Pretty modified and/or E85 people - what kind of gas mileage are you getting?

[hatchke]

I don't know that I totally fit in the super modified category still being on a stock motor, but I'm running my 2.9 setup tuned on E85 w/ 3.73's and... my gas mileage is pretty horrendous. I genuinely don't really care if it's universally bad for most, but I just wonder if maybe I have a fuel leak somewhere (I WILL check all my return system lines anyway). I don't smell fuel, don't see anything dripping anywhere and build appropriate fuel pressure on crank.

I took a couple hr road trip in the car not that long ago and I got ~15mpg on the highway on the way down. I was cruising about 80-85 the whole way, and I guess with the 3.73's I wasn't exactly putting along. Around town it's probably more like 10-11 or so. I don't exactly drive it super easy, but i'm also not hammering on it all the time.

The other thing i've noticed is that the last quarter of a tank seems to disappear down to the fuel light pretty quickly. I also wonder if I did something weird with my fuel level float when I installed the pumps. At the same time, I had a full bolt-on GT500 a few years ago w/ 3.73's and I got about 9-10 around town on average.

Am I overthinking this and my gas mileage is expectedly low? I just want to make sure nothing is wrong here more than anything.

 

[2003RedfireVert]

Mine is bad but I don’t track it. I’m sure your car is fine. E85 burns a lot of gas.

 

[hatchke]

Mine is bad but I don’t track it. I’m sure your car is fine. E85 burns a lot of gas.

True true. E85 mpg is generally what, like ~20% lower from what I recall?

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

If e85 is around 30% more fuel needed I’d say that sounds right. 15mpg is 70% of 21.5-22mpg

 

[2003RedfireVert]

True true. E85 mpg is generally what, like ~20% lower from what I recall?

30%. All I know is I seem to put gas in it every couple times I drive. I’m sure I’m like 10mpg at best.

 

[hatchke]

Oh hahaha, thanks all. Looks like the car is about right where it sits. I always had it in my head that it was 20%.

As long as i'm not driving a fuel leaking fire trap, I don't really care what the mpg is. It's a little annoying to track down E85 sometimes, but so it goes. I do have a 93 tune I can swap to if needed

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

Oh hahaha, thanks all. Looks like the car is about right where it sits. I always had it in my head that it was 20%.

As long as i'm not driving a fuel leaking fire trap, I don't really care what the mpg is. It's a little annoying to track down E85 sometimes, but so it goes. I do have a 93 tune I can swap to if needed

One of the reasons I keep considering the MS3 plug and play. I need to buy a beater 4valve to learn on though

 

[2003RedfireVert]

I have an E85 station 3 miles from my house. Driving anywhere over an hour for a car show is something I’ll have to plan out this summer. I don’t have a 93 tune technically.

 

[01yellercobra]

I get about 15mpg on the freeway cruising at 80. Around town is 9 or 10. I did some errands today and burned up about an 1/8th of a tank. There were a couple of spirited pulls in there. But that's just how it is. And why I'm glad I have the flex fuel set up.

Sent from my SM-N981U using the svtperformance.com mobile app

 

[SVTdreamin04]

I'll have to get back with you when it warms up for solid numbers. It's horrendous, I can tell you that. Lol

It's hard to stay out of the boost. My right foot has a mind of its own.


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[03' White Snake]

I got 150 miles to 1 tank of E85, all highway and no real hits. Just cruising, so that’s 11-12 mpg. I was on fumes when I got back. So I’d safely say 120 miles to a tank. If I’m going cruising with no known destination, I bring a VP can with me of E85.

My work is 22 miles each way, I burn 1/4 tank a day taking the car. I can dump in a 6 gallon VP can every day. I bet I’m in the 6-8 mpg around town.

Stock motor, I was getting better mpg’s. I call it smiles per gallon and don’t really care.

 

[hatchke]

I got 150 miles to 1 tank of E85, all highway and no real hits. Just cruising, so that’s 11-12 mpg. I was on fumes when I got back. So I’d safely say 120 miles to a tank. If I’m going cruising with no known destination, I bring a VP can with me of E85.

My work is 22 miles each way, I burn 1/4 tank a day taking the car. I can dump in a 6 gallon VP can every day. I bet I’m in the 6-8 mpg around town.

Stock motor, I was getting better mpg’s. I call it smiles per gallon and don’t really care.

Haha ok good, i'm glad to be in good company then. I don't care how bad the mileage is as long at it's expectedly bad. I was thinking other people were doing better than I for some reason.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

The other thing i've noticed is that the last quarter of a tank seems to disappear down to the fuel light pretty quickly

mine does the same, seems like the further down the gauge the quicker it drops.

 

[Zemedici]

Yep sounds completely normal for ethanol

And for the reason you stated i always treat 1/2 tank as ‘empty’ , don’t want to run out (or really hammer on it with low fuel) on E!

 

[2003RedfireVert]

Yep sounds completely normal for ethanol

And for the reason you stated i always treat 1/2 tank as ‘empty’ , don’t want to run out (or really hammer on it with low fuel) on E!

Funny you say that. I never go under 1/2 tank now on E. I’m always filling up 5-6 gallons every time.

 

[Zemedici]

Funny you say that. I never go under 1/2 tank now on E. I’m always filling up 5-6 gallons every time.

That’s a good practice, as annoying as it may be

 

[03' White Snake]

That’s a good practice, as annoying as it may be

Same thing I do too. I pushed it one time so I would have a reference in my mind of how far I could actually go if I had too.

 

[Stage 4.6]

I took mine on a 2.5hr cruise last year with the RMMC, going up some steep mountains surprisingly the car did pretty good made it home with about 1/4 tank. Around town it does not do to good.

 

[hatchke]

I took mine on a 2.5hr cruise last year with the RMMC, going up some steep mountains surprisingly the car did pretty good made it home with about 1/4 tank. Around town it does not do to good.

Damn - jealous of those numbers you made with your 2.9 Crusher! I knew I should have gotten a different gen blower haha. You made another 70hp and 100lb/ft over me at the same boost pressure

 

[Stage 4.6]

It did pretty good, I'm getting ready to replace the tensioner soon, iI'm getting belt slip those crushers like to ne spinned.