I know that this topic has come up before, but after a search of the previously asked questions, I have not really found a good answer....

You folks have said that fuel economy should improve after the first few tanks... that people should wait until they get a couple of miles on their cars before worrying about mileage. My question (after getting 12 MPG on my first tank) is: What causes this improvement? I know that, since my previous car was a 1.8L 4 cylinder with a redline of 8k+ RPM that I need to "re-learn" how to drive this car. Plus everyone likes to get on it a bit after getting a new car -- especially a torque monster like a big V8. But what mechanically helps improve mileage?

I didn't buy this car to save on gas so I expected to be hitting the pump more often. But 12mpg really sucks. Thanks in advance.

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Steve
2002 Trans Am WS-6
M6, Pewter

 

Well, I would think that single biggest factor is all those new, tightly fitted parts have to wear into each other. As they do that, friction decreases & mileage & power go up.

I'd think ,too, that more power would lessen the amount of gas required to move you off the line.

Last, but not least, as you grow accustomed to the power you are probably less likely to hammer down quite as much.

12 MPG really does suck - that's roughly what I get out of the Suburban 4 x I own !!

Are you sure you are not driving w/ the e-brake on ??

Yeeshh !!

How many miles are on her now ?

Britt

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'99 T/A
Best 13.071 @ 104.92
Now own '99 SS # 2073 !
12.969 @ 105.44

 

Right now, I've got 335 miles total. Not a whole lot. :-)

I have been trying to be more conscious of my driving to see if I can improve it any. The 12mpg included the fuel that was in the car when I picked it up from the dealer. I don't know what they put in it -- maybe it was 87 octane or something. Well, I guess we'll see soon enough.

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Steve
2002 Trans Am WS-6
M6, Pewter

 

I bought my car with 6,000 miles but eventhough 12 mpg is really low i think that the car simply isn't broken in, i get 25 with my 2001 TA with 10,000 miles and i still think the transmission is breaking in. Take a road trip or something to get it broken in.

 

There ought to be a law against checking your gas mileage before you have at least 1k miles on your car!!! And, I can pretty much gaurantee the dealer has 87 octane, and they didn't completely fill it up. Just chill! When I had my '96 Z28 M6, I got 29 mpg on road trips - doing 75 on I-95. Otherwise, when I did city/highway driving, I got around 17-18 mpg. With a manual, I revved it more than my A4- what I have now.

May I re-iterate what someone else posted - what do you expect??? You got a beast of an engine under the hood! With an M6, anything over 16 or 17 mpg is good to go. Wait til after you got at least 1k on the odometer.

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'99 Z28 A4 BLACK
▪ SLP air lid, K&N filter, air box mod, Borla exhaust
▪ Pioneer DEH-P77DH, Polk speakers

 

Exactly what someone said earlier --- there are lots of parts that are brand new and must break-in a little first. You've got rod and main bearings, new piston rings (+ new cylinders), new camshaft, new transmission, new bearings on all four wheels --- there's a whole lot that has to get worked in (especially inside the motor). Once everything has broken in nicely, things will work more smoothly, and there will be a lot less friction throughout the car's driveline.

HTH.

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2002 Z28 - A4, 2.73's, Blk/blk, leather, T-tops, sport appearance package - just bought on June 26, 2002! - Pics

1981 Z28 - 383, TH350 trans., 3.42 posi - sold August, 2000 - Pics

1973 Camaro - Dad's & my project in the works - to be built: 355 Chevy, 11.5:1 pop-ups, "camel hump" heads (w/2.02 valves), solid cam, 4-speed.....it should be quick! - Pics

 

Get back with us in 1000 miles and I bet you won't be complaining.

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- Steve - 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
LS1 A4, 2.73's, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 245/50/ZR16's, Direct Flow Lid, GMAF, !FRA, Loudmouth, 3" Y-Pipe, AIT Mod, Fan Switch Mod
13.774 @ 103.33, 300.5rwhp & 308.6rwtq, 97+ RPO Codes, Join The CamaroZ28.Com Users Webring