does anyone know anything else I can try to help out the usage?

 

You could have bought a V6 but that wouldn't have been as much fun, I know your supposed to put premium in these cars, but to tell you the truth, I don't notice a bit of difference in my performance, I used 93 for a while but then I started having to drive 34 miles every day to get to school, I had to downgrade. I guess each engine varies though. I have other friends with LT1s & LS1s that won't run right without it(though heavily modded). So I guess thats one way to save some money, if your car runs fine without it. Also, I know you said you have an auto, but I was wondering, does skip-shift make any big differences in gas mileage to any other 6sp owners?

 

pull weight. the less pounds you have to move the less the engine has to work. make sure the car has a good tune up (plugs, plug wires, air filter, fuel filter, o2 sensors) a dyno tune better setting your air fuel might help the nice thing about all of that is they will give you better mpg's and hp's

 

Drive it like your granny would.

Oh, and the skip shift is a joke. Shift from 1st to 4th and lug the car around. Great idea.

 

The LT-1 isn't really a "gas guzzler". You can get gas mileage in the mid to high 20's on the highway. It's really pretty efficient.

 

cold air, headers, catback







ohhhh, and keep the lead out of your foot

 

Yeah, add a cold air induction kit if you don't already have one, and a better flowing exhaust. Probably won't be a big difference, but it's better than nothing. I don't know how much headers would help though, I don't have them, YET.

 

I have a moroso cold air intake, and a corsa exhaust, o2 sensors were changed, i believe i have some kind of aftermarket headers, ill check filters soon.

Hypertech says it can give you some better mielage, is that true or not?
I haven't found a dyno yet, does anyone have any tips for finding one in your area?

 

DO NOT purchase Hypertech. It will do little to nothing. And did not help my fuel milage or my times in any way. I have had it for 5 months and finally sold it. WASTE of money.

 

im stationed in germany and beleve me, we got it good in the states on gas prices. although military pays us prices on gas, out on the economy your looking upwards of 5 beans per gallon, so enjoy it while you can. dont worry about gas milage, if you wanted a car that was good on gas you should have bought a honda.

 

Swap the rear end gears to 2.73. Some one would probably trade you the gears.

 

Biggest thing is to drive it easy. (Not an easy thing to do with our cars, it's too tempting.)

I would just make sure your plugs are fresh.

CAI helped me about 1 mpg. So it takes a little while to recoup the money, but it also gains a little performance.

Our cars actually have excellent gas milage for the amount of power they put out. Over the life of my '97, I've averaged 21 mpg. High was 31 mpg, and low was 16 mpg.

Dan

 

Gas mileage is inversely proportional to fun in a vehicle.

And remember that the LT1 isn't very efficient at high rpms, so the lower the rpm, the better.

Someone should put 2.73s in a 6 spd and see what kind of mileage they can get doing 70 down the highway.