1986 Cutlass Supreme MPG and milage improvement
- Thread starter Ericja
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Besides powertrain mods to improve gas mileage, there is also weight reduction and reducing air drag. On hyper mileage forums there are diy methods on improving air drag on older cars. I know for Regals there are aftermarket air dams that really reduce drag, as well as head light covers.
My buddy drives his regal about 30,000 kms a year and it gets about 32 Mpg. 350TPI with t56 and 4.11 rear gear.
I drove my malibu wagon probably 6000kms last year and used it as a daily complete with rush hour traffic, long trips and grocery store runs. It's really bad in the city but gets about 22mpg highway. 350, Holley double pumper and t5 with 4.11 gears.
Also drove my 71 skylark with stock 350 and Rochester 2j with 28" tires and 2.73 rear gear. Got me to college every day, 5 days a week and even drove it in winter a couple of times. Managed 20mpg in the city and about 17 highway. No that's not a mistake.
Sometimes the mods you do to save gas will pay for alot of gas. I agree taller tires is the cheapest option.
Don't be afraid to daily drive it, that's what it was meant to do. They are great reliable cars. Plus the trunk space is about unmatched. If your wiring and safety stuff is in order you will be just fine. Plus everything is very low cost and easy to fix if you do have to buy repair parts.
I drove my malibu wagon probably 6000kms last year and used it as a daily complete with rush hour traffic, long trips and grocery store runs. It's really bad in the city but gets about 22mpg highway. 350, Holley double pumper and t5 with 4.11 gears.
Also drove my 71 skylark with stock 350 and Rochester 2j with 28" tires and 2.73 rear gear. Got me to college every day, 5 days a week and even drove it in winter a couple of times. Managed 20mpg in the city and about 17 highway. No that's not a mistake.
Sometimes the mods you do to save gas will pay for alot of gas. I agree taller tires is the cheapest option.
Don't be afraid to daily drive it, that's what it was meant to do. They are great reliable cars. Plus the trunk space is about unmatched. If your wiring and safety stuff is in order you will be just fine. Plus everything is very low cost and easy to fix if you do have to buy repair parts.
Your are worse than GM mixing metric with SAE with your KM and MPG....
We are the product of the " switchover" generation. Metric was adopted in Canada the mid-late 70's and fully implemented by the mid 80's. I think I was in grade 3 ( 1979 ) when we traded yard sticks for metre sticks in class.
The kids today have no idea what imperial standards are but I am fluent in both.
The generation before me still relates to the Imperial System moreso with height weight, temp, even house size often referred to in imperial units.
Grocery shopping is the worst, to this day they will advertise say chicken legs for $2.99 / lb instead of $6.59 per kg because it looks better and cheaper in print. In GB its even worse as they have 3 systems to work from.
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To add to the confusion, the Canadian Imperial Gallon was larger than the US Gallon. Thankfully, a mile was a mile and drag racing is still measured in miles. I hope Canada does not change to the metric time keeping system where there are 100 deciminutes in every hour and ten hours to a day.
Basically for fuel efficiency, keep the vehicle tuned, watch tire pressures, have the braking system maintained and adjusted, use synthetic oils, use low rolling resistance tires and drive like an old man(who is in no hurry and forgot where he is driving to.
Basically for fuel efficiency, keep the vehicle tuned, watch tire pressures, have the braking system maintained and adjusted, use synthetic oils, use low rolling resistance tires and drive like an old man(who is in no hurry and forgot where he is driving to.
Exactly, i does what i wants. But the OP understands. I was trained in metric, but worked in imperial cuz metal and wood are not sold in mm thickness. And getting into a pre 77 car i need to know how fast I'm going.
Just trying to say these cars are actually very practical daily drivers and if road salt wasn't such an effective destroyer of vehicles I'd drive mine year round. You can do stuff to get the mpg way up, but you can have reasonable mileage for a fraction of the cost with original equipment too and a little tuning.
Just trying to say these cars are actually very practical daily drivers and if road salt wasn't such an effective destroyer of vehicles I'd drive mine year round. You can do stuff to get the mpg way up, but you can have reasonable mileage for a fraction of the cost with original equipment too and a little tuning.
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