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Is My MPG Normal?

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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:06 AM
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From: YAMOMS
Is My MPG Normal?

Car info in sig.
My DIC tells me, at the moment, I'm getting 21.6 MPG. That's about a 50/50 mix of city/highway.
I feel like that's a bit low, because I've seen other people with the same car as me get like 28 average.
I try to stay out of boost and I use 93 Octane.

Anything I can change to increase gas mileage in terms of parts?
I'm trying to be light with the accelerator.

The things I have in mind so far are changing spark plugs, fuel filter, and maybe doing a full tank of gas with a fuel system cleaner.
Can anyone recommend a good one?

Any more suggestions are welcome. I'd like to get all of my car work done this Fall, so I can be all ready to go in the Winter.
Thanks in advanced.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:54 AM
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Do seafoam treatment. Do plugs and filters. Then get tuned.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 12:19 PM
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From: YAMOMS
Originally Posted by nhanson
Do seafoam treatment. Do plugs and filters. Then get tuned.
How should I go about the seafoam? I know you can pour it in your gas tank, but is it better than using like an injector cleaner? I don't really wanna do it to the vacuum lines, just cause my oil is still new.

Sticking with AC Delco Iridium for plugs. Same thing for fuel filter. I don't have the kind of money for a tune though.. Don't really know any tuner in my area either.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 12:46 PM
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vacuum line doesnt have anything to do with the oil. Putting it in the vac line will disperse it to all the cylinders and clear out the carbon.

you could do 2/3 into gas tank and 1/3 through the vac line for the cylinders.

there is a how to for the LSJ

AC delco is the same as NGK for plugs. Its good for fuel filter too otherwise WIX is a good brand.

Make sure you do seafoam BEFORE doing plugs.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 01:37 PM
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From: YAMOMS
How does seafoam help with fuel economy and is it a better alternative then using a fuel system cleaner?
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 02:32 PM
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Removes carbon build up. It is also a fuel system cleaner.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 02:50 PM
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Yea I'm gettin about the same... Ima seafoam mine before I take this 1500 mi trip lol but Anythin else thatll help?
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 03:10 PM
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From your mods in your sig i'd say you should defenatlly be getting better than 21.6 MPG. First off, dont trust the DIC, caculate it. I've seen mine off by as much as 7 MPG.

I've got a 2006 as well with only a airbox mod and K&N drop in, and after I filled up this morning and caculated it out my last tank i got 31.026 MPG and I dont drive my car like grandma or John Force, somewhere in the middle i'd say.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 07:14 PM
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I was gettin like 21-22 and I seafoamed my gas and a day later (today) it said 25.9 so must work
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 08:03 PM
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wow. im getting 28.6 on average.. and im not light on the pedal either. im all stock with airbox mod. 06 ss/sc g85
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Old Sep 26, 2011 | 10:14 AM
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I used to average somewhere between 25-26.8 mpg in all city driving with my SS/TC (according to the DIC, of course), but now I'm getting somewhere below 24 mpg. I'm guessing the sea foam treatment is the go-to on getting better fuel economy.
I'm going to change out my spark plugs sometime soon, too. Just saving up cash to get new tires first.
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Old Sep 26, 2011 | 10:25 AM
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29.6MPG here. I have an LNF though. Mostly highway miles, but some city driving when I'm home.
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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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From: YAMOMS
Originally Posted by nhanson
Removes carbon build up. It is also a fuel system cleaner.
Alright, guess I'll go with that then trying to decide between the hundreds of different fuel system cleaners.

Originally Posted by MastaShaKe_88
Yea I'm gettin about the same... Ima seafoam mine before I take this 1500 mi trip lol but Anythin else thatll help?
Is that DIC or calculated yourself? Other than what I listed in the OP, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by Sunburst
From your mods in your sig i'd say you should defenatlly be getting better than 21.6 MPG. First off, dont trust the DIC, caculate it. I've seen mine off by as much as 7 MPG.

I've got a 2006 as well with only a airbox mod and K&N drop in, and after I filled up this morning and caculated it out my last tank i got 31.026 MPG and I dont drive my car like grandma or John Force, somewhere in the middle i'd say.
That's how I feel.. I usually keep track by resetting either trip a or b, and see how many miles i got before i have to go back to the gas station, which on a full tank is maybe around 200-250 miles, depending on how far i wanna get to empty, lol.

Originally Posted by DubDub
wow. im getting 28.6 on average.. and im not light on the pedal either. im all stock with airbox mod. 06 ss/sc g85
which is why i'm like wtf? because, like i said in the OP, I see other people with the same car get a lot better mpg.

Originally Posted by Getaway_Driver
I used to average somewhere between 25-26.8 mpg in all city driving with my SS/TC (according to the DIC, of course), but now I'm getting somewhere below 24 mpg. I'm guessing the sea foam treatment is the go-to on getting better fuel economy.
I'm going to change out my spark plugs sometime soon, too. Just saving up cash to get new tires first.
Have you tried the seafoam?

