Mileage quest...

[JMAustin70]

My 2001 Z-28 is getting 22 mpg on the highway, I have heard of people getting as good as 28, I would like to get my car up there.

Are there any certain mods that will help mileage more than another.... I drive 80 miles a day, so any improvements will pay for themselves eventually.... or should I just be happy I'm getting 22 ?????


Its a 2001 Z-28 convertible with bone stock LS1 and T-56 .... what should I do first...

Also What mileage is everyone getting out of their V8 powered cars???? is 28 unreachable in an f body?


sorry for rambling ...... James

[D-Webz]

My 2001 Z-28 is getting 22 mpg on the highway, I have heard of people getting as good as 28, I would like to get my car up there.

Are there any certain mods that will help mileage more than another.... I drive 80 miles a day, so any improvements will pay for themselves eventually.... or should I just be happy I'm getting 22 ?????


Its a 2001 Z-28 convertible with bone stock LS1 and T-56 .... what should I do first...

Also What mileage is everyone getting out of their V8 powered cars???? is 28 unreachable in an f body?


sorry for rambling ...... James


I got a little over 28 mpg without any modding. You should be getting better than that on the highway provided your not driving 120 mph.

[reamo04]

do a fresh tune up.
A new lid, headers, and exhaust will free up some power, and since its not "changing" anything - just unrestricting, they will help your gas mileage.

Driving straight highway in my LT1, i was getting 27, mixed driving 20/21, straight city 16ish

[drek_67045]

must be nice iwas getting 24 in oregon then i was getting about 19 all highway miles through califorina, now i am in ks again and i am getting about 18 and about 14 in the city it has a K&N air filter bosch dual spark plugs only thing i can still do to it to try is the optispark and wires plus the fact its an A4 doesn't help any either its a 94 lt1 i would like to know a few other tricks as well

[ddhawkfan]

you should be getting more than 22 in a 6 speed car.

[reddevil96]

i had touched 29 in my lt1 go to colorado with a slight miss and regular gas, has since gone down to aroung 25 or so

[JMAustin70]

you should be getting more than 22 in a 6 speed car.

Thats what I thought too.... I drive about five miles a day straight through El Dorado and then all highways to work.... I am not cruising higher than 70 mph , and the engine is humming around 15 or 1600 rpm.... do you think the big difference could be the soft top?

If you guys are getting upper 20's maybe something needs attention.... the car only has 45000 miles on it though... I can't imagine it needing too much of a tune up yet??????? any other ideas on why my mileage is down?

it seems to run very good ...I've checked all the basics.... maybe there is something I am not noticing....

[Matts408]

go buy a honda if you are concerned about mpg.

[reddevil96]

45,000 or not a good tune up will do it good (plugs,wires, air filter,pcv, trans fluid, rear end, etc.)

[Blown402]

try using 6th gear

[JMAustin70]

go buy a honda if you are concerned about mpg.



If I wanted to drive a gay car I would have a honda already or maybe a ford....

[JMAustin70]

try using 6th gear


oh .... is that what the other opening in the shift pattern is for ??? I thought that maybe it was park.....

hey look I can be a smart ass too ...

[ddhawkfan]

hey easy on the ford stuff, my car gets better than 22mpg on it, lol

[gutwrench98]

believe it or not, i averaged 30 mpg on longer trips because it was all highway and running 75 mph, i opened up the intake a little, k&n filter, removed my egr blockage in my intake, flowmaster exhaust, fresh set of tires with the proper inflation, 91 octane, and new set of plugs, but back then i didnt care about mileage, just fun

[WIDOMKR]

tune the computer after you do a complete tune up. new plugs, wires, air and fuel filter. I know you may have 45K on it but it is still needed

[Zurbo]

I've seen 28mpg before on a nice easy cruise at a steady 65mph and 35psi all the way around on the tires instead of the 32psi called out on the door. The tires claim 40psi but seems too high me.

Normally 25mpg is the norm at 75mph for me.

[JMAustin70]

Thanks for all the replies.... I'll get the intake and exhaust unrestricted, and check on the overall tuneup then i'll let you know how it turns out.

I've been reading and it appears that the factory tune at cruise and part throttle is pretty rich.... maybe a tune could lean things out a bit and save some fuel..... I will keep you informed ......

[camarokid94]

back when i was stock i would get 30 easy but that was all highway from sioux city to manhattan ks. 280 miles. i did a gear swap from 3.42 to 3.73s and it went up to 33 mpg. now with the 402 ill get 26. all with 6sp. i think the colder weather might be you biggest killer right now. do you let you car sit and warm up idle in the morning at all? if so that and cold weather kills mileage.

wait for warm weather and recheck.

[JMAustin70]

yeah its gets a few minutes to warm up in the garage before i head to work...
i think you are right about the cold killing me. hope things improve with the warmer weather...