akcuda

I want to optimize gas mileage when I'm not playing around. I've been using 6th for all highway cruising. Am I better off using 5th gear if I'm going under 75 mph? I was thinking I should keep the cruising RPMs under 2500. I'm not expecting great gas mileage, but I was hoping for at least 20 mpg average between highway/city. What are your thoughts on this? For the record, I would keep this car even if it got 15 mpg average.

clayton02LS1

To save gas, I usually use it about 55mph. Try changing up your shift patterns like 1-4-6, or is it 2-4-6.

andypdbz

iTrader: (1)

i usually shift at 1500 rpm's...
just cruise it and take it easy, just drop into new gear when you can...
i've gotten up to 270 miles on a full tank using this method, of course there was a little play in between.

nomadnate

iTrader: (1)

i have 2000 formula M6. i shift 1-3-5-6. You can actually shift into 6 at 50 mph for about one thousand rpm. I have tracked my gas mileage on long trips and get 27 mpg when in 6th.

Cephiros

i shift at 1-2(1500 rpm) 2-4(2000 RPM) 4-6(45 mph (bout 1000 rpm in 6th) unles im going up hil then i downshift out of 6th if im below 1500rpm or so

Sgt. Spuds

iTrader: (1)

27 in a 99 ss for me, my dad, and luggage. I love winding her out more, but if worried about gas, I granny shift at about 1500 on the stock tach, 1-2-3-4-6

that being said, I hardly ever use fifth gear at all. I never pull through 4th, and I never cruise in anything but sixth.. You can use sixth at like 45, 40 with a bit of chugging * I think thats bad lol *

02 Camaro SS

iTrader: (4)

With stock gears, 50 is fine for 6th gear. You will get worse mileage if you're in 5th above that, especially if you wait until 75 mph.

glennhl

Does this still hold true if you are running a hotter than stock cam? It would seem to me that the large overlap would kill the gas mileage at really low rpms???

Swang

iTrader: (3)

i shift into 6th at 60 just to keep it easy. cruising in 6th especially at faster speeds like 75-80 you can get 30 mpg+ out of it. but i do it at 60 because its slightly hilly around here, the factory book i believe says 52 mph but since we have some hills, youd have to downshift to keep from bogging really bad, so i just go at 60.

01formula6

iTrader: (7)

I usually go into 6th at about 55-60. I know this has been beaten to death, but how the hell do you guys get such good mpg cruising in 6th? Pretty much all highway in 6th @ 80mph i get like 21mpg.

Geo99M6Z

iTrader: (1)

For my car, it seems to have a "sweet spot" in cruise mode. At 78 mph, the car seems to cruise along. Know how you can hear at certain speeds the engine overworking? Well @ 78 mph the engine is smooth and sweet exhaust tone comes out (puts the wife to sleep). Almost everytime I take a long trip I average 30-32 mpg. 89 octane from SuperAmerica is the only kind of fuel that my car seems to get this kind of mileage. During a normal work week, I get about 22 - 23 mpg.

BP, Exxon, & others seem to burn faster.

I run Castrol Durablend at times as well as fully synthetic. Car has 148k miles on it, so I am surprised that I still get this kind of mileage.

stock engine, the only really "mod" I've got is a cutout.

SladeX

I've been able to cruise at 1k rpm in 6th which is around 50 mph I think. I wouldn't recommend accelerating though from that low, not much torque there (it will still accelerate somewhat slowly, but I've got no patience).
Generally if I fall under 1500rpm, I downshift. 1500 rpm seems to be where the powerband of the ls1 starts.

angel71rs

I put it in 5th @ ~ 30, 6th ~ 40. Runs just fine as long as it's a level road. Couldn't do it b4 I changed the original plugs out. After the plug change, no problem.

I remember reading a magazine review on a 6 speed LS1 years ago. Writer said the 6 speed wasn't needed, just a marketing gimmick. When I got my car, I remember thinking "boy was that guy an idiot".

TheBlurLS1

iTrader: (8)

Same here, and this is with a 230+ cam and 4.11 gears. Sometimes i have to wait untill 45 for 6th or i get some chugging.

When i had the stock cam and 4.11's, 35 was alright for 6th, diddnt even have to press the gas around town.

99blancoSS

iTrader: (115)

Not rocket science here. Keep the rpms the lowest to use less gas, downshift when you need power and then go back to low rpms. 6th gear at 50 and above will net you your best results and it doesnt matter what cam is in the car. The faster the engine spins the more fuel it uses.

akcuda

Thanks for the replys fellas. Now I don't feel so bad cruising at 1500 or so RPMs.

Samuel Torres

Hey bro what do you mean 1-4-6 ??? I'm barely learning to drive manual .