Mileage

Jo Anna · 08-11-2005

Sooo, here's an ineveitable question: What kind of mileage can I expect from my 72 GT? What kind of mileage are you all getting?
Jo

jlthunder · 08-11-2005

With a standard 4 speed, I get about 24-25 mpg with mixed driving.

wrangler · 08-11-2005

My '71 4spd gets 25 as well. All local city driving.

nobody · 08-11-2005

My GT gets around 15 to 18 MPG.

BigGMan · 08-11-2005

25 seems to be consistant..I get between 25 and 26.

baz · 08-11-2005

i used to get 29 in town and 40 on a motorway/interstate but we have a bit less than a pint more in our gallon so around 26 for a us gall would be right

73Manta72gt · 08-11-2005

My 72 Gt with a 32/36 weber get 34mgh, my 73 manta gets 30.8mph on the interstate

rockytopmark · 08-11-2005

My Former 72 GT with Auto got 28 MPG on the interstate. No clue what my current car gets, speedo not workin.

greensmurf20 · 08-11-2005

my 71 GT gets 24-26 on country roads, 32-33 on freeways. manta gets 18 in the country and 22 on freeway.

kwilford · 08-11-2005

I made it into a real poll. Keep it simple, just pick one...

opelgt73 · 08-11-2005

My last "Restoration Complete" GT got between 35-40 on the highway, and 22-27 around town, which I thought was incredible. It was a 2.0L High Compression with medium lift cam, 32/36 Webber, sprint exhaust, electronic ignition. But I think what really got the gas mileage up there was the Getrag 5 speed. That and I am fairly light footed with the gas.

There was a thread about increasing MPG. I would think an electric fan, maybe even an electric water pump would bump those figures up slightly more.

jrichar3 · 08-11-2005

I get 22mpg every time I fill and that is mostly highway driving.

bozkm · 08-11-2005

I get about 25/26 everytime I fillup. I normally only drive to work...60mph, no lights or stopping, 12 miles one way. I'm also at 7000ft above sea level if that makes a difference.

BDD · 08-11-2005

I think that I used to get a reliable 33 mpg with my 1970 gt back in the 70's. The highway speeds might have been 55 back then. I'm sure it wasn't in the 20's.

Betta Carotene · 08-11-2005

With my 73 Gt I get about 25 a gallon. This is with a Flat top 2.0, hotter cam, 4 speed and SSD 40dcoe

kent · 08-11-2005

Back in the early 80s I had a 71 that got low 30s but it was a dog. I have a 69 now that gets 23-26 but has a lot more go.

Jo Anna · 08-12-2005

Thanks for the info--now I can set my expectations. Keith,

turns out the explanations had some interest and thanks for setting up the simple poll as well.
jo

neuropel · 08-12-2005

If you do a lot of highway driving, a getrag 5 speed can start to pay for itself with today's gas prices. When I installed a getrag in my GT I recall my highway mileage went WAYY up from where it was with the 4 speed. Not that you need any more ammo to warrant buying a 5 spd, right?

Jo Anna · 08-13-2005

5 speed, hmmmm. I've noticed, since I'm used to my Impreza 2.5 RS 5 speed, I' wanting to go to 5th gear in the GT when the RPM's sound right. Funny how we get used to things--also notice big diff in the range of motion in the shift pattern for shifter--RS is a tight pattern, GT more horizontal and wide. OUr bodies get used to kinesthetic dimensions without us even being aware of it!
Jo

tekenaar · 08-13-2005

My '73 1.9 FI GT with bigger valves, Isky cam, Norris springs and keepers, Sprint into 2" exhaust with 2" turbo muffler and gutted stock resonator, 4-speed and 3.44 gear gets ~28-29mpg around town and ~33-34mpg highway on regular unleaded.

My completely stock, flat-top 1.9 '69 Kadett LS with automatic and 3.18 gear gets better than 24mpg averaging ~85mph on highway . . . 3,000 mile roundtrip to Carlisle followed by 600 mile roundtrip to San Antonio three weeks later, all on regular unleaded. Ran best on BP gas. This is not the most aerodynamic of Opels, as most of you know.

My '72 GT with 1.9E engine, SSD 40DHLA, header into 2" exhaust, Getrag and 3.44 gear got 28+mpg at 87mph highway average on a trip to Houston and back, ~600 miles, several years ago. Still gets great mileage with 10.5:1CR 2.15 engine, Bob's cam and 2.2 valves in 1.9 head and SSD 48DHLA (Dell'Orto), just haven't checked exactly what, but still runs on regular unleaded!

GTJIM · 08-15-2005

Opels give far better "Smilage" than any other car

The amount of gas that goes into the tank is just about a seconday consideration....

Besides; gas is the cheapest thing that goes into a car - excepting only air, water ... and the driver!

Jo Anna · 08-15-2005

Good point, GTJim! Smileage. I'll be using that one when people ask me--nice.

Today, after three weeks of "down" time and what turned out to be A BAD TANK OF PREMIUM GAS, I'm back on the road when I drive the beauty to work today. At last....it has been agony.
As for the broken seat, a few chunks of 4x4's and a nice mexican blanket over them has me sittin' pretty and none's the wiser! I figured its better than bolting the seat together. Now I just need to find a "new" driver's seat....
Jo

GTJIM · 08-15-2005

Glad to hear you are back on the road , Jo - get some smilage in before winter!
My new Monza does about 18 miles per gallon (imperial gallons too - bigger than US gals ). Just found that BP service stations here stock 98 octane gas at the same price "other" brands sell 96 octane for. The Opel loves it and runs much smoother. I am using around $50 a week for fuel and enjoy every drop!

tekenaar · 08-15-2005

Originally Posted by GTJIM

Glad to hear you are back on the road , Jo - get some smilage in before winter!
My new Monza does about 18 miles per gallon (imperial gallons too - bigger than US gals ). Just found that BP service stations here stock 98 octane gas at the same price "other" brands sell 96 octane for. The Opel loves it and runs much smoother. I am using around $50 a week for fuel and enjoy every drop!

Yeah, that's what I found too (Post #20) in my Kadett 1.9 . . . noticeably smoother running . . . and with just regular unleaded BP!

baz · 08-15-2005

i know we are going off topic a bit but do you get shell optimax in the states/NZ ?
it is good for a few more mpg at just a small extra cost over here

View Poll Results: What gas mileage do you get in your Opel?
less than 10 mpg	10	5.56%
between 11 and 19 mpg	19	10.56%
between 20 and 22 mg	28	15.56%
between 23 and 25 mpg	45	25.00%
between 26 and 28 mpg	39	21.67%
between 29 and 31 mpg	19	10.56%
between 32 and 34 mpg	12	6.67%
more than 35 mpg	8	4.44%
Voters: 180. You may not vote on this poll

08-11-2005	#1 (permalink)
Jo Anna Lempi: Feared by all Walleye Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houghton, Michigan Posts: 154	Mileage Sooo, here's an ineveitable question: What kind of mileage can I expect from my 72 GT? What kind of mileage are you all getting? Jo __________________ We know more than we know we know.

08-11-2005	#2 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	With a standard 4 speed, I get about 24-25 mpg with mixed driving. __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

08-11-2005	#6 (permalink)
baz opel free after 26 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,941 Real Name: barry williams	i used to get 29 in town and 40 on a motorway/interstate but we have a bit less than a pint more in our gallon so around 26 for a us gall would be right __________________ Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell

08-11-2005	#8 (permalink)
rockytopmark Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 134	My Former 72 GT with Auto got 28 MPG on the interstate. No clue what my current car gets, speedo not workin. __________________ Mark 70 GT, Rebuilt 1.9L; ported, performance Cam , Weber 32/36, Pertronix, ported and torquered intake manifold, Sprint Exhaust manifold

08-11-2005	#3 (permalink)
wrangler Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 468 Real Name: Brett	My '71 4spd gets 25 as well. All local city driving.

08-11-2005	#4 (permalink)
nobody No Access Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in transit Posts: 3,873	My GT gets around 15 to 18 MPG.

08-11-2005	#5 (permalink)
BigGMan Opeler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: OK Posts: 1	25 seems to be consistant..I get between 25 and 26.

08-11-2005	#7 (permalink)
73Manta72gt Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 341	My 72 Gt with a 32/36 weber get 34mgh, my 73 manta gets 30.8mph on the interstate

08-11-2005	#9 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	my 71 GT gets 24-26 on country roads, 32-33 on freeways. manta gets 18 in the country and 22 on freeway. __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

08-11-2005	#10 (permalink)
kwilford Über OpelGT.com Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,088 Real Name: Keith Wilford	I made it into a real poll. Keep it simple, just pick one... __________________ Keith Wilford working on my '71 GT and '75 SportWagon

08-11-2005	#11 (permalink)
opelgt73 crazy opeler Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 568	My last "Restoration Complete" GT got between 35-40 on the highway, and 22-27 around town, which I thought was incredible. It was a 2.0L High Compression with medium lift cam, 32/36 Webber, sprint exhaust, electronic ignition. But I think what really got the gas mileage up there was the Getrag 5 speed. That and I am fairly light footed with the gas. There was a thread about increasing MPG. I would think an electric fan, maybe even an electric water pump would bump those figures up slightly more. __________________ Chris Indianapolis, Indiana

08-11-2005	#12 (permalink)
jrichar3 Opeler Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Aurora CO 80014 Posts: 15	I get 22mpg every time I fill and that is mostly highway driving. __________________ Joe

08-11-2005	#13 (permalink)
bozkm Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 207	I get about 25/26 everytime I fillup. I normally only drive to work...60mph, no lights or stopping, 12 miles one way. I'm also at 7000ft above sea level if that makes a difference.

08-11-2005	#14 (permalink)
BDD Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 605	I think that I used to get a reliable 33 mpg with my 1970 gt back in the 70's. The highway speeds might have been 55 back then. I'm sure it wasn't in the 20's.

08-11-2005	#15 (permalink)
Betta Carotene Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bakersfield, California Posts: 206 Real Name: Allan Wheeler	With my 73 Gt I get about 25 a gallon. This is with a Flat top 2.0, hotter cam, 4 speed and SSD 40dcoe __________________ 73 Gt (RIP), 4 speed, 2.0L, 290H cam, weber, S-10 clutch w/ matched flywheel, sprint to a 2" pipe, Aluminum finned oil pan. SOLD! 70 Kadett Wagon 14k, 1.9L, Auto, weber

08-11-2005	#16 (permalink)
kent Opeler Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Urbandale Iowa Posts: 196	Back in the early 80s I had a 71 that got low 30s but it was a dog. I have a 69 now that gets 23-26 but has a lot more go.

08-12-2005	#17 (permalink)
Jo Anna Lempi: Feared by all Walleye Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houghton, Michigan Posts: 154	thanks Thanks for the info--now I can set my expectations. Keith, turns out the explanations had some interest and thanks for setting up the simple poll as well. jo __________________ We know more than we know we know. Last edited by Lempi; 08-12-2005 at 07:59 AM. Reason: smileys

08-12-2005	#18 (permalink)
neuropel Rice Cooker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Spring Church, PA Posts: 1,787	If you do a lot of highway driving, a getrag 5 speed can start to pay for itself with today's gas prices. When I installed a getrag in my GT I recall my highway mileage went WAYY up from where it was with the 4 speed. Not that you need any more ammo to warrant buying a 5 spd, right? __________________ "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln ________________ 1972 GT 2.4L 1974 Manta GT/E 2.2L 1973 Manta Rallye 2.5L

08-13-2005	#19 (permalink)
Jo Anna Lempi: Feared by all Walleye Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houghton, Michigan Posts: 154	5 speed, hmmmm. I've noticed, since I'm used to my Impreza 2.5 RS 5 speed, I' wanting to go to 5th gear in the GT when the RPM's sound right. Funny how we get used to things--also notice big diff in the range of motion in the shift pattern for shifter--RS is a tight pattern, GT more horizontal and wide. OUr bodies get used to kinesthetic dimensions without us even being aware of it! Jo __________________ We know more than we know we know.

