30+ MPG With V8, Rear Drive?

[austinlunsford]

1st of all, I must say I love my car. It's a 1997 Ford Thunderbird LX 4.6L SOHC V8. I took it on trip yesterday to Rome, GA and I'm surprised and impressed with my fuel consumption. I went 343.9 miles on 10.886 gallons of fuel. Thats 31.59 MPG. I did not go 55 mph all the way either. I went between 55-70 mph all the way with the exception of sitting and idling for a few minutes on the highway for some road construction around Loudon, TN. I also stopped in Athens, TN to drop something off at a family member's house. I put about 15 miles on my car in Athens, alot of stop and go due to all the stop lights. I drove with no A/C as my trip started yesterday morning, and it was cool enough to just run with my window cracked and my panel on. On the way home, I didn't need A/C either, as it was getting dark and cooling down so i kept my window cracked. I am amazed that I got far on just $35.27! My car is all stock, no modifications. 4 speed overdrive AT, and 3.27 open differential. I had to post this to brag about my car! I love it even more now because it can be efficient and comfortable to drive on long trips!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Now, if your speed was 85-90MPH or higher your MPG will drop to low to mid 20's MPG, especially if ambient temperature is north of 115F and you need to run A/C full blast all the times.

 

[cchase]

Sounds good and certainly not impossible, but single fill-up mpg claims have to be taken with a grain of salt since it can depend on how much you put in the previous tank vs. the current tank.

 

[mc2lizard]

I never got that good with the 97 bird I had.. but it wasn't half bad either I averaged like 22. but I wasn't easy on it either. Man do I miss mine - living room on wheels yet can get out of its own way. some jerk ran a red light. keep yours in good shape! those birds in good condition are getting harder to find

 

[glum]

I had an AMC station wagon once, the kind with wood panels... Thing was gorgeous. Can't remember what V8 it had, but I regularly got 53+ MPG with it around town.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Sounds good and certainly not impossible, but single fill-up mpg claims have to be taken with a grain of salt since it can depend on how much you put in the previous tank vs. the current tank.


+1. It's best to figure MPG over 3-5 tanks.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

That is awesome!.I get a just a little less my in 4.6 as I can not drive with windows cracked due to the noise..Down here in the jungle I am not used any open or cracked windows.

 

[johnnydc]

Not impossible with them there cars. Those there 4.6s are nice engines.

 

[gathermewool]

All stock, except for the tiny little wheel/tires you put on there, right. Right??? haha

 

[hattaresguy]

I have seen V8 2wd Mercedes do pretty close to that, its not that surprising.

 

[Cristobal]

I once squeezed 31 miles per gallon out of a 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass, but had to really work at it.

 

[UNC017]

Even if the single-tank estimate means you really were below 30, its still excellent.

And not unheard of at all, most 4.6L Panthers in good condition will do that if not driven aggressively.

I'll add that I've *never* gotten the knack for squeezing the best mileage out of a car. Back when my Dad was alive (and before he got feeble in his last decade), we would sometimes trade driving at gas stations and he'd consistently get 2-3 mpg better than me, and that was without any 'hypermiling' tricks. I've seen him get 25 mpg out of an 83 Plymouth Gran Fury with the aerodynamics of a brick, 3-speed automatic, and carburetor, while running 70 mph on the freeway. He always claimed it was how steady he could hold his foot on the gas and how he'd lift early to avoid braking more than how fast he drove.

 

[Shannow]

I've owned the same platform (Holden Torana), in multiple engine sizes (1.9L, 3.3L, 253c.i V-8, and 308 c.i. V-8), and all of them got within 1MPG of each other on the highway, high 20s.

On a decent trip, with minimal grades, it's rolling friction and frontal area. The 4 worked harder, the V-8s just above idle throttle

 

[CBR.worm]

Most of that trip is downhill, and heading south! I always get better mileage heading south. I have a buddy who lives in Maryville.

 

[Lyman]

I have a 97 Mustang GT with the 4.6 and regularly get 26 MPG. I drive 34 miles round trip to work and back. All freeway as i live a block away from the on ramp. I couldn't believe it when I first checked the MPG after buying the car. And that's with 148k on the clock. I check it every fill up. The best was almost 28 MPG. The worst was 18 MPG driving around town with a heavy foot.

 

[austinlunsford]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Sounds good and certainly not impossible, but single fill-up mpg claims have to be taken with a grain of salt since it can depend on how much you put in the previous tank vs. the current tank.

I know, but the crazy thing is that when I filled it up when I left yesterday, I just quit fueling when it clicked off the first time. You know, when it cuts off on its own while fueling...but when I filled it up when I got back I kept putting more fuel in because I was like there is NO way that I went that far on 10 gallons, so in all honesty, I probably got even better fuel mileage than I said I did lol.

 

[austinlunsford]

Originally Posted By: mc2lizard
I never got that good with the 97 bird I had.. but it wasn't half bad either I averaged like 22. but I wasn't easy on it either. Man do I miss mine - living room on wheels yet can get out of its own way. some jerk ran a red light. keep yours in good shape! those birds in good condition are getting harder to find

yeah man usually with my driving mix it equals about 65% highway, and 35% city. So usually my average is around 22 mpgs...at least that's what it has been for the last 5 fill ups.
And yes, I know what you mean I looked for over a year for a nice TBird, Cougar, or Mark 8 and I couldn't find one lol. But I finally found this one in March, it's laser red, leather, climate control, premium sound, and a dealer made limited edition. I love it! and sorry about ur bird man!

 

[austinlunsford]

Originally Posted By: CBR.worm
Most of that trip is downhill, and heading south! I always get better mileage heading south. I have a buddy who lives in Maryville.

really? I say i live in maryville, but really live in Friendsville it's on HW 321, and close to maryville

 

[austinlunsford]

Originally Posted By: Blkstanger
I have a 97 Mustang GT with the 4.6 and regularly get 26 MPG. I drive 34 miles round trip to work and back. All freeway as i live a block away from the on ramp. I couldn't believe it when I first checked the MPG after buying the car. And that's with 148k on the clock. I check it every fill up. The best was almost 28 MPG. The worst was 18 MPG driving around town with a heavy foot.

it's hard to keep ur foot out of a 4.6, the exhaust note from 2k to 5k rpm is amazing lol

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
He always claimed it was how steady he could hold his foot on the gas and how he'd lift early to avoid braking more than how fast he drove.


There's a lot of truth to that. It's normally not how fast you drive, but how you get up to speed and come down from speed that matters. Accelerate at a moderate pace (not too slow, and not hammered), keep a steady THROTTLE at speed (not necessarily a steady speed), and lift early to slow down. Not all of these can be done if other traffic is around, at least not with consideration of other drivers anyway.

And leave the cruise control off, if you're looking to get best mileage.