MPG... am I burning/wasting fuel? | FerrariChat

MPG... am I burning/wasting fuel?

Discussion in '348/355' started by huzilulu, Sep 12, 2011.

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  1. huzilulu

    huzilulu Formula Junior

    Apr 20, 2011
    340
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Huzi Husain
    Im wondering if my engine is working right... I filled up gas (full) and reset the trip meter... Its hit 70 miles and Im already at half tank on the gas needle... am I wasting gas? The car has driven about 30 miles in traffic and about 40 on the highway with a total of about 5 starts..

    Should I be worried or is this normal mileage?
     
  2. huzilulu

    huzilulu Formula Junior

    Apr 20, 2011
    340
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Huzi Husain
    FYI: There is no smell of gas in the passenger area or near the exhaust (not that I can smell atleast)...
     
  3. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,714
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    In traffic the 355 can be very poor but also the gauge is not very accurate / linear so there's no way short of refilling how much you've really used
     
  4. Future ferrari collector

    Oct 12, 2006
    1,795
    I find not much diff driving in traffic or really going for it at speeds above 100mph in terms of milege. Full tank till warning light gives me approx 320km or about 200 miles.
     
  5. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    There is no way you should be getting only 70 miles on a half tank.
     
  6. Kaivball

    Kaivball Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2007
    35,997
    Kalifornia
    Are you sure you had a full tank?

    How many gallons did you get at the gas station?

    Nearly impossible to get less than 10 mpg.

    Kai
     
  7. Saint Bastage

    Saint Bastage F1 Rookie

    Jun 1, 2007
    2,548
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Lane
    #7 Saint Bastage, Sep 12, 2011
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2011
    I get over 300 miles out of a tank full in my 348 with mixed driving. I assume the 355 is similar. I even got 250 miles out of a tank that included a (limited) track day and the subsequent race home.
     
  8. mpodgor

    mpodgor Formula Junior

    Aug 15, 2005
    661
    San Mateo, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Michael J Podgorski
    10.9 (11.1 F1) MPG City, 18.7 MPG Highway (17.3 F1).
    It's a very thirsty car. Mfg specs are always higher than real world. 10 MPG would be normal city.
    Tank holds 21.7 Gallons. Half a tank at 17 mpg would give ya about 184 miles.
     
  9. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    The gauge is not very accurate. If I fill up it takes alot of driving to get to the half way mark on the gauge but once it hits the half way it goes to empty fast.
     
  10. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I get between 290-300 too, same driving habits as yours.
     
  11. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,742
    I get a real 21-22 MPG on interstate cruises.
    I get a real 5-6 MPG at the race track.
    I have driven 331 miles on a single tank of gas, and I have gotten as little as 99 miles.

    Its all in how you use the go pedal, and a bit on how you use the whoa pedal.

    {I don't drive in the city so I have no idea what the milage would be there.}
     
  12. F355steve

    F355steve Formula 3

    Apr 9, 2008
    2,089
    Honolulu - Seattle - Okinawa
    Full Name:
    Steve
    I get around 320-330 miles per tank when the low gas light comes on. I do mostly freeway driving though.

    I second everyone that the gauge needle is not linear. Track how many miles you get to a full tank for a few tanks then report back.
     
  13. Monteman

    Monteman Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 9, 2006
    2,348
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Full Name:
    Monte
    Worst I got was 7 MPG and best was 16 MPG. Guess my right foot may be a tad on the heavy side but it makes me smile ;-)
     
  14. tjacoby

    tjacoby F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,857
    Vancouver Canada
    Full Name:
    tj
    I find fuel economy in my 348 is directly related to what gear I spend most of the tank in. Enthusiastic 2/3 gear can get to single digit mpg. 5th gear highway cruising is usually around 24mpg (Canadian gallons).

    haven't done flat highway for a long time, can't remember.

    Sounds like you didn't get a full tank of fuel?
     
  15. huzilulu

    huzilulu Formula Junior

    Apr 20, 2011
    340
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Huzi Husain
    Interesting!
    I asked for a full tank (full service ;)) and saw the guy wait for the pump to basically stop when its full, plus the guage showed it at full so I am assuming it was a full tank - the actual fill was about 55 Liters, and the light had lit up maybe 5 miles before I filled her up...

    I will keep a track of mileage/fuel pumped/ and keep this thread posted as I go...

    IF there is an excess of fuel usage, should I be worried??

    ALso, I hooked up the scanner while driving to get an idea of MPG - acceleration (1,2,3rd gears) was around 5 MPG, cruising on the highway was around 14-15MPG (once into 4th, 5th) and peaked at about 17MPG in 6th... this is based on me driving, changing F1 gears, and trying to keep an eye on my laptop with the dashboard on real time info - anyone know how to record/log this so I can actually drive and study the data later?
     
  16. mpodgor

    mpodgor Formula Junior

    Aug 15, 2005
    661
    San Mateo, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Michael J Podgorski
    Now I'm curious. I'll monitor my usage. Taking a road trip to Danville, Ca. this weekend should give me some HWY MPG.
    Now I know why the "green" hybrid guy went bizerk on me in the Trader Joes parking lot when he saw the F car.
     
  17. White Knight

    White Knight Formula 3

    Aug 22, 2011
    1,531
    Ogden, UT
    Full Name:
    Todd S.
    Which is especially hilarious when one considers that those lovely batteries in green cars will do a heck of a lot more to the environment than a little bit of CO2 will...
     
  18. ricbowling

    ricbowling Karting

    Jan 21, 2008
    140
    Cascais
    Full Name:
    Ricardo Almeida
    I do 348km on a full tank mixed driving
     
  19. ml321

    ml321 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2008
    254
    London/Munich
    If only driving in city traffic I sometimes only got 100 miles out of a tank ( RHD car c 60L fuel tank)
     
  20. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,329
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    348 mileage is vastly better than the 355. You'd be amazed how much fuel you burn at 8500 rpm when you cool the cylinders with gas. :)
     
  21. Future ferrari collector

    Oct 12, 2006
    1,795
    #21 Future ferrari collector, Sep 14, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Just took this pic today. Light came on after 310km (192miles) from a full tank and just about all city driving. Thing is: even filling up with the light on allows only at very very best 60litres (15.8US Gall). Saw an earlier post that someone gets only 55litres so I assume all is normal?

    I know the reserve is 20litres but is it right that the fuel gauge reads about 1/8 or slightly below (which is too close to E for me) and the car can supposely go on for quite a bit? Don't quite want to try running the car dry and getting air into the system but has anyone pushed it before?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  22. Robin

    Robin F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,931
    Arlington, VA
    Same here.. any time I take a long road trip I measure my mpg and it's always right between 21-22. I live in a city so around town I get about 8-10 mpg though. The fuel light definitely comes on early, but 70 miles on half a tank seems a bit off.
     
  23. huzilulu

    huzilulu Formula Junior

    Apr 20, 2011
    340
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Huzi Husain
    OK... so finally did my first fill up since resetting the tripmeter... I will try and log my current MPG and total MPG in this thread...

    Started: 0miles, full tank
    1st Fill up: 150miles, 49L --> Car is US spec so the reading is in MILES and the gas stations fill upin L... hence the difference

    Current MPG: 11.5 (at 3.788 L per US Gallon)
    Total MPG: 11.5
     
  24. F355steve

    F355steve Formula 3

    Apr 9, 2008
    2,089
    Honolulu - Seattle - Okinawa
    Full Name:
    Steve
    What was your driving style for that tank?

    I have seen the original EPA mpg rating for the 355 listed in different places (window stickers, gov websites, msn autos) anywhere from 10/14 city/hwy to 13/17 depending on the year and trans. If you are doing all city driving 11.5 mpg isn't that strange
     
  25. huzilulu

    huzilulu Formula Junior

    Apr 20, 2011
    340
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Huzi Husain
    Id say I did about 100 miles highway and 50 city...

    Its a 98 355 F1 trans...
     

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