08-13-2005	#20 (permalink)
tekenaar Cunning Linguist Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX 75074 Posts: 4,441 Real Name: Otto	My '73 1.9 FI GT with bigger valves, Isky cam, Norris springs and keepers, Sprint into 2" exhaust with 2" turbo muffler and gutted stock resonator, 4-speed and 3.44 gear gets ~28-29mpg around town and ~33-34mpg highway on regular unleaded. My completely stock, flat-top 1.9 '69 Kadett LS with automatic and 3.18 gear gets better than 24mpg averaging ~85mph on highway . . . 3,000 mile roundtrip to Carlisle followed by 600 mile roundtrip to San Antonio three weeks later, all on regular unleaded. Ran best on BP gas. This is not the most aerodynamic of Opels, as most of you know. My '72 GT with 1.9E engine, SSD 40DHLA, header into 2" exhaust, Getrag and 3.44 gear got 28+mpg at 87mph highway average on a trip to Houston and back, ~600 miles, several years ago. Still gets great mileage with 10.5:1CR 2.15 engine, Bob's cam and 2.2 valves in 1.9 head and SSD 48DHLA (Dell'Orto), just haven't checked exactly what, but still runs on regular unleaded! __________________ 1960: ♥ '61 Rekord PII 1.7 3S 3.9 ♥ '69 Kadett LS 'sprint' 1.9 3A 3.18 1970: ♥ '70 GT 1.9 4S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.2SSD 5S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.4FI 5S 3.44P ♥ '73 GT 1.9FI 4S 3.44 ♥ '75 1900 1.9FI 4S 3.44 1980: ♥ '85 Bitter SC 3.9FI 5S 3.44P 2000: ♥ '09 Solstice GXP Coupe 2.0 SIDI VVT Turbo 5S 3.73P

08-15-2005	#21 (permalink)
GTJIM Old Opeler Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,686	The Point? Opels give far better "Smilage" than any other car The amount of gas that goes into the tank is just about a seconday consideration.... Besides; gas is the cheapest thing that goes into a car - excepting only air, water ... and the driver! __________________ GTJim Opel Owner since last Century! Copyright © 2000-2009 J D Henry All Rights Reserved

08-15-2005	#22 (permalink)
Jo Anna Lempi: Feared by all Walleye Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houghton, Michigan Posts: 154	Good point, GTJim! Smileage. I'll be using that one when people ask me--nice. Today, after three weeks of "down" time and what turned out to be A BAD TANK OF PREMIUM GAS, I'm back on the road when I drive the beauty to work today. At last....it has been agony. As for the broken seat, a few chunks of 4x4's and a nice mexican blanket over them has me sittin' pretty and none's the wiser! I figured its better than bolting the seat together. Now I just need to find a "new" driver's seat.... Jo __________________ We know more than we know we know.

08-15-2005	#23 (permalink)
GTJIM Old Opeler Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,686	Great News Glad to hear you are back on the road , Jo - get some smilage in before winter! My new Monza does about 18 miles per gallon (imperial gallons too - bigger than US gals ). Just found that BP service stations here stock 98 octane gas at the same price "other" brands sell 96 octane for. The Opel loves it and runs much smoother. I am using around $50 a week for fuel and enjoy every drop! __________________ GTJim Opel Owner since last Century! Copyright © 2000-2009 J D Henry All Rights Reserved

08-15-2005	#25 (permalink)
baz opel free after 26 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,941 Real Name: barry williams	i know we are going off topic a bit but do you get shell optimax in the states/NZ ? it is good for a few more mpg at just a small extra cost over here __________________ Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode