V6 gas mileage

[tradosaurus]

Originally Posted by Easy Go

I'm just starting to keep track now that the car is broken in, so I don't have specific numbers yet - but in previous cars, I've been able to exceed EPA by 10% just by going easy on accel and decel. Basically, the less you use the gas and brake pedals, the more energy you are conserving. I never realized any gains by using a K&N filter. Should have bought another tank of gas instead.

Will report back later once I've got my own data to share.

After using K&N on at least 5 different cars over a number of years I too believe the K&N is absolutely useless for MPG or HP gains.

The only benefit to me is that it is cleanable and reusable.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by tradosaurus

After using K&N on at least 5 different cars over a number of years I too believe the K&N is absolutely useless for MPG or HP gains.

The only benefit to me is that it is cleanable and reusable.

If, and only if, the existing filter is a bottleneck, then an upgraded filter could free up top-end power. That is, when WOT near redline, where the engine is producing the maximum power and flowing the maximum amount of air.

An air filter will not affect fuel economy. The only way it could would be if it was so clogged that there was a significant amount of pumping loss from trying to pull air through it. That is, if a lot of energy was spent trying to get the air to pass through the filter. IRL, long before that happens any driver would notice such a significant decrease in performance that he would begin troubleshooting his car and notice the caked-up filter.

[Bumblebee10]

in break in I got 17.8 mpg. I drove it on the highway with 93 oct gas for 300 miles and was getting 24.1mpg. Now at 6,000 miles I use 89 octane gas and get 18.4mpg mostly medium traffic roads. It will never get to what the GM specs said it would. It would never be 29mpg. I was told by the dealer that those gas averages are done at 52mph on a cool day on the highway for 25 miles with 93octane gas. That is how they inflate the mpg to 29.

[faninc]

If the car is set up for 87 octane (v6) why would they test with 93 octane and why would it yield better results? The Bosch PCM supposedly learns and retunes based on factory setting...so unclear why 93 octane would yield an improvement? Not to mention, GM would be risking truth in advertising? They advertise reccomended fuel is 87 octane and then due EPA test using 93 octane- bait and switch would come to mind?

Happy with my 26-27mph using 87 octane...

happy holidays all.

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee10

in break in I got 17.8 mpg. I drove it on the highway with 93 oct gas for 300 miles and was getting 24.1mpg. Now at 6,000 miles I use 89 octane gas and get 18.4mpg mostly medium traffic roads. It will never get to what the GM specs said it would. It would never be 29mpg. I was told by the dealer that those gas averages are done at 52mph on a cool day on the highway for 25 miles with 93octane gas. That is how they inflate the mpg to 29.

If you have the time, go educate yourself from the source of the testing. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

Now, having said that, you might as well quit running anything but 87 octane gas in your v6. There is one fuel table and it is for 87 octane. Running anything higher is just wasting your money at the pump. Unfortunately, the v6 is not like the v8 and we don't get a different fuel table for 87 and 91 octane.

As for getting the EPA numbers, it is entirely possible. You just have to drive it more like a Prius and less like a sports car.

[scrming]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

If you have the time, go educate yourself from the source of the testing. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

Now, having said that, you might as well quit running anything but 87 octane gas in your v6. There is one fuel table and it is for 87 octane. Running anything higher is just wasting your money at the pump. Unfortunately, the v6 is not like the v8 and we don't get a different fuel table for 87 and 91 octane.

As for getting the EPA numbers, it is entirely possible. You just have to drive it more like a Prius and less like a sports car.

The question is... Are the knock sensors kicking in at all with 87? I can see "spark retard" on my Dashhawk but I'm not sure where exactly it is coming from... Unfortunately I can't directly monitor the knock sensors... it just seemed to me that the "spark retard" was less active with higher octane gas... Again this is not scientific, just casual observations... So you might be able to get a couple of degrees more of timing running the higher octane if the knock sensors are active using 87... And yes, the knock sensors will pull timing before you, the driver, can actually hear it yourself..

[Aquaman]

29.2 mpg straight hwy (averaging around 70 mph).

23.8 mpg 50% hwy and 50% city.

Using 87 octane of course and driving normal (not granny or insane).

Really incredibly when you think about it.

I have 1,400 miles on the car now and have been calculating by the fill up method.

By the way, the "average mpg" calculation done by the vehicle is extremely accurate +/- .2 mpg from what I calculate.

[mrray13]

I've been averaging 22mpg combined. I drive about 75-25 highway/city, cruise usually set at 65-68mph on the interstate. That said, I do tend to play quite often, and I know tht drops mileage.

Overall, I'm very happy with what the car is returning compared to the fun factor I have with it.

[ROD1]

19mpg; 50/country driving 25/city 25/highway. Not much speeding but I get to 60 as fast as I can most times when I can.

[ROD1]

So far it looks like this to me.
Mostly city- 19
Mixed- 21
Highway -23
Long trip Highway - 25

I noticed the Canadians seem to get much lower mileage.

[gbmike]

hmmm... using 93 octane (not cotrrect?) and getting 14.9-15.1 right now, yep the V6 and only back road country (city) commute (12 miles each way). Not good ! had a 350 z before and was getting about 17...

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by gbmike

hmmm... using 93 octane (not cotrrect?) and getting 14.9-15.1 right now, yep the V6 and only back road country (city) commute (12 miles each way). Not good ! had a 350 z before and was getting about 17...

No, its not correct. Why would you use premium in the V6? The manual says use regular, so use it.

[ponykiller]

has anyone used 92 octane (high test) for the v6

[gbmike]

the manual says use minimum 87... also the V6 350Z needed the higher and that was a V6