MPG Test - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

awfarley · 03-26-2012, 11:05 PM

UPDATE: Please understand this thread has absolutely NO relation to the MPG you get when filling up your tank. This test is only to judge the before/after MPG of installing a Vararam intake, and is used only as a means to judge MPG accordingly. Due to an assumption there is a need to clarify.

So I've decided to start tracking my daily work commute MPG. I'm doing this to get a base for what economy I'm getting before and after I install my Vararam (when they make it) for the LFX.

I hear a CAI/Ram is supposed to increase your economy, but after researching it I see some don't believe this is so. This made me a little skeptical and now I'm taking matters into my own hands.

I travel approx. 24 miles to work one way all interstate and I'll use that as my base. I'll set my cruise at 70mph. As soon as I hit the on-ramp I'll pick up speed to 70. When I reach 70mph I'll reset my Avg. MPG meter. I'll cruise on to work maintaining that speed. When I reach the exit ramp I'll note what the last Avg. reads. Also I will be noting the current temp. when I leave home.
I think this over an extended period will give me a good base number to compare. I'm trying to keep all possible factors even.

So here's is what I got today:
3/26: AVG 32.7 55 degrees
3/27: AVG 32.4 55
3/28: AVG 33.6 61
3/29: AVG 33.5 58
3/30: AVG 33.6 62

Week 1 AVG: 33.16 MPG

I may eventually take photos of the AVG and so on. I believe I have covered everything, but does anyone see something I may have missed? I understand this is a lot of potentially useless information to some, but I like researching these sorts of things. Thanks.

ga0358 · 03-27-2012, 10:59 AM

I tried something similar, but wasn't able to get any consistency, mainly due to traffic backups at random times...Here in Atlanta, you NEVER know when a tractor-trailer's gonna blow up (how does that HAPPEN?) or some moron flips a car upside down in a traffic jam (again, how does THAT happen when traffic's moving at 12 mph???)

Fiftydriver · 03-27-2012, 11:32 AM

Best way to figure it is to take a longer trip and then figure your milage by taking actual miles traveled and the actual fuel amount used to get your actual milage. When I do this, its always a bit different then what the computer on the car tells me. Interestingly enough, sometimes the computer says I do better, sometimes worse.

The computer is most accurate when on long drives at highway speeds for my car anyway.

Your showing way to much patients with this mod add on. I would just slap the thing on and have fun!!!

In my experience, mods seldom increase milage enough to make a real difference that way, they do offer more performance however so that is the best thing to them. A good tune would probably do more for your milage then anything as far as an add on.

awfarley · 03-27-2012, 12:18 PM

Your showing way to much patients with this mod add on. I would just slap the thing on and have fun!!!
One thing....it doesn't exist yet.

awfarley · 03-28-2012, 10:11 PM

Updated!

meissen · 03-29-2012, 10:26 AM

At first I was jealous of your average MPGs but then I caught that you're cheating and resetting the meter once you hit 70mph.. Not a real accurate test IMHO. The MPGs need to account for acceleration, taking off from a stop, etc - that's where the cold air is going to help the most IMHO compared to just cruising speed.

Berryp · 03-29-2012, 11:05 AM

Be honest who realy bought there cars for the gas mileage

I bought mine because it looks awsome and i can hit the gas pedal and go.....

awfarley · 03-29-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meissen

At first I was jealous of your average MPGs but then I caught that you're cheating and resetting the meter once you hit 70mph.. Not a real accurate test IMHO. The MPGs need to account for acceleration, taking off from a stop, etc - that's where the cold air is going to help the most IMHO compared to just cruising speed.

True, but I'm taking out as many external factors as possible. Again this test isn't for anything other than my curiosity. I work for Honda, if I wanted a car for mileage alone, I would have bought an I4 Civic. I pretty plainly stated I was "cheating", but I'm only doing so to keep things simple.

Even still getting 32-33 mpg by going the speed limit isn't bad. Especially since 95% of my driving is interstate. After I finish this test I'm not going to reset it anymore, but that won't be until I install the Vararam. Who knows when that will be...

TooCool5 · 03-29-2012, 01:58 PM

Keep us posted after the CAI install, I hear some members loose MPG cause they can't keep their foot out of it.

awfarley · 03-29-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooCool5

Keep us posted after the CAI install, I hear some members loose MPG cause they can't keep their foot out of it.

You bet. I'll be updating every day.

1RedHotLE · 03-30-2012, 04:36 AM

The real truth about CAIs is that more air = more fuel needed so your mileage will be worse. You will probably (but not allways) get more performance and you will probably want to use it and that will also hurt your mileage but this is the wrong car to have to worry about it.

meissen · 03-30-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBMer

The real truth about CAIs is that more air = more fuel needed so your mileage will be worse. You will probably (but not allways) get more performance and you will probably want to use it and that will also hurt your mileage but this is the wrong car to have to worry about it.

While more air may = more fuel, I can tell you 100% that I have gotten better fuel mileage since I got my CAI...

awfarley · 03-30-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meissen

While more air may = more fuel, I can tell you 100% that I have gotten better fuel mileage since I got my CAI...

Thats exactly what I hope for, but I've heard mixed opinions like the more air, more fuel thing. That's why I'm doing this test

We shall see when they make it lol

007s 'Vert · 03-30-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berryp

Be honest who realy bought there cars for the gas mileage

I bought mine because it looks awsome and i can hit the gas pedal and go.....

Really?.....Are you serious?.....Have you seen the price of gas lately?

