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Gas mileage

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613 views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  FBN Firebird Nation  
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#1 ·
I went out of town tonight in my Firebird and just out of curiosity I decided to see what kind of high speed gas mileage my car would get. So I held a speed between 90 and 100mph to where we were going which obviously was all highway, I had to slow down for cars in my way 11 times and I went up to 105mph for a mile or two 3 times on the way there and 1 once on the way home, it was getting dark so I had to be weary of deer. I drove from Jackson to Charlotte and back for a total of 146.2 miles. I filled the tank before I left and I went straight to the same gas station when I got back, I filled it back up and it took exactly 6.096 gallons. I figured it up and was surprised to see that I still managed to get 23.98293963 miles per gallon average. Next time I take a trip I will go slower around 60mph and I will track my mileage and report it. I decided to do all this because of all the people who say they dont want a V8 due to the bad fuel mileage. If my experience isnt going to sway you nothing can. I think that 24 mpg is fenominal for the speeds I maintained. I drove a Chevy minivan with a 4 banger to Saint Clare Shores this morning for a round trip of over 300 miles and it only got about 20 mpg driving at a steady 65-70mph. That is rediculous, I barrowed the van thinking it would get good mileage, guess I was wrong.

And before anyone says Im crazy, yeah, yeah, I already know, but the traffic was extremely light the pigs seemed to be on a Holiday, so it was the perfect opportunity.

I would also like to know what kind of mileage others are getting from their 305 Firebirds? I know someone said they got good mileage too but I cant remember who.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Nahhh, I just wanted to share, however I will say that my motivating factor was my curiosity of what it would take for me to get the mileage you say is typical, I guess it takes 100 mph or around about.
 
Discussion starter · #6 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ok, well I gave a mileage for high speed driving, so its only right that I give one for conservative driving.

Today the wife and I went to her grandfathers and it was 143.5 miles exactly, I drove between 55 and 60 the entire way. I never got on it, and babied each time I stopped. I stopped about 10 times total. I returned to the same station I filled up at prior to leaving, and it took 4.139 gallons to fill it, and I squezed in about 2 dollars. I payed 2.89 per gallon and the bill was $12 even. I did the calculations, and the results are: 34.6702102 miles per gallon. So my previous trips were not the best mileage I can get. This is the best mileage I have ever gotten with the car. Previously I have only managed 33 mpg max.
Keep in mind this is a 305 V8 with 202,000 miles on it, with a 5 speed manual transmission. I myself was stunned at the results of todays test. I definitely didnt expect nearly 35 mpg, in fact I didnt expect to get even 30mpg, but this car is amazing. I wish I wasnt the only one getting this kind of mileage. Hard to stand alone, but I guess for now I have to.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Tatt2grrl said:
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You have the exact same engine/tranny combo as I do, so if you have the 3.08 rear differential, then I see no reason why you shouldnt get 30+mpg just like I do, I hope so, maybe then everyone will believe and stop giving the V8's a bad rep about gas mileage. I hear it on here all the time that people dont want a V8 because of the bad gas mileage. Its a crock, and it needs to be dealt with.
By the way I have found that driving in the 55-65mph range gives the best numbers, so try that out for at least 100 miles to get an accurate calculation.
 
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