What do people get for mpg in their 3.2s?

[PabloX]

I'm asking mostly to figure out if my car is running properly (poor MPG can be a proxy for an out of tune engine). When I got the car a few years ago, the gas mileage was pretty bad. I replaced the O2 sensor and that helped quite a bit. I've also replaced the plugs, wires, air filter, etc. So, a follow up question would be, what else on these cars can cause bad mileage? Temp sensor?

Disclaimer, I haven't actually figured out what I'm getting, but based on how fast the gas gauge goes down, it's not great.

[COLB]

I've been tracking my mileage during my period of ownership (about 2 years), and am averaging about 19 mpg overall, with a majority of my driving in the city, and a lot of 10-15 minute trips.

On the highway I get 22-24, and 16-18 in the city.

[IROC]

I check my gas mileage every single tank and have since I installed the engine in 2003. I get 22-24 mpg in mixed city/highway driving and as high as 27 or so with mostly interstate driving.

[Hunt3R]

I average a little over 18 in the city and around 23-24 highway.

Gas quality makes a difference too. We have crappy gas in central FL, seems to have the max content of ethanol year round. If I find ethanol free gas the mpg's go up. I lived in Austin, TX years ago and the gas must've been ethanol free everywhere there because I consistently got a couple more mpg until the day I moved back to FL.

[JAR0023]

Simple math at each fill up and I'm around 20MPG plus or minus. That's with lot of in-town driving. Once everything is warmed up, I don't baby the car at all. Plenty of full throttle and 5k+ rpms. Long road trips cruising at 75-80, and I'll see 25+ MPG. -J

[Nick Triesch]

Went on a 600 mile trip and got right at 24 MPG. Very happy with that! Nick

[jakekooser]

Been averaging 18.3 overall, I don't track separate city/highway. That's with a lot of city driving, 4 track days and an autocross since I have owned the car from November 2013. I use http://www.fuelly.com/ to track it.

[megerian]

I have never done an accurate calculation, but I am roughly at about 20 mpg

[sky1jord]

22 years of ownership, and I'm overjoyed if I get more than 16mpg around town, which includes 20-25% freeway driving at 75-80. I don't goose the car a lot (no way to do it in the city), and it always passes smog with flying colors, so I assume it's well tuned. Oil consumption is under 1 qt/1500 miles.

[PabloX]

Thanks all. It seems my experience isn't out of line with the norm.

Like I said, replacing the O2 sensor did help some. For those with mileage on the lower end, it's worth a try if you haven't already.

[Targa Me]

My '84 Carrera gets a very consistant 25-26 mpg, driving normally. If I drive conservatively, which is not easy to do in one of these cars, I can get 29, almost 30 mpg.

[Arne2]

I'm averaging 17-18 in town and 27-28 highway on E10 (10% ethanol). Ethanol-free gives better mileage, but not enough better to pay for the price difference here in Oregon.

[dcjones56]

I get about 25 mpg, but then again all I do is cruise at about 70-80 mph.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by COLB

I've been tracking my mileage during my period of ownership (about 2 years), and am averaging about 19 mpg overall, with a majority of my driving in the city, and a lot of 10-15 minute trips.

On the highway I get 22-24, and 16-18 in the city.

About what I get with my 3.6......

[Hugh R]

19 to 20 driving mostly stop and go in Los Angeles. Better when I drive the Hwy 126 to Ventura, no traffic.

[wildthing]

I get 19-21 mixed on my 88. Maybe average speed of 30-45 due to traffic on the freeway plus the mix of city streets. I think I got 25 on highway miles once.

[COLB]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

About what I get with my 3.6......

I didn't mention that I very rarely drive the car with the top up.

Top down driving creates a little more drag.

BTW -- where are they selling gas with less than 10% ethanol? The mandate and fines have pretty much stopped refiners from producing non-ethanol blends -- even though modern cars have no need for oxygenates -- which was the original reason for additives like MTBE (and ethanol) in the first place.

Now, of course, it is just a transfer payment to the ethanol industry -- which takes natural gas, turns it into ammonia-based fertilizer to grow corn to make fuel.

It would be more efficient to just refine the natural gas directly into synthetic liquid fuel -- saving the water and the energy loss from the various steps in the ethanol manufacturing chain.

But I guess that is a topic for another thread....

[Hunt3R]

Originally Posted by COLB

BTW -- where are they selling gas with less than 10% ethanol? The mandate and fines have pretty much stopped refiners from producing non-ethanol blends -- even though modern cars have no need for oxygenates -- which was the original reason for additives like MTBE (and ethanol) in the first place.

You can find an ethanol free gas station near you here: Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

[redridge]

mpg? Im not sure... drive till @250 miles, then its time to get some gas.

[Fly911]

I get 100 smiles per gallon, and sometimes more!!!