03-26-2012, 11:05 PM	#1
awfarley Drives: 2011 5.7L Tundra Double-Cab X-SP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,031	MPG Test UPDATE: Please understand this thread has absolutely NO relation to the MPG you get when filling up your tank. This test is only to judge the before/after MPG of installing a Vararam intake, and is used only as a means to judge MPG accordingly. Due to an assumption there is a need to clarify. So I've decided to start tracking my daily work commute MPG. I'm doing this to get a base for what economy I'm getting before and after I install my Vararam (when they make it) for the LFX. I hear a CAI/Ram is supposed to increase your economy, but after researching it I see some don't believe this is so. This made me a little skeptical and now I'm taking matters into my own hands. I travel approx. 24 miles to work one way all interstate and I'll use that as my base. I'll set my cruise at 70mph. As soon as I hit the on-ramp I'll pick up speed to 70. When I reach 70mph I'll reset my Avg. MPG meter. I'll cruise on to work maintaining that speed. When I reach the exit ramp I'll note what the last Avg. reads. Also I will be noting the current temp. when I leave home. I think this over an extended period will give me a good base number to compare. I'm trying to keep all possible factors even. So here's is what I got today: 3/26: AVG 32.7 55 degrees 3/27: AVG 32.4 55 3/28: AVG 33.6 61 3/29: AVG 33.5 58 3/30: AVG 33.6 62 Week 1 AVG: 33.16 MPG I may eventually take photos of the AVG and so on. I believe I have covered everything, but does anyone see something I may have missed? I understand this is a lot of potentially useless information to some, but I like researching these sorts of things. Thanks. Last edited by awfarley; 03-31-2012 at 06:52 PM. Reason: UPDATE

03-27-2012, 10:59 AM	#2
ga0358 Drives: 2010 ABM LS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Acworth, Georgia Posts: 935 View My Garage	I tried something similar, but wasn't able to get any consistency, mainly due to traffic backups at random times...Here in Atlanta, you NEVER know when a tractor-trailer's gonna blow up (how does that HAPPEN?) or some moron flips a car upside down in a traffic jam (again, how does THAT happen when traffic's moving at 12 mph???) __________________

03-27-2012, 11:32 AM	#3
Fiftydriver Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS RJT L99 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fort Shaw, Montana Posts: 1,242	Best way to figure it is to take a longer trip and then figure your milage by taking actual miles traveled and the actual fuel amount used to get your actual milage. When I do this, its always a bit different then what the computer on the car tells me. Interestingly enough, sometimes the computer says I do better, sometimes worse. The computer is most accurate when on long drives at highway speeds for my car anyway. Your showing way to much patients with this mod add on. I would just slap the thing on and have fun!!! In my experience, mods seldom increase milage enough to make a real difference that way, they do offer more performance however so that is the best thing to them. A good tune would probably do more for your milage then anything as far as an add on. __________________ Fiftydriver 2010 SSRS, RJTC, L99, Maggie 2300 SC, 3.4" pulley, Roto-Fab CAI, Dynatech Supermaxx LT headers, Dynatech High Flow cats, Corsa Cat back exhaust, Dual Elite Engineering catch can, MSD wires and Jannetty custom tune, JRE custom diff w/ posi mod, 3.91 LPE gears, Pfaht trailing arms, Pfaht trailing arm and Diff bushings, drop springs and sport sway bars front and back, Fesler dual guage pillar pod w/ AM Cobalt Boost and A/F guages. More to come!!

03-29-2012, 10:26 AM	#6
meissen Founder - Michigan FBody Drives: 1994 Camaro LT1, 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Haven, MI Posts: 2,598	At first I was jealous of your average MPGs but then I caught that you're cheating and resetting the meter once you hit 70mph.. Not a real accurate test IMHO. The MPGs need to account for acceleration, taking off from a stop, etc - that's where the cold air is going to help the most IMHO compared to just cruising speed. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 - *"Zooma"* 1994 Camaro LT1 A4 - *"Red Alert"* - v6-to-LT1 Swapped Cruiser; Cammed, Stalled, Enjoyed "Gone But Not Forgotten" 2016 Camaro 1LT A8 - "Elmo" 2014 Camaro 1LT M6 - "Cherry Bomb" 2012 Camaro 1LS M6 - "Clifford" Michigan FBody Association http://www.mifbody.com/

03-29-2012, 11:05 AM	#7
Berryp Drives: 2011 Camaro Vert RS A6 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 244	Be honest who realy bought there cars for the gas mileage I bought mine because it looks awsome and i can hit the gas pedal and go..... __________________ [

03-27-2012, 12:18 PM	#4
awfarley Drives: 2011 5.7L Tundra Double-Cab X-SP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,031	Your showing way to much patients with this mod add on. I would just slap the thing on and have fun!!! One thing....it doesn't exist yet.

03-28-2012, 10:11 PM	#5
awfarley Drives: 2011 5.7L Tundra Double-Cab X-SP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,031	Updated!

03-29-2012, 01:58 PM	#9
TooCool5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LS 3.6 LLT V6 325 HP Join Date: May 2009 Location: LS Posts: 4,244 View My Garage	Keep us posted after the CAI install, I hear some members loose MPG cause they can't keep their foot out of it. __________________ 2010 Camaro Auto, Inferno Orange, Titanium Interior, Gearhead Wheels AIRAID CAI

03-30-2012, 04:36 AM	#11
1RedHotLE Drives: 2014 red hot 2ss 1le Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Daytona Beach Florida Posts: 35 View My Garage	The real truth about CAIs is that more air = more fuel needed so your mileage will be worse. You will probably (but not allways) get more performance and you will probably want to use it and that will also hurt your mileage but this is the wrong car to have to worry about it.

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