V6 gas mileage

[Angrybird 12]

Just got bad from a 500 mile round trip to Ga. Averaged 29.8 going to Ga, and 28.7 coming back... I used my AC all the way back and didn't use it at all going down..

[RedBarchetta]

Just completed a round-trip jaunt from Orange County all the way up to San Jose and back. 780 miles round-trip and all on the freeway (mostly Interstate 5). Car = 2LT M6. Car had 800 miles on it before we began.

We used the cruise control virtually the entire duration and kept the car between 70-75 (mostly at 74 on I5). Only two of us in the car, with one overnight bag and a laptop for luggage.

The car's weight really hurts overall mileage, as we averaged around 22 miles per gallon. This is not a flat 780, as there are hills and mountains to work through as you leave L.A. and then enter the Bay area later on. I honestly expected better mileage, considering at 74mph and our M6 we were pulling 2,200rpms in 6th gear. We even hit sick L.A. traffic leaving on Friday but came home in the wee hours of Sunday morning without any stop and go, and the mileage was STILL reading the same on the DIC (22.9 mpg)! And this was after resetting it both ways (before we started and at the end of the initial leg up to San Jose).

I honestly expected better mileage, but the car's weight really hurts it overall. Maybe using cruise control at 65 would have lowered those R's enough to spit out 25-26mpg, but I can't drive that slow. Great handling car and beautiful lines, but still a pig (weight) if you ask me. My much lighter '02 Z06 (~3,400 lbs) blows any stock Camaro (V8, too) away in both performance and mileage. But this is my kid's car, so it's his to enjoy.

Some here say the mileage gets better with more break-in. We'll see...

-Dean

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Just completed a round-trip jaunt from Orange County all the way up to San Jose and back. 780 miles round-trip and all on the freeway (mostly Interstate 5). Car = 2LT M6. Car had 800 miles on it before we began.

We used the cruise control virtually the entire duration and kept the car between 70-75 (mostly at 74 on I5). Only two of us in the car, with one overnight bag and a laptop for luggage.

The car's weight really hurts overall mileage, as we averaged around 22 miles per gallon. This is not a flat 780, as there are hills and mountains to work through as you leave L.A. and then enter the Bay area later on. I honestly expected better mileage, considering at 74mph and our M6 we were pulling 2,200rpms in 6th gear. We even hit sick L.A. traffic leaving on Friday but came home in the wee hours of Sunday morning without any stop and go, and the mileage was STILL reading the same on the DIC (22.9 mpg)! And this was after resetting it both ways (before we started and at the end of the initial leg up to San Jose).

I honestly expected better mileage, but the car's weight really hurts it overall. Maybe using cruise control at 65 would have lowered those R's enough to spit out 25-26mpg, but I can't drive that slow. Great handling car and beautiful lines, but still a pig (weight) if you ask me. My much lighter '02 Z06 (~3,400 lbs) blows any stock Camaro (V8, too) away in both performance and mileage. But this is my kid's car, so it's his to enjoy.

Some here say the mileage gets better with more break-in. We'll see...

-Dean

California does use that aweful reformualted gas dosen't it? I still do not see why your mileage would be that low.. I constantly get that just driving around town...I haven't gotten below 20MPG since I got over 2000 miles on it, and on the highway I have been averaging over 29MPG, and that is here in the mountians... of course I have the Automatic, maybe that helps me some...

Edit, Oh i see you didn't even have 1000 miles on it.. believe me the first trip I took with 500 on mine I was dissapointed in the mileage too...it will get better with more miles on it...

[rtcat600man]

Filled the tank for the first time last night after taking delivery last wed. Reset the computer and drvoe home city strees stopping at a couple lights. Doing no more than posted speed limits. no heavy foot. 14 miles later, turned into the driveway and the computer showed 27.2 MPG. This is one of the reasons I did not go with a V8. (That and I didn't want to spend anymore money or time in a 10 X 10 cell with Bubba for doing crazier things than what the V6 will allow me to do. )

[scrming]

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

Filled the tank for the first time last night after taking delivery last wed. Reset the computer and drvoe home city strees stopping at a couple lights. Doing no more than posted speed limits. no heavy foot. 14 miles later, turned into the driveway and the computer showed 27.2 MPG. This is one of the reasons I did not go with a V8. (That and I didn't want to spend anymore money or time in a 10 X 10 cell with Bubba for doing crazier things than what the V6 will allow me to do. )

Well... you would be amazed how crazy you can get in the 6! LOL!

[klondike]

I have a manual LS...i drive 160 miles roundtrip to work everyday! I just switched to lighter chrome wheels (better than heavy steel wheels). Before I was getting avg. 23.5...now with new wheels getting 23.7 (guess less rotating mass) and have only run 89 octane in it. I have over 17000 miles on my car and loving every mile of it.

However, anyone have any tricks or tips to get more milage out of it, love to hear it!

[TooCool5]

Here is my tip: Try different brands of gas until you find the right one and reset the computer while you are on the highway.
I did this the other day filling up with CITGO, reset on the highway, and the readout went from 40 MPG to 38, the to 35 etc until it finally settled in at 32.5 MPG HIGHWAY AVG. when I got home from the Beach.

[Reeko]

Originally Posted by TooCool5

Here is my tip: Try different brands of gas until you find the right one and reset the computer while you are on the highway.
I did this the other day filling up with CITGO, reset on the highway, and the readout went from 40 MPG to 38, the to 35 etc until it finally settled in at 32.5 MPG AVG. when I got home from the Beach.

You realize that by resetting when you hit optimal (Hiway) conditions, you are not getting a realistic MPG estimate. At least not one that you can compare to other vehicles. You really need an average that includes your normal driving over a tank of gas at least to get an estimate that you can compare to other cars.

For example, on my SS, I can get in the 20s while on the highway only. But realistically, I am getting 17 MPG over a tank.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Just completed a round-trip jaunt from Orange County all the way up to San Jose and back. 780 miles round-trip and all on the freeway (mostly Interstate 5). Car = 2LT M6. Car had 800 miles on it before we began.

We used the cruise control virtually the entire duration and kept the car between 70-75 (mostly at 74 on I5). Only two of us in the car, with one overnight bag and a laptop for luggage.

The car's weight really hurts overall mileage, as we averaged around 22 miles per gallon. This is not a flat 780, as there are hills and mountains to work through as you leave L.A. and then enter the Bay area later on. I honestly expected better mileage, considering at 74mph and our M6 we were pulling 2,200rpms in 6th gear. We even hit sick L.A. traffic leaving on Friday but came home in the wee hours of Sunday morning without any stop and go, and the mileage was STILL reading the same on the DIC (22.9 mpg)! And this was after resetting it both ways (before we started and at the end of the initial leg up to San Jose).

I honestly expected better mileage, but the car's weight really hurts it overall. Maybe using cruise control at 65 would have lowered those R's enough to spit out 25-26mpg, but I can't drive that slow. Great handling car and beautiful lines, but still a pig (weight) if you ask me. My much lighter '02 Z06 (~3,400 lbs) blows any stock Camaro (V8, too) away in both performance and mileage. But this is my kid's car, so it's his to enjoy.

Some here say the mileage gets better with more break-in. We'll see...

-Dean

Well, the EPA combined mileage rating for the V6 manual is 21 mpg.

Weight has minimal effect on highway fuel economy, aerodynamics and speed are much much much more important. Weight hurts when trying to accelerate, but once its moving at a constant speed, it barely enters the equation. On the other hand, going at 75 mph vs 65 mph means that you have 54% more drag on your car. Around those speeds, even slowing down 5 mph is worth around 25% less drag.

[Gman8]

I am a little pissed off with the gas mileage. I just got my 1LT last week and I am currently getting 16.9 mpg. Granted I have had some extremely hard accelerations as I am still breaking the car in. I am hoping for mileage around 21-22 mpg when things settle down.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Gman8

I have a little pissed off with the gas mileage. I just got my 1LT last week and I am currently getting 16.9 mpg. Granted I have had some extremely hard accelerations as I am still breaking the car in. I am hoping for mileage around 21-22 mpg when things settle down.

give it time, it take miles to break in the entire drivetrain... engine AND transmission...it WILL increase.. If you can keep your foot out of it that is.

[LS7 FTW]

My average fuel economy is 13.7, yeah 13.7! I am not mad about it because most if not all of my driving is from green to red light. The average speed is 15.6 (if i remember correctly) and yes I floor it from time to time. I like to hear my stock muffler roar . What we should be putting is

1. avg mpg
2. avg speed
3. And if you floor it alot or not

[LS7 FTW]

Oh, and I drive and auto

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Well, the EPA combined mileage rating for the V6 manual is 21 mpg.

Weight has minimal effect on highway fuel economy, aerodynamics and speed are much much much more important. Weight hurts when trying to accelerate, but once its moving at a constant speed, it barely enters the equation. On the other hand, going at 75 mph vs 65 mph means that you have 54% more drag on your car. Around those speeds, even slowing down 5 mph is worth around 25% less drag.

Weight does have some effect in his case with hills and mountains. However, the .36 drag coefficient is quite hefty...it's the price you pay for a big Mustang-eating mouth on the front.