[Guest]

cars/trucks..350 V-8 @29 mpg..Explain???? 1989 Caprice Classic, averaging 29mpg on highway trips ....in town gas mileage is around 18, not bad for an almost 20 year old 350, but i cant understand why the newer big block v-8's cant even get to 25 mpg on the highway...guess im just gonna stick with an older car i can fix myself, and gets better gas mileage than trading it in for a newer (smaller engine just to make up the gas cost) car

 

[77Impala]

You have a very good car there. My Impala gets about 12.5 in town and about 17.5-18.5 on the highway.

The reason most newer V-8's get worse mileage is the fact that most americans want power and did not care about getting higher miles per gallon. The Big Three also used the fact that SUV's, big vans and trucks are not requred to get as good gas mileage as small subcompats and such cars do.

Today with my two V-8's I try to drive no faster than 55 on the hwy, yet most all other drivers don't care about fuel price keep driving 70 or higher. At nearly 4.00 per gallon I cannot afford that, yet the cost of a newer car would not save enough money to even pay for itself. So like you I will keep my two V-8's and just drive smarter.

Did you know that your's and even my Impala get better gas mileage than some of the newest V-6 engines? Mostly the minivans V-6's get as much milege as I can get from my V-8, can someone figure that one out?

 

[breetai]

On gas mileage

The reason the gas mileage estimates from the EPA are lower now, is that in 2007 the epa redesigned their testing regimen to more accurately reflect current american driving trends, and conditions. Those tests are now posted on all 2008 model year and later vehicles. At 55 on a flat level road at sea level (example of the old way) ANY vehicle will get better gas mileage than on terrain with occasional hills and winds at 5500 feet going 75 (example of new way) the epa has more information on their website.