MPG for a Mondial

Hi Al:

I have an '83 QV coupe. I get 16-17 MPG in mixed driving. I actually do keep track of it as it is another figure of merit in making sure there is nothing catastrophic going on. I've heard of people getting low 20's in long highway cruises... never seen this myself.

Charles

 

17.5 is a lot better than I would of guessed. While we are on the subject of gasoline what octane do you guys run in your Mondials?

 

20-22 on the highway, 17 around town

 

Get about the same. For as little as i drive it, put in 93.

 

I have been averaging on the low side ~14 miles a gallon, mostly city and back road driving with lots of stops on the way to work.
But here are the 81 and 88 manual writeups on what you should expect:

Also OCTANE to use:
RON is always about 4 to 5 points higher than the equivalent PON (Pump Octane number = AKI):

USA (AKI/PON) --- Europe (RON)

87 = 91
89 = 93
91 = 95
93 = 98
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I use 87 or 89 octane, but I buy it from a station I've come to trust. No pre-ignition, and since ethyl alcohol is itself an octane booster, I figure there's maybe less of it in the standard grade. (Note that in the US, Shell V-power premium does contain alcohol, not the case in Canada AFAIK.)

I've found buying whatever is cheapest is not a way of getting good fuel. I stick with major brands. (Yeah, I know it all comes from the same pipe, with each brand's additive package being mixed in for truck delivery, but the bargain places seem to sell some pretty rough stuff.)

I put Marine Stabil in at the recommended rate, and overwinter with a full tank with the Stabil preservative... no problems.

 

Yeah, all the above figures are where I fall in. At at steady 60mph over a full tank in one day I got 22. I usually get 19 on the highway traveling at closer to 70 and brisk acceleration from rest stops. It got closer to 17 when I was running through the hills as I'm having a lot more fun. I do mostly highway so I've never had a reading below 15. I believe my 87 was listed at 11 city, 17 highway. I use the top octane rating available.

 

83 QV, same here. I get about 15 around town, and just around 20 on the hiway. 17.5 sounds right for mixed driving.

 

My 3.2 averages 19.1 mpg.

 

Jeka, I think you are doing good, I have yet to see mine get above 17! I think my Jeep does better, lol, then again, it does not sound as cool!

 

3.2 here.

Roadtripping I've got 21-22 mpg. That's sitting at 70-80 mph for a couple hundred miles.

City driving I'll get 14-15 mpg as long as I don't get too happy with the go pedal. I've seen it as low as 11-12 mpg...

 

1980 Mondial 8 here
Generally 15-19 mpg depending on how much foot is in the throttle.
I use 92-93 premium--not worth taking a chance on detonation.

 

1988 3.2, I average 19mpg on 91 octane. I used to average the same when I lived in Indiana on 93 octane. Pretty much highway driving, with only a little bit of city. I tend to run at about 70mph on the highway (I might creep a little higher when passing).

I am impressed with how good the mileage is on this car, almost what I get from my daily driver.

 

86 3.2. 16 average for the last couple thousand miles with 100 + each drive and moderately aggressive acceleration for all outings. Sounds about right given what's posted. Some drives are harder than others.

It's a very very short geared car.

 

Um, octane rating has little to no effect on economy. The energy density of the two fuels is nearly identical. The higher octane is only a detonation retardant additive.

Gearing(RPM) is only one element of a large equation. the manifold pressure, intake geometry, volumetric efficiency, drag cooef and a bunch of other things determine fuel economy.

 

LoL, Doc, I don't think anyone was thinking octane made a different on mileage. I think Rob was just asking what gas is best to use for his Mondial and we did a comparison with an 81Mondi = 87min, while a 3.2Mondi = 91min. But you are correct, higher octane = slower and cleaner burn for hi performance engines.

 

Reading through these posts I was wondering about the gearing in my Mondial. I have an 86 3.2 also, what rpm are you at cruising at 65 in 5th?

 

Mike you are right on the money. To be honest I don't think too much about gas mileage other than watching for sudden changes which could signify an engine issue.
I run the highest octane I can find usually 93 in my S2000 due to it having 11:1 compression. With the Mondial at 9.8:1 I wasn't sure if the highest octane was warranted.

 

I did not realize the Cabrios are 22 lbs lighter than the coupes.

Also, the manual of an 87 Mondial states the following guidelines for shifting:

///For every 1000 rpm/// assuming that optimal conservative rpm to shift is @3500, at 65 on the highway, I am at 5th gear, but in city at 65, I am on 4th gear with the stop and go traffic. Hope this helps!
1st gear 5.6mph x 3500 = 19.6 mph
2nd gear 8.1mph x 3500 = 28.35 mph
3rd gear 11.4mph x 3500 = 39.9 mph
4th gear 15.5mph x 3500 = 54.25 mph
5th gear 20.9mph x 3500 = 73.15 mph

BTW, from time to time, take her up to 5500 rpm, blow some of that carbon buildup away and enjoy the awesome sound of a classic Ferrari !
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Thanks guys good info. I'm surprised to hear that the cab weighs less.

 

'83 Euro QV: 18 US mpg mixed driving over ±30'000 mls