keeping the rpms low and actually watching your gas mileage, what sort of difference would you see between the gas mileage?

here's an example.. on the 04 civic i had.. it was a sedan EX 5 speed.. and got 35+mpg on the highway.. the autotragic for the same single cam vtech motor was a 4speed.. and got barely 30.. at the same speed and was WAYY slower like a full second at the strip.. obiviously the 5 speed was at a lower RPM on the highway cause it had one more gear.. it's kinda like the lingenfelter corvette..has 800hp but can still get 30+mpg on the freeway at 65 in 6th.. cause it's at like 1100 RPM no turbo boost...

so with an 09 balt, could i see 30 city 40+ highway with maybe an intake?

i have got 40+ on the highway with my lt but then again i was following a truck

so with an 09 balt, could i see 30 city 40+ highway with maybe an intake?

26-35
around there
city to highway

i have got 40+ on the highway with my lt but then again i was following a truck

Following the truck did nothing for you. What was your speed, 60 MPH?

I've seen as high as 27.5mpg city with my SS/TC but nothing on the highway yet...

how did following the truck did nothing for me? it is called drafting which reduce the air flow on ur car. and max speed was 70ish

i have got 40+ on the highway with my lt but then again i was following a truck

Following a truck is good for less air resistance but bad for rocks kicking up on your car lol.

hahaha yea it is even worse when its your dads truck

yes drafting does work. they did a segment about it on mythbusters. they found following a big rig that you can get around 30% better fuel effeciency depending on how close you follow.

yes drafting does work. they did a segment about it on mythbusters. they found following a big rig that you can get around 30% better fuel effeciency depending on how close you follow.

Dangerously close...

So you mean to tell me you safely drafted about 10 feet behind a semi...

really all depends on how good of a driver u are. a decent driver, driving a standard that is trying to save gas will defiantly save more than an auto.

but a casual driver that is not really paying attention to there rmps much might not.

They got like 10% at 100 feet which is more than possible on a highway with a semi-truck.

Manual cobalt gets a lot better than automatic. Somewhere in the 10 to 15% better range

we just need to go find semi's and follow them lol.

i once hit 40 highway when i was following my dad at about 55 hes a highway noob but on me way to frantically get to school i can hit around 33ish or so including climbing a mountain on the highway

sitting on 30mpg in city...
usually get around 38mpg when i cruise up to VA

93 octane
'08 2.4L 5-speed

During a good week, I do mostly city driving in my SS/SC using 93 or 94 Octane I get 26+ mpg's...

Don't do enough highway driving to really know but, it's an average of like 28-30+

Drafting works..but be safe..even if ur not getting maximum efficency out of drafting ur still getting some..anyware u dont need to use power (if ur car is manual) put it in nutral and let it coast down or up hills...coming to stop lights just put it in nutral stuff like that..ull get good gas mileage ;) lol..but if ur looking for a realll like estimate..ur balt will tell you..lol..hit the HUD button and flip to ur MPG..lol

i get like 24.7 mpg..i have a lead foot..and i have an 07 SS/S/C and put in nothing but 93 octane..if i could i would put 94 but..lol

Drafting works..but be safe..even if ur not getting maximum efficency out of drafting ur still getting some..anyware u dont need to use power (if ur car is manual) put it in nutral and let it coast down or up hills...coming to stop lights just put it in nutral stuff like that..ull get good gas mileage ;) lol..but if ur looking for a realll like estimate..ur balt will tell you..lol..hit the HUD button and flip to ur MPG..lol

i get like 24.7 mpg..i have a lead foot..and i have an 07 SS/S/C and put in nothing but 93 octane..if i could i would put 94 but..lol

damn it, neutral coasting is worse than leaving it in gear.

i get
42 @ 55mph
39ish @ 60
34 @ 70
42 miles each way about 6 miles city rest hiway

Dangerously close...

So you mean to tell me you safely drafted about 10 feet behind a semi...

I vaugly remember this episode, but I thought the best economy was when they had just lost sight of the trucks mirrors, which was about 30ish feet back, which is still dangerous as you want the driver to see you.

I vaugly remember this episode, but I thought the best economy was when they had just lost sight of the trucks mirrors, which was about 30ish feet back, which is still dangerous as you want the driver to see you.

Even a nice safe 2 seconds back will give a bit of a boost to the mileage. Not as much as being tucked up close but I would rather not test the structural integrity of the front end of my Cobalt against the rear end of a semi trailer....

Before I got the 2.4 manifold, I was seeing a constant of 44 mpg hwy. After, I can only achieve 37 tops going 60. Technically this sounds backwards, but that's just how it happened.

I don't know why it dropped like that, but it did. I'm auto btw.

I can drive around all day mashing the gas and still be right at 30 mpg in city/hwy.

damn it, neutral coasting is worse than leaving it in gear.

In all honesty, it's damn near the same thing. Although I will agree that neutral coasting does no better than coasting in gear, but either way, it keeps your foot off the gas. And, that's the general idea anyways.

I once got 46.8 MPG on the highway. It was about a 45 mile drive, but a lot of it was downhill, and I stayed around 65-70 most of the way. At one point I sort of raced a WRX cuz he kept coming up next to me, so I just took off on him for about half a mile, so I'm sure that didnt help my mileage.

so with an 09 balt, could i see 30 city 40+ highway with maybe an intake?

I manage 26 city and 38 at 65 MPH, and mines an auto... after I got my intake and exhaust.

Got around 25 and 36 before.

I usually get 32mpg, and thats with a 35-40mph average speed over the course of 350 miles. Mostly rural 50mph roads.

for ppl that have the cobalt ss/sc do the airbox mod and reset u'r mpg drive for a while and u will see a great difference trust me i get 40 to 35mpg on high way if i push it i think i can pull a 45 for city 27 to 30 and thats without drafting lol it also helps u accelerate quicker car breaths better lol

so with an 09 balt, could i see 30 city 40+ highway with maybe an intake?

I highly doubt it.

I've gotten 45 in my SS/SC. Driving at 65 with DFCO and proper acceleration ftw.

In all honesty, it's damn near the same thing. Although I will agree that neutral coasting does no better than coasting in gear, but either way, it keeps your foot off the gas. And, that's the general idea anyways.

You know that is the definition of epic fail? DFCO is way more efficent, safer, and easier then neautral coasting.

18 seems to be the magic number for where I live. Most cars seem to get the same around here. Though I can get it to 21 if I drive mostly at night with less traffic. My mom's 2.5L altima doesn't get past 18.5 and it's a 6 spd auto. Meh I dunno. It really depends on where you drive, how you drive, how many stops you have to make like stop signs or lights, how long you drive in final gear, and the amount of traffic. Cause I can get a lot different average reading driving on the other side of the island where there's less lights.

I've gotten 45 in my SS/SC. Driving at 65 with DFCO and proper acceleration ftw.



You know that is the definition of epic fail? DFCO is way more efficent, safer, and easier then neautral coasting.

Safer? Yes.
Easier? Yes.
More efficient? Only if you consider a fraction of a percent an advantage.

I've tried both and they yield very similar results. But I do agree that it's easier and safer to just leave in gear.

But a significant advantage in gas mileage? Not really.

i tried a tank utilizing DFCO, and using neutral coasting
i found absolutely no difference in gas mileage
i think the difference is completely minute

obiviously the 5 speed was at a lower RPM on the highway cause it had one more gear..

Wrong. Kind of.

The top gear ratio is roughly the same, it's not like 4th = 4th in the 5-spd and then 5th in the manual is a whole new ratio for sick fuel economy.

0.69 in the F23 5-spd for 5th gear
0.68 in the 4-spd auto for 4th gear

Which would mean, as far as I know, the same mileage on the highway since the torque converter locks up above 3rd.

Now of course, the extra gear for the 5-spd does help economy in the city because revs can be kept lower. Just wanted to clear up that misconception because some people think 6 speeds are the same as 5 speeds with just an extra gear on top for economy, when it's usually just closer ratios. Just a pet peeve of mine when I hear "I wish i had a six speed I'd get sick mileage on the highway".

Wrong. Kind of.

The top gear ratio is roughly the same, it's not like 4th = 4th in the 5-spd and then 5th in the manual is a whole new ratio for sick fuel economy.

0.69 in the F23 5-spd for 5th gear
0.68 in the 4-spd auto for 4th gear

Which would mean, as far as I know, the same mileage on the highway since the torque converter locks up above 3rd.

Now of course, the extra gear for the 5-spd does help economy in the city because revs can be kept lower. Just wanted to clear up that misconception because some people think 6 speeds are the same as 5 speeds with just an extra gear on top for economy, when it's usually just closer ratios. Just a pet peeve of mine when I hear "I wish i had a six speed I'd get sick mileage on the highway".

Wrong kind of.

Even with equal gear ratios a manual will still get better economy if both vehicles are driven the same manner, automatics are heavier(by almost 100lbs), they have more parts to spin, the parts they spin are heavier, and there is the additional drag of a hydraulic pump

Also for MOST (GM)6 speeds (the new 6TXX auto being the major exception) they really are just a 5+1, that is a 5speed with one more overdrive, most 6spds are DOUBLE overdrive transmissions. And while "closer" ratios is a common thing in 6speeds, the reall reason they are used these days is to be able to get a "wider" overall gear ratio spread without dropping the engine out of its efficient operating on shifts.

For example while the F23 and the 4T45 have very close top gears(.68-.69) there is a large difference in 1st, the F23 has a much lower 3.58 compared to the 2.95 of the 4T45, this combined with the lower final drive of the F23 provides the dramatic difference in off the line feel between the two transmissions. The F40(6speed manual in G6 and Saab) has a 6th gear of .707 and a 5th gear of .846. thats TWO overdrives.

Now the 6T40(new ECOTEC compatible 6spd auto) has a 6th gear of .75 w2hich is roughly in line with all the other fwd transaxles, BUT its got a super low 4.58 1st gear! and its 2nd gear is 2.96 which is actually lower the the 4T45s 1st gear!!!!!

Expect the 6T40(or maybe a 6T25) to show up in the Cruze

here's an example.. on the 04 civic i had.. it was a sedan EX 5 speed.. and got 35+mpg on the highway.. the autotragic for the same single cam vtech motor was a 4speed.. and got barely 30.. at the same speed and was WAYY slower like a full second at the strip.. obiviously the 5 speed was at a lower RPM on the highway cause it had one more gear.. it's kinda like the lingenfelter corvette..has 800hp but can still get 30+mpg on the freeway at 65 in 6th.. cause it's at like 1100 RPM no turbo boost...

drool sex

it has like 1100 hp according to C&D if little less or more dont remember.

on moderate highway with even uphill/downhill/level. My stock ss/sc gets about 29.50 but less than 30 uphill 31.20+ no more than 31.50 on down hill and straight level highway about 30.00 but never more than 31.00. City i dont even pay attention. stop and go half the time i'd guess 23-26 depending how hard i get on it.

None, we have a tuned 2.2 auto and a tuned 2.2 5 spd and for the most part we get the same milage in both...i drive 150 miles a day for work and switch back and forth and the only time i notice a difference is when i leave them both at home and get on my motorcycle :lol:

i tried a tank utilizing DFCO, and using neutral coasting
i found absolutely no difference in gas mileage
i think the difference is completely minute

What is DFCO? Decelleration Fuel Cut Off??

Wrong kind of.

Even with equal gear ratios a manual will still get better economy if both vehicles are driven the same manner, automatics are heavier(by almost 100lbs), they have more parts to spin, the parts they spin are heavier, and there is the additional drag of a hydraulic pump

Also for MOST (GM)6 speeds (the new 6TXX auto being the major exception) they really are just a 5+1, that is a 5speed with one more overdrive, most 6spds are DOUBLE overdrive transmissions. And while "closer" ratios is a common thing in 6speeds, the reall reason they are used these days is to be able to get a "wider" overall gear ratio spread without dropping the engine out of its efficient operating on shifts.

For example while the F23 and the 4T45 have very close top gears(.68-.69) there is a large difference in 1st, the F23 has a much lower 3.58 compared to the 2.95 of the 4T45, this combined with the lower final drive of the F23 provides the dramatic difference in off the line feel between the two transmissions. The F40(6speed manual in G6 and Saab) has a 6th gear of .707 and a 5th gear of .846. thats TWO overdrives.

Now the 6T40(new ECOTEC compatible 6spd auto) has a 6th gear of .75 w2hich is roughly in line with all the other fwd transaxles, BUT its got a super low 4.58 1st gear! and its 2nd gear is 2.96 which is actually lower the the 4T45s 1st gear!!!!!

Expect the 6T40(or maybe a 6T25) to show up in the Cruze

I was talking specifically about highway mileage, I even said city mileage will be better in the 5-speed.

Safer? Yes.
Easier? Yes.
More efficient? Only if you consider a fraction of a percent an advantage.



I've tried both and they yield very similar results. But I do agree that it's easier and safer to just leave in gear.

But a significant advantage in gas mileage? Not really.

curious to know how you're coming up with "a fraction of a percentage"

i tried a tank utilizing DFCO, and using neutral coasting
i found absolutely no difference in gas mileage
i think the difference is completely minute

this is not an accurate test unless you drove the same exact roads, travelled at the same exact speed, and had the exact same amount of gas in the same exact conditions. if you understood what dfco is and what it did you would realize it's not a "minute" difference

i'm not going to get into a whole big thing again, but if you routinely throw your car in neutral while driving for ANY reason, you're an idiot and don't know how to drive.

curious to know how you're coming up with "a fraction of a percentage"



this is not an accurate test unless you drove the same exact roads, travelled at the same exact speed, and had the exact same amount of gas in the same exact conditions. if you understood what dfco is and what it did you would realize it's not a "minute" difference

i'm not going to get into a whole big thing again, but if you routinely throw your car in neutral while driving for ANY reason, you're an idiot and don't know how to drive.

Ditto. It's a shame when something is proven over and over again the newbs wont listen. DFCO is where its at. Stop neutral coasting and leave it in gear.

curious to know how you're coming up with "a fraction of a percentage"



this is not an accurate test unless you drove the same exact roads, travelled at the same exact speed, and had the exact same amount of gas in the same exact conditions. if you understood what dfco is and what it did you would realize it's not a "minute" difference

i'm not going to get into a whole big thing again, but if you routinely throw your car in neutral while driving for ANY reason, you're an idiot and don't know how to drive.


i drive 95% the same route every week, at the same speed, with the same amount of gas, and the weather has been the same
and i noticed no difference between driving styles

i drive 95% the same route every week, at the same speed, with the same amount of gas, and the weather has been the same
and i noticed no difference between driving styles

Well since you dont want to listen to proven facts about DFCO I hope while you are neutral coasting you get rearended.

newbs :rolleyes:

I don't drive in neutral, and I don't think he does either. We just did tests just to prove what you could have already assumed.

Nothing more.

I don't drive in neutral, and I don't think he does either. We just did tests just to prove what you could have already assumed.

Nothing more.

the piont is that you can assume all you want, but you're wrong :lol:

again, if you don't understand that it's because you don't understand what dfco is and how it works. you can EASILY gain a few mpg by leaving the car in gear. if you didn't find that to be true, your "tests" were wrong.

with a CAI-removal of resonator and other mods I see 40-46 on the highway and it will stay above 41 if there aren't any hills.

I want to know how all of you guys that are getting 40+mpg are coming up with this number. Are you just quoting what the DIC says as youre going done the highway or what?

Because I have NEVER seen a Cobalt with a legitimate 40+mpg AVERAGE on the DIC with the car stopped.

And I would buy lunch for the person that could show me a 40+mpg average on the DIC after starting with a zeroed average and driving XX amount of miles and then stopping.

I'd also be even more intrigued by anyone who actually claims to have physically measured fuel economy(miles driven/gallons of fuel used) and come up with a number over 40. I would absolutely LOVE to see proof of that.

I want to know how all of you guys that are getting 40+mpg are coming up with this number. Are you just quoting what the DIC says as youre going done the highway or what?

Because I have NEVER seen a Cobalt with a legitimate 40+mpg AVERAGE on the DIC with the car stopped.

And I would buy lunch for the person that could show me a 40+mpg average on the DIC after starting with a zeroed average and driving XX amount of miles and then stopping.

I'd also be even more intrigued by anyone who actually claims to have physically measured fuel economy(miles driven/gallons of fuel used) and come up with a number over 40. I would absolutely LOVE to see proof of that.

Well basically when I do a long road trip I usually fill up from empty to full before I leave. Reset the DIC and do a good 300 miles and the DIC averages a little above 40 depending on the roads going 65.

ya...i reset my dic for milage, avg speed, and fuel econ everytime i fill it up

Dangerously close...

So you mean to tell me you safely drafted about 10 feet behind a semi...
Usually I stay up close to a semi, I can actually feel and hear the difference. Hell we have better brakes than a 60 ton truck so I dont see what the big deal is. I only back off when I am near a bridge...



Oh and since everyone else was saying it I have a dic too :lol:

Usually I stay up close to a semi, I can actually feel and hear the difference. Hell we have better brakes than a 60 ton truck so I dont see what the big deal is. I only back off when I am near a bridge...



Much to learn you have....

i have got 40+ on the highway with my lt but then again i was following a truck




I would like to see how many stone chips are on the front end and windshield of your car :eek:

I take physical measurements at every fill-up and note the DIC/reset it at that time. Have noticed a few different things. With a completely stock 2.2 5-speed I got 41 mpg at 65-70 over 900 miles to Outer Banks, NC from Indianapolis, IN. Only got 38 to 39 at 75-80 on the return trip. Around the city I get around 30 to 31. Average regular highway driving around town is usually 34 to 35 at around 65ish. Also, I have noticed a marked difference in MPG when using good oil in unison with Lucas Synthetic Oil Stabilizer, ~1.5-2 mpg average economy. The car gets a little bit worse gas mileage with the car dropped 2" front, 2.5" rear. The long trips to north carolina is the ONLY time I've ever seen over 40 mpg and regular highway driving you cannot get these figures, NO WAY. I put larger than stock tires on and the numbers are now skewed because I don't calibrate for the change as I have winter tires I use during the winter. But from diameter calculations the difference is only ~1 mpg better than my car is saying. Anybody else have comparibles?