Is the MPG on 2011 Mustangs for real???

60sIron · Aug 18, 2010

5.0L 6-speed

I've got about 700 miles on it so far, and I'm getting around 21 MPG with easy driving on 50/50 city highway. It seems to get the best mileage around 50 MPH in 6th gear.

With spirited city driving, I can get the computer down into the 15s.

jonn127 · Aug 20, 2010

yellowV6sport said:
If you are out on the highway quite a bit doing 55+ MPH in O.D., then you probably are going to loose a little mileage as the engine is obviously turning a little faster ...
3.31 std = 26 MPG
3.55 opt = 24.3 MPG (@ 7.3% higher RPM)
3.73 opt = 23.1 MPG (@ 12.7% higher RPM)
... will the MPG's drop the same % as the RPM increase as I've listed ?? Doubtfull, but you can probably use the RPM difference as a worst case senerio.

My car so far is an example of the oposite ... the EPA HWY estimate for a base V6 w/ 225 wide rubber is 29 MPG. I've got a heavier Premium model w/ MCA pkg that comes with the wider 235 performance tires (that are std on the GT) and figured I too would take a slight MPG hit. However, I have already gotten 28.8, 29.1, & 30.89 MPG and my commute is only 85% highway. Car is not completly broken in yet, so it's quite possible it may continue getting a little better.

The point is, the EPA numbers appear to be conservative and BEATABLE so maybe you can realistically get a couple MPG better than EPA with the base 3.31's and close to 25-26 HWY with 3.73's in a GT.

Doug

Very good info, I was wonering about that. I'm still only getting 18-20, but thats just a couple tanks, not very happy yet though, hopefully it gets better, thats with the 3:55's also.

60sIron · Aug 21, 2010

Fuel

I think fuel may have something to do with it. In the midwest, almost all gas is 10% Ethanol, and other parts of the country it is 2% or less. By law the pump is only required to say 'contains ethanol', but they don't have to tell you how much.

Another question is what grade of fuel everyone is using. The engine will burn anything, but it has a higher power output using premium. Which grade gives the best mileage?

AvalancheSVT · Aug 21, 2010

jonn127 said:
Very good info, I was wonering about that. I'm still only getting 18-20, but thats just a couple tanks, not very happy yet though, hopefully it gets better, thats with the 3:55's also.

im guessing there is much romping and stomping

jaybertx · Aug 21, 2010

60sIron said:
Another question is what grade of fuel everyone is using. The engine will burn anything, but it has a higher power output using premium. Which grade gives the best mileage?

Is that also the case for the V6 or is it just the V8?

yellowV6sport · Aug 21, 2010

I'm running 91 Octane Premium as it is the only fuel available in my town with NO ETHANOL.

If there was ethanol free 87 available, I'd probably be running that or at least ways been able to try both and see if there is any difference.

Doug

RxDawg · Aug 21, 2010

Hey Doug,

Just curious, Why avoid the ethanol?

Here we have some gases that have close to 10% ethanol.

-Ted

yellowV6sport · Aug 21, 2010

RxDawg said:
Hey Doug,

Just curious, Why avoid the ethanol?

Here we have some gases that have close to 10% ethanol.

-Ted

10% ethanol is the NORM in Wisconsin too, but 100% gasoline is still available at some stations.

Ethanol reduces MPG and is generally NOT GOOD for gasoline powered vehicles or portable outdoor equipment.

All newer vehicles are designed to operate on E10 (10% ethanol), but it can create problems in vehicles that do not get driven a lot as it absorbs moisture and can separate from the gasoline.

Older vehicle fuel systems were NOT designed for ethanol use and it can damage older fuel hoses as well as seals & gaskets throughout the fuel system especially on vehicles that are not driven frequently.

Small engined outdoor power equipment has the most problems with ethanol based fuels, especially older equipment and things that are used infrequently.

Ask any small engine shop or service station if they get extra business because of ethanol blended gasoline.
... or ...
IF they have pure gasoline available do they use it (or would they still be using it IF it was) in their OWN vehicles ??

Probably 9 out of 10 would say YES.

Doug

RxDawg · Aug 21, 2010

Thanks (as always) Doug!

DougNuts · Aug 28, 2010

yellowV6sport said:
Ethanol reduces MPG and is generally NOT GOOD for gasoline powered vehicles or portable outdoor equipment.

All newer vehicles are designed to operate on E10 (10% ethanol), but it can create problems in vehicles that do not get driven a lot as it absorbs moisture and can separate from the gasoline.

Older vehicle fuel systems were NOT designed for ethanol use and it can damage older fuel hoses as well as seals & gaskets throughout the fuel system especially on vehicles that are not driven frequently.

Doug

Doug,

I'm not convinced that ethanol will do any harm at all in a regularly driven car. It can actually help keep carbon deposits to a minimum.

Also, when you say "older vehicles", I believe the cutoff was round 1988 on average. Many people are tuning their vehicles from the 90s to run on E85, so E10 shouldn't be an issue.

Regarding real world mileage, I talked to a guy tonight with a 3.7/manual who claimed to get 33mpg on a recent trip up to Ohio and back.

yellowV6sport · Sep 2, 2010

Update ...

Filled up today ... 416.7 miles / 13.304 gal = 31.32 MPG.

At the time of fill up, computer was showing "47-MI to E" and "29.7 AVE MPG".
Total miles on car to date is 6478.6.

Here is a summary of my commute MPG to date:
WEEK 1: 28.81 MPG
WEEK 2: 29.10
WEEK 3: 29.46
WEEK 4: 30.89
WEEK 5: 30.99
WEEK 6: 30.53
WEEK 7: 31.47
WEEK 8: 31.00
WEEK 9: 31.67
new since last post:
WEEK 10: 29.90 (442.4 miles, prior weekend + commute)
WEEK 11: 30.80
WEEK 12: 31.11
WEEK 13: 31.32

I think the MPG has finally stopped improving, and the switch to Mobil 1 at 5k miles appears to have not made any difference.

Since week 9 (31.67 MPG - best), every commute week has had it's issues ... between weather, abnormal traffic jams, or both ... so with perfect traffic & weather I think it is still possible to break 32 MPG.

If I was to drive the speed limit instead of 10+ over (ain't gonna happen), I'm sure 32+ could be the norm.

Doug

60sIron · Sep 8, 2010

5.0 Manual

Now at 1700 miles. Just filled up today and got 23 MPG on the last tank.

It was 92 octane, and there was a lot of top down highway cruising with no A/C.

Is the MPG on 2011 Mustangs for real???

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