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Topic: MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm??? (Read 3368 times) previous topic - next topic

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

I went 365miles on 16gallons gas in my ole 1987 3.8bird with 177,700miles on the odometer!!!  Is this pretty decent for a car this old. My 06 gt gets about 23mpg also if i keep my foot out of it but its 20years newer!!!

What do your cars get for mpg??? i run 89octane 10%ethanol.
1987 T-bird SportCoupe,302,5spd,8.8,3.27s,pbr brakes,spindles,2003 rear,18inch 06 gt rims!!!!:evilgrin:
2006 Gt Mustang,3v,5spd,8.8,3.55s,GT500rims.
1990 T-bird LX,3.8,aod,loaded,stock!!
1999 Trailblazer(wifes rig)

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #1 –
24 in the 'underbird
12 in the C-1500
35 in the Jetta
If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't f**k with 'em

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #2 –
i get 23 with my 5.0 bird
I'm the forum asshole, put on your big boy pants and deal with it.  :flip:

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #3 –
So prob could be better then HUH?? I havent done a tune up or anything since i got it in October. Pretty much fixed the burned up alt wires,new alt,battery and changed the heatercore!!!
1987 T-bird SportCoupe,302,5spd,8.8,3.27s,pbr brakes,spindles,2003 rear,18inch 06 gt rims!!!!:evilgrin:
2006 Gt Mustang,3v,5spd,8.8,3.55s,GT500rims.
1990 T-bird LX,3.8,aod,loaded,stock!!
1999 Trailblazer(wifes rig)

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #4 –
wow those are good numbers....

when my 88 was running it was getting about 20 TOPS and about 18 average...
and my 96 gets about 18-20 most of the time too....

and their both 3.8's:dunno:

....course I do have a foot made of a certain poisonous heavy metal.....
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #5 –
When I first got my cougar it averaged 18-22 depending on driving. Now with 165K I average 14-16.5. That's after the 3.45 gear change, dual exhaust, and HO upper with HO TB. I think there is something wrong with it but it still runs good. When I sawped in the mustang AOD with shift kit is when I noticed the decrease in MPG. It does'nt slip at all, it works great. It's not rich eather. I thought that everything that I've done would increase MPG but the gear change.
88 Cougar LS 5.0 .030 over, ported E7s with GT40 valves & trickflow springs, Proform roller rockers, HO cam, removed air silencer, K&N filter, smog pump delete, 2.25" dual flowmasters, Pacestter H-pipe & headers, HO computer, 65mm TB, Explorer intake, 19# injecters, 3.45s, rebuilt posi, and TCI shift kit.

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #6 –
I get around 20-22 in my 88 5.0 Cougar.  More highway I do better than that.
Mike
 

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #7 –
On my 85 Cougar I used to have the 3.8 generally gave me 28 highway and 19 in town  3.08:1 rear end.  My 92 Tbird with the 3.8 is 18 in town and 26 highway. 3.27:1 rear end.
Armed Forces Car Club
Eastern Sierra Chapter, California
WEB:  armedforcescarclub.com

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #8 –
83 5.0 auto gets about 18mpg mixed town and highway driving (116,000miles)
85 2.3 turbo auto gets about 20-22mpg mixed driving (42,000 miles)
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #9 –
When my car was dead stock with 5.0 SO and 2.73's it would knock down mid-20's regularly.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Bruce M;344870
When I first got my cougar it averaged 18-22 depending on driving. Now with 165K I average 14-16.5. That's after the 3.45 gear change, dual exhaust, and HO upper with HO TB. I think there is something wrong with it but it still runs good. When I sawped in the mustang AOD with shift kit is when I noticed the decrease in MPG. It does'nt slip at all, it works great. It's not rich eather. I thought that everything that I've done would increase MPG but the gear change.
my '88 has the HO 5.0 engine BBK 65 mm TB, headers with true dual exhaust, timing has been advanced and my AOD has a shift kit and i have 3.45 gears and i still get 23 mpg with it so i don't see why you can't get the same, what kind of tires are you running ? im running spoogeho ecsta's and i've always seen a lil increase in mpg with these tires.
I'm the forum asshole, put on your big boy pants and deal with it.  :flip:

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #11 –
Quote from: 50tbrd88;344886
When my car was dead stock with 5.0 SO and 2.73's it would knock down mid-20's regularly.

 
What does it do for mileage now?  If...... you can keep your foot out of it??

Mine is stock now and will be fairly modified later.:evilgrin:
Mike

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Thunder Bantam;344888
what kind of tires are you running ? im running spoogeho ecsta's and i've always seen a lil increase in mpg with these tires.

 
Do they have flubber in them or something??
Mike

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #13 –
I'm running 215/65-15 BFG touring T/A at 32psi. They measure 26" tall. I'm going to pull the motor and replace the gaskets, seals, timing chain, oil pump, GT40 heads, and a HO cam. When I install the motor I'm going to replace all the sensors and cracked vacspooge hoses. Maybe that will help. It's weird because it runs good. I havent checked tps voltage and the EGR is blocked off but if eather of those were the problem I would think it wouldnt run as good.
88 Cougar LS 5.0 .030 over, ported E7s with GT40 valves & trickflow springs, Proform roller rockers, HO cam, removed air silencer, K&N filter, smog pump delete, 2.25" dual flowmasters, Pacestter H-pipe & headers, HO computer, 65mm TB, Explorer intake, 19# injecters, 3.45s, rebuilt posi, and TCI shift kit.

MPG!!! My 1987 Bird 3.8 gets 22mpg. Is this the Norm???

Reply #14 –
Quote from: mcb82gt;344891
Do they have flubber in them or something??
nope just nitrogen lol
I'm the forum asshole, put on your big boy pants and deal with it.  :flip: