Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tuning can increase gas mileage???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 09:48 AM
  #1  
Ryan G's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Default Tuning can increase gas mileage???

*First off, if this isn't the right forum/thread I should be placing this in admins feel free to move it. I put this in the most broad section I could think of.*

So, to my question. I had another thread about what kind of gas mileage an A4 should be getting and it looks like I'm right on line with the other folks.
My question to you guru's is if at some point I get all my bolt-ons done and decide to get the car a good tune is there a way that I can increase the gas mileage?
I know on my other cars it was possible but I haven't ever tuned an LS1 and wasn't sure how big of gains one could achieve.
I average about 16.5mpg and would like to see it above 20mpg at least...with the gas prices these days and all.
I'm assuming if you can tune a car at WOT you should be able to tune for your every day driving.
If anyone has any insight or input on this matter I would really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Ryan
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 10:32 AM
  #2  
bczee's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,670
Likes: 6
From: Concord, CA
Default

16.5mpg.. that is not very good or you have a very heavy right foot. Even with my 4.10 gears.. I get close to 20mpg around town and 23+ mpg on the highway.

With a good tuner, yes you should be able to increase both power and gas mileage. A good tuner will be able to remap your fuel tables for both the lower RPM for good gas mileage and at the upper end of the RPM and WOT for power.

What area are you at ?.. and maybe others will be able to suggest a good dyno tuner.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 11:38 AM
  #3  
Ryan G's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by bczee
16.5mpg.. that is not very good or you have a very heavy right foot. Even with my 4.10 gears.. I get close to 20mpg around town and 23+ mpg on the highway.

With a good tuner, yes you should be able to increase both power and gas mileage. A good tuner will be able to remap your fuel tables for both the lower RPM for good gas mileage and at the upper end of the RPM and WOT for power.

What area are you at ?.. and maybe others will be able to suggest a good dyno tuner.

I'm outside Kansas City and I do know of a good tuner in the area. I'll look into it...thanks! As for my heavy foot, I don't really have one. I do more city driving than anything but I've heard that 16.5 isn't actually that bad. On the highway I can do over 20 easy as these cars should.
Thanks again for the insight
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 11:45 AM
  #4  
3rdgentug's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: memphis, tennessee
Default

depending on your mods that sounds good to me
i need some tuning done im getin @ 14 city 23.5 hw
i have to small rear gear right now ( 3.23's ) so my city mpg suffer even w/ my light right foot. getting the 3.73 gears will actually help me in the city along w/ a good tune b/c i have a 3400 stall.
my mpg hw will drop a lil w/ the gears but i do more city driving anyways.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 12:11 PM
  #5  
teke184's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 3
From: Key West, Florida
Default

get a "street tune"...or basically a part throttle tune. it will optimize the computer program for your mods at lower speeds/throttle positions.

there are guys running near stock mpg with cams...all because the have a good "street tune"
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 12:59 PM
  #6  
radkon's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Oh
Default

A proper tune (some call it a street tune) will edit your VE tables and MAF table to ensure optimum performance and efficiency at part throttle. A lot of shops and tuners just tune idle and WOT and call it a day. You will gain a lot of driveability (manners and mileage) with a proper tune. I picked up on avg 4 mpg and on the hwy about 6 mpg. With no more issues on startup or throttle transitions.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 12:59 PM
  #7  
Thumpin305's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: NAS Pensacola
Default

I lost 1.5 mpg on my tune from Texas Speed. I was told that I would gain that much, not loose it. But on the other hand, I got an extra .3 in the 1/8 mile. I kind of want my gas milage back though....
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 02:27 PM
  #8  
radz282003's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 848
Likes: 0
From: Tree-Hugging, Bug eating CALI'
Default

I think I average about 15-17 in-town and on the highway. I have a 3800 stall with 3.23 gears so she's pretty loose. I don't think you'll get too much better around town even with a tune. I have a light right foot and with a tune can't get too much better. I hope you have luck and that I'm wrong because with gas how it is, it's not nice at the pump.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 19, 2007 | 02:33 PM
  #9  
kenp's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 795
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati Area
Default

I set my AFR to be 14.7 from idle to 3000 RPM's and when I'm cruising @ 70mph my AFR is right on the money. I do not see the high mpg numbers other people manage and I do not believe you are likely to see improved mileage after a tune. I max out at 20-22 on the highway, 12 around town.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE