300ZX (Z31) Forums Dedicated to 84-89 ZCars otherwize known as the Z31's

Gas Mileage

Old Feb 27, 2009 | 08:34 PM
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Question Gas Mileage

Random question. What is your gas mileage under normal driving cond.? im getting about 200miles per tank and it doesnt seem right...any ideas?
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 06:41 AM
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I used to get about 300 to a tank, but it's gotten worse. Now, maybe 280? I'm not sure why the hell I get such crappy mileage. The car runs perfect. I think maybe a sensor is marginally off, or something, but not flagging any codes. 200 is low. You're either leaking fuel or it's running way too rich. Are you sure the tank is near empty at that point? The fuel gauge sending units are notorious for being bad. What are you getting for MPG? It's a 19 gal. tank, you know? If your gauge is off, you may never be using all of it.

Last edited by SloppyGoat; Feb 28, 2009 at 06:44 AM.
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 08:37 PM
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19gal are u sure?? cause from E it takes only 12 or 13 dollars to fill up haha..and yes i know im running rich, but not to rich..i did some research on injectors leakage, and maybe thats possible
Old Feb 28, 2009 | 08:37 PM
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and as for mpg..hell i dont know, i figure 13 or 14 but thats a guess
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 07:31 AM
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if you are filling up with $13, you have a fuel gauge issue.

19 * $2.15+- = $40.85
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 08:07 AM
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Yep, you need a new fuel gauge sending unit...extremely common problem. The original units probably have a 95% failure rate. Mine was bad when I got the car.
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 02:01 PM
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From: I'm located in the more southern local... Jackson, MS.
Gas is Cheap in MS. Grounding has always had something to do with fuel economy on these cars, not mention voltage fluctuations (grounding) on the MAF and the shitty way the EFI was designed.

In the bronco world, we have what we call a "SixLitre tune up". It consists of an Accel or MSD ignition coil, hi-po wires, new plugs, and a timing bump. That will drastically increase your mpg. The next thing to consider is that these are old cars, and are often driven hard. If they get to be running rough for a prolonged period of time (say you're running rich) your catalytic converter may be clogged. Since it's a bolt on unit, you may want to look into a direct replacement from CatCo or Maremont. They are fairly inexpensive (as far as cat's go) and are a decent replacement. You may want to check your TPS and pull codes if to find out if you have any other damaged sensors. Also, bad O2 sensors have also been known to drastically kill your fuel economy.

Look into it and see what you come up with.
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 04:10 PM
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now..there is a yellow wire coming from the maf that is grounded...but dun know....anyways , what is the cost of the fix, pretty decent? its no biggy i guess, just sux to fill up twice a day ya know
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 04:21 PM
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From: I'm located in the more southern local... Jackson, MS.
Not a clue what the actual wires look like, I haven't had my Z for a long time. AZ Zbum might know though http://www.az-zbum.com/
Old Mar 1, 2009 | 04:36 PM
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using the fuel gauge to measure mileage is horridly inaccurate. fill your tank, then start counting miles. next time you fill up count how many gallons went in the tank. divide miles by gallons.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 08:37 AM
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well iv figured it was gonna be the gauge...cause iv been riding on e for a week now and havent ran out of gas, im at 200miles i think ill let it roll to 250 then fill up and see...i dont want to break down on the way to work ha!
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:03 PM
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Put a gas can in the car and drive it until it dies, then put a few gallons in it and go fill it back up. Or, just replace the damn fuel gauge sending unit. I have mine adjusted pretty damn accurately. When it says E, it's really getting close to empty. It will even cut out around a sharp corner if I let it go too long. But there always seems to be at least 1 or 2 gallons left in it. I guess it can't suck up all the fuel, with the slosh factor.
Old Mar 18, 2009 | 08:16 PM
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did this...rode it, light came on, i was at 280 something, the little red hand started coming down where it says 1/4, decided to get gas, cant remember what i put in, but it was 30 something dollars and fill it up, premium gas...did the math, figured there was still about a 1/4 of a tank left and was getting 14.7 mpg in town, thats keeping the foot in it also...so i figure ill go by the little red hand?? dun know..but its all cool now...
Old Jul 18, 2009 | 11:35 PM
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I finally got an accurate measurement on mine. I'm getting 17MPG average. Still nowhere near the 19-22 MPG I've heard others say they get. I'm not sure I believe them, unless they drive like grannies. Either that, or the 87 and up started dumping more fuel. There are tons of 87-89 gas mileage complaints threads on most of the Z forums. It ain't just me! I do have a heavy foot, but AZBum has informed me in the past, that he romps on his all the time and still gets like 22 MPG or so.

What are the grounding issues that can cause bad mileage? What can I check and ground better?

I would be happy to even get 19-20 MPG.

Last edited by SloppyGoat; Jul 18, 2009 at 11:41 PM.
Old Jul 19, 2009 | 09:05 AM
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well i figured out its my sending unit has went...no big deal, so i got it down good.. im getting any where around 22-26 mpg on the interstate and around 17-20 in town..witch is damn good compared to what my Xploder used to get..i got 13-15 in town and 17-20 on the interstate..but my xplore was built for mainly drag and sucked fuel like a v8...
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 01:43 PM
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Hey guys! I'm new to this form but have owned my 87 300zx turbo for 3+ years now. And I do get 18.75MPG city romping on it!
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 02:49 PM
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I have a 85 turbo I get 18 in town and 25 to 26 on the HWY, it seems it was giving me better milieage until I did the injector recal. I drive it in town like every body else on the HWY I do 75 to 90 it all depends what music is on LOL. I do tune ups on regular basis, I put injector cleaner every time before an oil change .
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 06:18 PM
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82 280zx

damn ya, i get about 385 and i still have at least an 1/8 left, scare to drive it any further tho..
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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thats bout right, on 1.8 u need to get gas because its not good to ride it low and iv tried the 1.8 of a tank and ran out...haha
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by mayitin
I have a 85 turbo I get 18 in town and 25 to 26 on the HWY, it seems it was giving me better milieage until I did the injector recal. I drive it in town like every body else on the HWY I do 75 to 90 it all depends what music is on LOL. I do tune ups on regular basis, I put injector cleaner every time before an oil change .
I noticed a difference after I did that, too. I may change the wiring back to the stock configuration. Although, I can't complain about the way it runs, though. I don't think I ever get anything over 19 or 20, even on the HWY. I may just need a full tune up again. It's been awhile. Next time I change the T-belt, I'm going to replace the CHTS. I believe I get the worst mileage when it's just idling.

Originally Posted by litohmongboy
damn ya, i get about 385 and i still have at least an 1/8 left, scare to drive it any further tho..
I don't get anywhere near that. I get closer to 300 miles per tank. But then, I swear this car has more like 200HP at the wheels. The guy in the EVO I smoked would also probably say that. The look on his face said it all. LOL

Last edited by SloppyGoat; Jul 23, 2009 at 07:55 PM.
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 01:12 PM
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Question

Originally Posted by SloppyGoat
I noticed a difference after I did that, too. I may change the wiring back to the stock configuration. Although, I can't complain about the way it runs, though. I don't think I ever get anything over 19 or 20, even on the HWY. I may just need a full tune up again. It's been awhile. Next time I change the T-belt, I'm going to replace the CHTS. I believe I get the worst mileage when it's just idling.



I don't get anywhere near that. I get closer to 300 miles per tank. But then, I swear this car has more like 200HP at the wheels. The guy in the EVO I smoked would also probably say that. The look on his face said it all. LOL


what kinda of evo ??

Old Sep 3, 2009 | 04:00 PM
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I'm sure it was the 227HP one...it looked pretty with the scoop and rear spoiler anyway. Any of them are supposed to be faster than my stock Z.
Old Sep 7, 2009 | 04:09 PM
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hm ..stock z my ***, unless they didnt know how to drive..lol
Old Sep 12, 2009 | 08:35 AM
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yah know yah mileage is determined by you alot. if yah are in high rpms all the time yah mileage is gonna suck. shift earlier and don't drive like a bat outta hell all the time if yah do. like i said, i don't know how yah drive, this is hypothetically.
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 01:29 PM
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oh yeah...beleive it or not and may not be to safe, i shift from first to third half the time, and shift about 2gs unless i need to pick it up a little.. i hate looking like an old fart

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