Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: Norman Bagi on March 11, 2008, 07:32:57 AM

Title: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Norman Bagi on March 11, 2008, 07:32:57 AM
I am getting 13 miles to the gallon out of my 302, about equal to my Expedition.  I know there are some bigger engines stuffed into some of your Pintos, so some will have worse. Also who is getting the best mileage per gallon, getting there slower, but with all the stops I am making, they are probably getting there faster in the long run.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: bobscat on March 11, 2008, 07:55:13 AM
Please note, this is NOT a very accurate calculation, as my car has no odometer, but I checked it against how many miles it takes me to get to work, and my 302 T-5 with 3.54 gears came out to roughly 20mpg.  Granted that is not perfectly accurate, but give or take a few mpg, that is just about the same as my 2.3 auto!
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: dga57 on March 11, 2008, 08:12:36 AM
Well... this is based on one trip; from Hagerstown MD to Staunton VA.  When I purchased my car it had close to 3/4 tank of gas showing but, not knowing whether the gauge was accurate or not, decided to top it off before heading home.  Drove home on the Interstate running 65-70 mph the entire way with no stops and topped it off again at a station right by the exit ramp.  MPG computed out at an even 30 :surprised:.  That's in a 1972 sedan, 1600cc, 4 spd., that had apparently not seen the highway for at least several years.  W-A-Y better than my original '74 Runabout (purchased new) with the 2300 cc and 4 speed.  It never broke 20 miles per gallon, even on a trip.  Of course I was still buying gas at about forty cents a gallon back then so it wasn't much of an issue! :smile:  I'm hoping to have the Pinto finished and ready to serve as my daily driver by summer as the gas prices go even higher.  Might save a few bucks as opposed to driving my Lincoln Mark LT 4x4 back and forth to work! :rolleye:
Dwayne 
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: earthquake on March 11, 2008, 09:01:40 AM
At this point I figure we are getting about 15 to 17 mpg with my 2.3.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Cookieboystoys on March 11, 2008, 09:03:23 AM
I was getting around 27 miles to the gallon w/my 1973 - 2.0 - 4spd this last summer with some hwy/some intown driving added in.

Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: dangerusdug on March 11, 2008, 09:16:45 AM
I'll try this again.. I get about a year to the tank  :hypno: (I save because it's always on a wrecker coming home ).
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: crazyhorse on March 11, 2008, 02:53:55 PM
I get around 23-25 driving mine daily. I've got a 42mi round trip to work. I go through about 3/4 tank, if I just use it for work. I usually use a tank/wk with a few side trips.

On The Dragon run, I get down around 8-10 mpg though. Thouh 318 turns in 11mi, will do that.  :fastcar:
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: 71HANTO on March 11, 2008, 03:14:15 PM
My Pinto is getting infinite gas mileage setting in front of my house with no engine!! (it is still travelling at 1,000 miles and hour relative to the sun!!!) :surprised:

I used to have a low mile 87 Lincoln Towncar. I got tired of everyone asking: "how bad is the mileage...really bad ...right?" (it actually got 16 city 21 HWY). I finally started answering: "It's a HYBRED.....It uses GAS AND OIL!!!!" :hypno:

Lotus Twin Cam in same weight car... TRACK Mileage: 6-7 MPG @ $7.50 a Gal.-Race Gas ;D
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: apintonut on March 11, 2008, 07:15:20 PM
was getting about 26-28 mpg in a 74 2.3 4 speed depending on how i drive (there only 2 stop lights between my house in ravensdale wa - portland or) and the same in 73 2.0 auto
about 8-15 mpg in the dads 73 289 auto (once again depending on hpw i drive it!!) all in portland OR. though.

best is 42 mpg hwy in a 72 wagon w/ esl. 2275  4 speed  w/ stock carb back on. never check w/ holley 390 (didn't want to know)
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Pintony on March 11, 2008, 08:16:05 PM
Quote from: dga57 on March 11, 2008, 08:12:36 AM
Well... this is based on one trip; from Hagerstown MD to Staunton VA.  When I purchased my car it had close to 3/4 tank of gas showing but, not knowing whether the gauge was accurate or not, decided to top it off before heading home.  Drove home on the Interstate running 65-70 mph the entire way with no stops and topped it off again at a station right by the exit ramp.  MPG computed out at an even 30 :surprised:.  That's in a 1972 sedan, 1600cc, 4 spd., that had apparently not seen the highway for at least several years.  W-A-Y better than my original '74 Runabout (purchased new) with the 2300 cc and 4 speed.  It never broke 20 miles per gallon, even on a trip.  Of course I was still buying gas at about forty cents a gallon back then so it wasn't much of an issue! :smile:  I'm hoping to have the Pinto finished and ready to serve as my daily driver by summer as the gas prices go even higher.  Might save a few bucks as opposed to driving my Lincoln Mark LT 4x4 back and forth to work! :rolleye:
Dwayne 


WOW!!! 30 MPG in a 1600 Pinto.
I hope I can get milage like that in my 1600cc "Joker" Pinto!!!
Someday when it is finished. ::)
From Pintony
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: turbo toy on March 12, 2008, 05:23:38 AM
About 23 MPG is all I can get. The car is a 2.3 turbo with a T5 and 4.62 gear.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Smeed on March 12, 2008, 07:57:12 PM
I actually stumbled upon this cool short article about Car and Drive improving the gas mileage on a pinto. An airdam and rear spoiler made a big difference!

http://ecomodder.com/blog/2008/03/12/11-on-mods-plus-new-tires-car-and-driver-improves-mpg-by-25/
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: 77turbopinto on March 12, 2008, 10:29:09 PM
That's a kool article.

I laugh when I see Pinto sellers on ebay that claim that stock Pintos get 30 - 40 MPG.

Bill
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Pintony on March 13, 2008, 02:04:46 AM
Quote from: 77turbopinto on March 12, 2008, 10:29:09 PM
That's a kool article.

I laugh when I see Pinto sellers on ebay that claim that stock Pintos get 30 - 40 MPG.

Bill


They do at 40 mph! :lol:


P.S. Gas hit $3.45 here today..
I think an old post is about to be revived...
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Wittsend on March 13, 2008, 04:20:34 PM
  Interesting aerodynamic article.  I recall back in the early days of Pro Stock (before they became carbureted Funny Cars) they did some wind tunnel test on the Pinto.  I can't remember if it was Glidden, Gapp & Roush or whoever. Anyway,  my recollection was that the Pinto was more aerodynamic backwards than forwards?  Anyone else recall this?

Tom
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: V8pinto_306_n2o on March 13, 2008, 05:16:41 PM
Great read! 

Mine gets about 16 in town.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: earthquake on March 13, 2008, 09:04:10 PM
I had heard the same thing.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: apintonut on March 14, 2008, 01:34:02 AM
Quote from: 77turbopinto on March 12, 2008, 10:29:09 PM
That's a kool article.

I laugh when I see Pinto sellers on ebay that claim that stock Pintos get 30 - 40 MPG.

Bill


hey if u were to drive a stock 71, 2 or 3 pinto 2.0 4 speed with fuel consumption in mind 30 mpg is very feasible.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: beegle55 on March 14, 2008, 03:32:50 PM
Hey neat article, but one gripe about it. It says at the bottom that was MPG est. going 70 MPH... Stock Pinto's can get to 70?!?!  :hypno: :tgif:
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: phils toys on March 14, 2008, 05:30:50 PM
Quote from: beegle55 on March 14, 2008, 03:32:50 PM
Hey neat article, but one gripe about it. It says at the bottom that was MPG est. going 70 MPH... Stock Pinto's can get to 70?!?!  :hypno: :tgif:
Yes a stock pinto can do about 80 at least mine can maybe more but i did not push it any harder.  but 70 is easy to  obtain even in a wagon.
mpg about 24  hwy.
phils toys
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: douglasskemp on March 14, 2008, 11:37:22 PM
So tell me why in the first photo in that article that one tire appears to be nearly two inches wider than the other.  I am guessing they are both radials as they both have the telltale radial 'bulge' in the sidewall.  Maybe they were testing tread contact patch sizes for rolling resistance also?  Would have been nice if they had the original article too.

I know I've posted this before, but my dad got about 30MPG on a trip from L.A. to Tucson (I-10).  Doing upwards of 70 in a 78 2.3/4spd 3.00:1, on mostly level ground. This was in the middle of the night, so I am sure the temps were pretty coolish (it IS the desert after all.)

SIDE NOTE ALERT
--He did his own calcs on a notebook, noting the odo reading and fuel amt at each stop.  He still does this to this day and so do I.  A good way to note if something may be going wrong (a sudden drop in MPG, etc)  Also, a good way to keep track of maintenance done, i.e. oil changes, tune-ups, major overhauls, etc.
Title: Re: OK. Who's Pinto has the Best/Worst gas mileage out of the road driven cars?
Post by: Starliner on March 15, 2008, 05:14:01 AM
I put bigger tires in the rear so it is always going down hill    :lol: