Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: andrew beedle on March 16, 2005, 01:53:33 PM

Title: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: andrew beedle on March 16, 2005, 01:53:33 PM
What’s average mileage for a 4, 6, & 8 cylinder thunderbird? My daily driver is an 8 cylinder and reaching the end of its life and I was thinking of replacing it with a 4-cylinder turbo.
What do you think
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: oldraven on March 16, 2005, 02:05:58 PM
Well, I'm getting upwards of 500km (310miles) to a tank in my TC. If that helps. And that's city driving.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 16, 2005, 02:48:55 PM
Here's actual owner-observed economy and other stats taken from a 1987 Motor Trend owner's survey:

http://www.foxthundercats.com/vitalstatistix.htm
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: Chuck W on March 16, 2005, 03:33:18 PM
You can squeak 30 mpg out of a 2.3T on the hwy at times.  Around town, they aren't too much better than a 5.0...mainly because it's too easy to put your foot into it. ;)

What's the daily driver?
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: phyxius on March 16, 2005, 05:48:10 PM
like chuck said i get on avg 27mpg hwy and 18mpg cty but i have a heavy foot in town out of my 85 XR-7
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: andrew beedle on March 16, 2005, 07:21:30 PM
Its a 83 thunderbird. Bought is for $400 3 years ago. It has the 5.0 out of my first blue t-bird that got rear ended. Its right around the 150,000 mark wich seems to be when the seals in these engines start needing replacing. Its got the throttle body injection. It works but I dont think its the most efficient. I was also thinking maybe a carb set up might even be better milage wise than the throttle body set up. I just thinking about it now so when something really goes wrong I have a plan. Not even sure if a 4 cylinder swap would even be worth it but I seem to use a hell of a lot of gas and with gas prices so high it might be worth my time.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: amooset on March 16, 2005, 10:04:12 PM
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
Here's actual owner-observed economy and other stats taken from a 1987 Motor Trend owner's survey:



On this (http://www.foxthundercats.com/survey.htm)linked page it says it's a 1997 survey.  Might want to correct that.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: Chuck W on March 16, 2005, 10:34:00 PM
Andrew, it all depends on the amount of hwy driving you do really.  My Tbird/Cougars get much better mileage all around than my 2.3T Ranger does with the same gearing.  It's the aerodynamic factor..the Ranger isn't and the 83 Tbird is fairly slippery.  I've pulled down as good as 32mpg on the hwy (75-80mph).

My 83 turbo 'bird is an ex 5.0 car.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: lowcat on March 16, 2005, 11:53:23 PM
I get about 20 mpg average (half city and half highway) in my Cougar with 3.8. All highway and I normally get about 25 mpg and all city I can usually get 18 mpg.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: zpyro on March 17, 2005, 02:27:58 AM
I get about 13-15mpg driving all crazy-like in the city, 30 on the fwy
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: Ether947 on March 18, 2005, 01:31:07 AM
i'm hoping my carb is bad. i average 15 mpg in the city. only a measly 21 hwy. i don't have overdrive, and my torque converter was shot.
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: baja216 on March 18, 2005, 01:09:24 PM
Quote from: lowcat
I get about 20 mpg average (half city and half highway) in my Cougar with 3.8. All highway and I normally get about 25 mpg and all city I can usually get 18 mpg.



Same thing here on my '87 5.0
Title: Re: Average Miles per gallon
Post by: MexCougar on March 18, 2005, 02:34:10 PM
Same thing for me, like 21 mpg at highway (V6/no OD) and 15 or less at city, being gently....i´m driving at 55 mph at highway...

(http://usuarios.lycos.es/racingtrykes/cougar/cat2.jpg)