Since I was told that my gas mileage and car sucked when I said I was doing about 15 mpg, I decided to get an exact figure.

Did 164 miles of which 97% of it was driving 30-40 mph on back roads and the other 3% was highway driving at 65.

8 gallons of gas to do 164 miles. Regular unleaded, not super.

My pony rocks!

 

That is fairly good. I now get around 19 at 70mph on a 289 4v. It might be time for another mileage pole...

Fred

 

Keep up on the gas and mileage between fill-ups. My wife has done this with all of the cars she has owned and got me started since we've been married. You will see variations through the seasons, presumably due to different fuel formulations. I have also observed a significant difference in the mileage that I get on a tank of unleaded from California and a tank of unleaded bought in Oregon when I travel (all highway miles). The wonderfully oxygenated California fuel reduces my mpg by 10% to 15%. Additionally, one tank isn't really enough to get an accurate picture of your car's mileage. I would say you need at least 3 to 5 fill-ups to iron out variables in the pump shut off (how full is full) and slight variations in driving habits, etc.

By the way, the 20.5 mpg that you get is probably close to what you will get in the long run. With the I6, you get the good looks and styling while still getting reasonably good mileage, and since you don't like "hot rodding" around town, why pay the penalty of poor gas mileage that comes with the larger engines.

 

On my trip from California to Texas i got around 19-21 miles to the gallon at about 70-75 mph...GO I6!!!

 

Congratulations!

20 MPG is great for an automatic.

 

I was doing about 17-18 mpg when I first got the car back from restoration but it seemed I was using more gas lately and figured with the carb fix, that was the issue. I'm glad I checked it out!

I know y'all laugh at the "baby" engine but she's really a good little pony! I can't even imagine what it's going to be like next season when I drive a V8!

 

how did you test it? fill up with 8 gallons and drive till it ran out? [&:]

 

Yeah, the bottom line is empty then add 10 gallons, then run it out, then check it. My 289 2V got 20.5 when I did that test but that was all freeway driving. My wife was following me with the truck with a five gallon of gas so when ol yeller shut off, she was there with the fuel. I would think that an I6 would get better mileage than that. My average with city and freeway is about 18. It pays to tune these old engines.

 

From what i read that is "combined". With a C4, that is very good mileage for a 6 cylinder. That is what the 6 was all about.

MP,
What's this I'm reading? you are going to drop a V8 in your baby? Ohhhhh, you are in big trouble now little missie!
Soaring's gonna hear about it. Then what are you going to do?

An easier way to check your mileage is just to average it over 3 or 4 tanks. Same station, same grade of gas, same pump (if posible). it will get you plenty close enough.

Scott

 

LOL no. I filled it up, drove around for a few days, then filled it up. I noted the mileage at 164 and it took exacty 8 gallons on the nose when it clicked. (This station does not force it to make an equal dollar amount, when it clicks, that's it).

I noted the mileage again and when I fill it up next week, will calculate the mileage again.