• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

the difference of gas milage between gears

  • Thread starter Thread starter chefster
  • Start date Start date Jun 28, 2004

chefster

New Member
May 24, 2004
426
1
0
michigan
Jun 28, 2004
#1
  • Jun 28, 2004
  • #1
with all the talk of 373s..I am tempted..what difference is the rpms at 80 between the 373 and my 308s....94 Cobra
 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member
Feb 1, 2002
1,184
2
38
Macomb, MI (metro detroit)
Jun 29, 2004
#2
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #2
My mpg is the same with 3.73's as it was with 3.08's. The highway rpms are higher, but the car doesnt have to fight to get off the line. At 80mph I am turning ~ 2700 rpm. 4.10's would probably be about 3k rpm.
 

CManT1914

New Member
Feb 5, 2004
3,172
2
0
Killeen, Texas
Jun 29, 2004
#3
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #3
With 3.73's, I'm turning 2250 at 70 mph, about 2600 at 80 mph, and 3000 at 90 mph. My gas mileage actually improved with the 3.73's. In town I'm getting at least 17.5 mpg, and on the highway, around 25 or so. Get em, you won't be disappointed.
 
G

greg@berkeley

Founding Member
Aug 30, 2002
1,172
0
0
minnesota / university of california, berkeley
Jun 29, 2004
#4
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #4
i got about 16 w/my 2.73s, and i got about 17-18 w/my 3.73s before the h/c swap. i got 19.5 after the swap but before i started tweecing. now i get about 18.5. i need to make a gas mileage tune...
 

Black95GTS

Active Member
Jan 8, 2004
1,644
3
38
Marlborough, MA
Jun 29, 2004
#5
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #5
I don't see how you can get better gas mileage with steeper gearing. If you go from cruising 80 at 2000 rpms to cruising 80 at 2700 rpms, wouldn't gas mileage be worse?
 
I

igotyofire

Member
Feb 26, 2004
774
1
19
Southern California
Jun 29, 2004
#6
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #6
Black95GTS said:
I don't see how you can get better gas mileage with steeper gearing. If you go from cruising 80 at 2000 rpms to cruising 80 at 2700 rpms, wouldn't gas mileage be worse?
Click to expand...

thats what i belive, also i dont see how up above i just asked the same question but how would H/C change help out the gas mileage, i thought better flow means more air, and more air = more fuel, = more power is exactly what someone said the other day, so less gas,heh.....but also belive the engine is working harder to breath in some instances....
 
G

greg@berkeley

Founding Member
Aug 30, 2002
1,172
0
0
minnesota / university of california, berkeley
Jun 29, 2004
#7
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #7
bigger heads make the engine more efficient. more efficiency=better mileage because the engine doesn't have to work as hard to get to a certain rpm/speed. also, there is no reason high-power efi cars can't be fuel efficient. it's kind of a myth that carried over from the inefficient carb days, i think.

i have no scientific evidence to back this up, but this is what i have learned. someone please correct me if i'm wrong!
 

swingline

New Member
Sep 18, 2003
1,252
0
0
TCB - Taking Care of Business
Jun 29, 2004
#8
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #8
If you keep your foot out of it, there is no reason a H/C/I car can't get just as good gas mileage as a stocker.
 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member
Feb 1, 2002
1,184
2
38
Macomb, MI (metro detroit)
Jun 29, 2004
#9
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #9
My gas mileage IMPROVED when I went from 3.08's to 3.73's, believe it or not.

My attempt at reasoning for this? I say that since the engine doesnt have to work as hard all the time to overcome the tall gearing it is under load less, thus uses less fuel. I dont have to downshift into 4th to pass on the expressway because 5th now has some passing power, whereas with the 3.08's it was an absolute dog. Plus, off the line the engine would bog if you didnt slip the clutch off the line but now it is almost difficult to bog it even if you let the clutch out entirely right off idle.