Originally Posted by ssweeet
29.6MPG here. I have an LNF though. Mostly highway miles, but some city driving when I'm home.
I'd be really happy if I got that.. Talking about the MPG and LNF, haha.

Originally Posted by volsfan92
I was gettin like 21-22 and I seafoamed my gas and a day later (today) it said 25.9 so must work
Thanks for that. Makes me think it's gonna work, haha. Did you use it on a full tank of gas?

How do you reset the average MPG? I'm going to do that after I try some seafoam.
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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Gelladuga69
How do you reset the average MPG? I'm going to do that after I try some seafoam.
Dont go by the DIC man, use good 'ole math, those DIC's arent worth......DIC.
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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 10:53 PM
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@ Gelladuga, no, I haven't tried the sea foam treatment, but I will once I get my car back from the body shop where it's being repainted currently. Some ************(s) keyed it last month.
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Old Sep 28, 2011 | 02:08 PM
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I actually just got back from buying 2 bottles.
It was on sale at Oreilly's, fortunately.

Time to try this stuff out.
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Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:14 PM
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so if you only put seafoam in the gas tank you don't have to change plugs?
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Old Sep 29, 2011 | 02:31 PM
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ya dont trust the DIC (mine says im averaging about 27 mpg) i just calculated it last week and i got the EXACT same. 21.6 MPG, id say you are in the norm
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Old Sep 29, 2011 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CrystalRedSS
so if you only put seafoam in the gas tank you don't have to change plugs?
That's correct. If you use vacuum line, you should. Same thing with the crank case/oil.

Originally Posted by jg707
ya dont trust the DIC (mine says im averaging about 27 mpg) i just calculated it last week and i got the EXACT same. 21.6 MPG, id say you are in the norm
At least your DIC is telling you a higher number, lol.
My DIC says 21.6, (just got home and its 21.9!!!), and I think I'm probably getting that.
I only put a half bottle of seafoam in a 3/4 tank. Gonna run this out and add the rest and see from there.
Will try vacuum and oil/crank when I have to do plugs and oil.

Just sucks though. A lot of LSJ guys get higher in the city and even more with the LNF guys.
I'll have to keep working at it.

EDIT: Just noticed you're an LNF, weird that you're getting 21.6.
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Old Sep 29, 2011 | 10:43 PM
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28/31mpg city/highway here. Try the seafoam! Works great.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 01:24 AM
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ok thanks gelladuga i'll give it a shot.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 01:25 AM
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im getting 18mpg. i seafoamed tonight, but only a 1/4 of the can, rest goes in later in the week
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by CrystalRedSS
ok thanks gelladuga i'll give it a shot.
No problem, keep us updated.

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple
im getting 18mpg. i seafoamed tonight, but only a 1/4 of the can, rest goes in later in the week
Ouch, let me know how it works for you.

I only put half in at 3/4 and no significant changes yet, but I know the gas tank is the slowest way of doing it.
Other half will go in next Monday.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Gelladuga69
That's correct. If you use vacuum line, you should. Same thing with the crank case/oil.



At least your DIC is telling you a higher number, lol.
My DIC says 21.6, (just got home and its 21.9!!!), and I think I'm probably getting that.
I only put a half bottle of seafoam in a 3/4 tank. Gonna run this out and add the rest and see from there.
Will try vacuum and oil/crank when I have to do plugs and oil.

Just sucks though. A lot of LSJ guys get higher in the city and even more with the LNF guys.
I'll have to keep working at it.

EDIT: Just noticed you're an LNF, weird that you're getting 21.6.
there was alot of fast driving on that tank. raced a civic Si three times and just my usual shenanigans lol, city driving i literally go no more than two blocks without a stop sign so it kills it. and to top it all of i have GMS1 and a mods or two so i think im running a little rich. look at me making excuses for my coablt lol

Last edited by jg707; Sep 30, 2011 at 09:22 AM.
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Old Sep 30, 2011 | 02:14 PM
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Milestone!



Like 70 highway miles today.

I just got back from school. Going to head out and buy spark plugs and fuel filter.
Getting my bumper painted this weekend, although this has nothing to do with MPG haha.

Also, I think that CEL/MIL has something to do with my gas mileage.
I have the same problem as this OP - https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/prob...-inside-93655/
Codes and blown fuse.

Taped up my first 02 sensor wires, but I don't think its working.
Reason being, I replaced the emissions fuse and from start up to idle the car idles fine.
Blip the throttle, and it has a seizure trying to idle. RPMs go up and down, and dip so low the car stalls.
I look like a ******* kid revving my engine at people. Not to mention my cat-back is loud so that just grabs more attention.
It's not a throttle body problem. It was cleaned last month.
I figure maybe the 02 sensor is shorting out higher up the wire? Any insight? Or it could just be completely busted, who knows..

When the emissions fuse is out of the car, its happy again and runs like a champ and that's how I currently have it, haha.
But then get those 4 codes and MIL/CEL, which is ugly. And I want them gone and my MPG back.
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