280ZX (S130) Forums Dedicated to 79-83 ZCars

Gas Mileage

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Old Nov 16, 2010 | 08:35 PM
  #1  
lts70's Avatar
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Gas Mileage

Well I pushed the limit of my running on empty comfort level. By the time I pulled off of my exit the large gas gauge needle was past empty and the small needle was right on empty. I had 457 miles on my trip odometer and it took 18.74 gallons to fill her back up. For a whopping 24.386 MPG . Which leads me to some questions.

Are these tanks 19 gallon tanks?
What kind of MPG are you guys getting?
What is the best MPG these cars get?
What MPG did they get new?
Old Nov 16, 2010 | 09:04 PM
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24mpg sounds good! I average about 15mpg because I drive full throttle in my 280zxt. On my trip to LA I got about 22mpg.

Max mpg depends on where you keep your foot.

Capacity:

Originally Posted by lww
Depends on if you have a coupe or a 2+2. The 2+2 gives up several gallons for the back seat so only about 18 in the 2+2 and 21 in the coupe.
Old Nov 17, 2010 | 06:17 AM
  #3  
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Oh hell. I always thought I had the 21 gal tank in my 2+2 so every time I fill up from empty I wonder why I've only put 17 gallons in lol

I usually average around 30mpg (Vernal is built on the highway so I'm usually going about 50mph everywhere sept for back roads and downtown.) Lately I haven't been getting as good MPG as before tho.
Old Nov 17, 2010 | 07:44 AM
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I only have half a dozen datapoints since I bought the car, but I've been getting 23-24mpg. That's highway driving at ~70mph, and like a complete pansy because of a severely slipping clutch. I'm hoping mpg doesn't drop too much now that I can actually goose it a little. It also has oversized tires on it (205/55/14), so things may change in the spring when I go to 16" wheels with more appropriate rubber. But there's also a good chance the ignition isn't up to snuff, so I might gain a little from freshening that up.

Overall, I'm content with what I've got - gas really isn't that expensive.
Old Nov 17, 2010 | 10:27 PM
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thats pretty darn good, I have a 79 with 80'000 miles and it gets like 16 mpg
Old Nov 18, 2010 | 07:54 PM
  #6  
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Well it sounds like I am doing pretty good at 24MPG. I was kind of hoping I could do some things to pickup a few more MPG but it doesn't sound like it will be that easy if I am already running a fairly high MPG for these cars.

I just bypassed my catalytic converter, I wonder if that will help. Have you guys noticed and increase MPG when putting on a header? You guys done anything that helped with mpg?

Driving it all the way to empty I kind of felt like Kramer on Seinfeld I try to set the cruise at 65mph at 2500ish rpms but have to go up into the 70 range quite often.
Old Nov 18, 2010 | 07:59 PM
  #7  
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I drive my Geo Metro when I need good gas mileage.
Old Nov 18, 2010 | 08:23 PM
  #8  
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Compared to my previous daily driver,1970 C-10 truck, this Z gets great MPG. These days I wish I had a Geo Metro.
Old Nov 18, 2010 | 08:29 PM
  #9  
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I had to drive to Provo (Utah Valley Regional Med Center) & back for work today... I got paid $40 in mileage, and only spent about $5 in gas. hehe!
Old Nov 19, 2010 | 01:00 PM
  #10  
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What do you do for work? I take it is something for IHC. Good way to pickup an extra $35 with the metro. Take the money and paint some flames on that bad boy.
Old Nov 20, 2010 | 07:03 PM
  #11  
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I'm a financial counselor for selfpay hospital patients. Tis a fun job.

No flames on the metro... it's my budget dd and I make sure to NOT draw attention to myself on the road.
Old Nov 20, 2010 | 07:20 PM
  #12  
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I was thinking a wanes world flame...simple yet tasteful.
Attached Thumbnails Gas Mileage-mirthmobile-wayne_s-world-7.jpg  
Old Dec 18, 2010 | 07:44 PM
  #13  
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Mpg

Got a '79 2+2 with 286,000 miles (one owner) that gets 23/24 on the hiway and 19 around town. When it was new, it got 30MPG @ 70mph!
Old Dec 18, 2010 | 10:16 PM
  #14  
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I don't think anybody answered the original question of how much they got new, well from a youtube video of a 280zx commercial I saw, it said they get 30 highway 20 city, Those commercials are hilarious, it was a disco car lol
Old Dec 19, 2010 | 01:04 AM
  #15  
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My last time i drove from Nebraska to my old base back in 29 palms, CA (about 1200 miles) I got 600 miles a tank at 75-80 mph. Then again I did plug the egr, got rid of the cat, I have a k&N cold air intake and put on an msa header and msa 2 1/2" exhaust too. Good mileage gain out of that.
Old Dec 19, 2010 | 01:46 AM
  #16  
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****, the s130 has a pretty damn big tank... don't thing ive ever put more than 11 gal in my s30...
Old Dec 28, 2010 | 04:21 AM
  #17  
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From: Gering Nebraska
Well the 280zx was more considered a grand touring car so they fixed the design. Better mileage, bigger tank, more stable at high speeds. Unfortunately that all slowed the car down though.
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