My last tank of gas I got 18.5mpg. This was with a trip to the track and 1/2 tank of gas driving in 4th @ 75mph. I did this because I wanted to burn some gas before I got to the dragstrip. I usually get 20-21mpg even with pretty aggressively driving and LOTS of WOT and 5k rpm shifts.
 

ARed1995GT

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
401
0
0
Boca Raton, FL
Jun 29, 2004
#10
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #10
we dont buy these cars for gas mileage, hehe
 

Joe 5.0

Founding Member
Feb 1, 2002
1,184
2
38
Macomb, MI (metro detroit)
Jun 29, 2004
#11
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #11
Very true, but it's nice to know you arent schitting out $$$ because OPEC decides they are gonna be arseholes.
 

Mrgreen94gt

SIMMA DA NA!!!
Founding Member
Jul 16, 2002
448
0
0
West TN
Jun 29, 2004
#12
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • #12
I noticed no change in mileage with 4.10s. Nothing that I've done to my car has effected the mileage any.
 

CManT1914

New Member
Feb 5, 2004
3,172
2
0
Killeen, Texas
Jun 30, 2004
#13
  • Jun 30, 2004
  • #13
jtkz13 said:
I dont have to downshift into 4th to pass on the expressway because 5th now has some passing power, whereas with the 3.08's it was an absolute dog.
Click to expand...

You thought 3.08's were bad, try some 2.73's! Now those were some horrible gears.
 

Black95GTS

Active Member
Jan 8, 2004
1,644
3
38
Marlborough, MA
Jun 30, 2004
#14
  • Jun 30, 2004
  • #14
alright, I'll buy that it MAY help you out in a stop and go situation. But in the situation that I proposed above, there is no way that an engine revving higher consistently will have better gas mileage then one that is revving lower. I'll put 10 bucks down and say this: Get two of the same cars side by side, full tanks of gas, one with 273s and one with 373s, and have them both drive at 65 miles per hour for 1 hour. The one with 273s will get better gas mileage as it is not revving as hard, thus the engine is not working as hard to sustain the 65mph.

I can definately understand how an H/I setup will affect gas mileage positively. However, when those of us that get Cams get these radical setups that crank open the intake stroke of the piston and shove more fuel in there, that will negatively affect mileage.
 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,690
0
56
Republic, MO
Jun 30, 2004
#15
  • Jun 30, 2004
  • #15
CManT1914 said:
You thought 3.08's were bad, try some 2.73's! Now those were some horrible gears.
Click to expand...

I had 2.73 in an AODE... so I don't want to hear it.

I went to the 3.73s and found a small drop in gas mileage - that's based on daily driving in distance only... cause my speedo is off.

I have a problem though... I rarely drive for gas mileage... as someone said, I didn't buy this rig to save money, I bought it to hot rod around in. What sucks is my other vehicle is an 85 S-10 Blazer 4x4 with a crappy 2.8L in it. Driving fast to work, I get better gas mileage with the stang... go figure.
 

CManT1914

New Member
Feb 5, 2004
3,172
2
0
Killeen, Texas
Jun 30, 2004
#16
  • Jun 30, 2004
  • #16
gcomfx.com said:
I had 2.73 in an AODE... so I don't want to hear it.
Click to expand...

Man... that sucks worse than a chinese immigrant...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Difference between 83-86 EFI and 87-97 gas tanks?
  • ForeverDrivin
  • Mar 30, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
279
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 30, 2026
ForeverDrivin
F
E
Serpentine ac bracket differences
  • EspaceF1Fan
  • Apr 1, 2026
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Replies
1
Views
124
2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech Apr 1, 2026
OX1
O
G
1991 GT 5.0 running hot
  • gvanginkel403
  • Jul 1, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
152
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 2, 2026
General karthief
I
1994 Cobra - Fuel Pressure Drops Revving at Idle
  • IconicSilverGT500
  • Apr 11, 2026
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
16
Views
436
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Apr 24, 2026
Mcmahst
M
4.10 gears = 200,000 miles ?
  • michaelleewebb
  • Apr 1, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
216
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 2, 2026
michaelleewebb
M
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?