2.2 Gas-Mileage figures, and related BS

[John Gilbert]

I've been mileage-looping my '00 S-10 now for over ten years, and here's a portion of what I've learned.

First off the little buggers don't like hills. They'll get great gas mileage all day long if you don't make them go up a hill. My '94 Z-28 got better mileage going to SEMA from LA than my S-10 did the year before. Not only that, the Camaro got there an hour sooner. The Z-28 got 22, and the S-10 got 21.

Where the 4-bangers shine is in stop and go traffic. My last tank of gas I got 21MPG city with a little freeway thrown in. Most of the time I was running the A/C, with my foot on the floor.

In retrospect I wish I had bought a V6, but if the $6.00 a-gallon gas prices the LA news stations are predicting for the summer comes true, the 2.2 will be a little easier to tolerate.

I've never gotten over 28MPG, and I wonder how the heck anyone can milk higher mileage out of one? Are these real figures where gallons are divided into miles, or just wishful guessing?

Oh, and if you're thinking about buying something to take the sting off driving your fullsize daily, buy an S-10, those little Japanese cars are for girls.

[gchemist]

Put a bed cover on it! You need to reduce the drag!

[Zoomad75]

I'm getting 24-25 mpg with a 97 2wd running a v6/5-speed on the highway. That is with a few good hills to climb up and down on my daily commute. I do have a bed cover on it too.

[John Gilbert]

Among a lot of other things: Not over the rails, but I've wanted to put a flush fitting bed lid on it since new. I guess beside the cost I've held back because I haul motorcycles and stuff that sticks up way above the bed. I guess something light I could easily remove would be the ticket.

Yeah, I'm sure the 4.3 does better on the highway for mileage. 24-25 is pretty good, and I'm sure your V6 gets there faster. As soon as I do a few things exhaust, hot coils, new plugs and wires I'm going to run up north which will include up the Grapevine floored to see what I'm getting on the highway.

A turbo is also on the list, but maybe since they don't smog legally in CA. and the cost is more than a low-buck story maybe not... we'll see.

[68C15]

Originally Posted by John Gilbert

those little Japanese cars are for girls.

if getting 33 in town and 50MPG hwy is for girls then I guess I better buy a bra. LOL

FWIW my 99 Tahoe gets 21MPG hwy, 19 when pulling my boat.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I'm getting a pretty consistent 23mpg with my truck, 99 2.2L 5spd reg cab short bed, and that's basically around town only, never really get on the highway, 50mph and under lights stop signs etc... not too shabby, better than my Z71's 13-14mpg for the same driving. I did remove the stock fan and added an electric fan and a CAI kit, but that's it. It does get 28-29mpg highway, usually closer to 28. There was one time I got over 30mpg and it was a backroads road trip, about 350 miles round trip, only 55-60mph the whole way, and I got 30.5mpg. Other than that 28 is normal for highway trips (@70-75+mph ).

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I'm getting a pretty consistent 23mpg with my truck, 99 2.2L 5spd reg cab short bed, and that's basically around town only, never really get on the highway, 50mph and under lights stop signs etc... not too shabby, better than my Z71's 13-14mpg for the same driving. I did remove the stock fan and added an electric fan and a CAI kit, but that's it. It does get 28-29mpg highway, usually closer to 28. There was one time I got over 30mpg and it was a backroads road trip, about 350 miles round trip, only 55-60mph the whole way, and I got 30.5mpg. Other than that 28 is normal for highway trips (@70-75+mph ).

You know I've been thinking about changing over to an electric fan. I think I'll try it, it'd be a good story... thanks.

My stock fan crapped-out at 11,000 miles on the way to Texas Heatwave in '01. Right now it just spins when it wants to.

[brad_man_72]

hey john I think you meant front wheel drive cars are for girls. Those japs know how to make a fun sportscar.
when I drive my moms 2.2 5speed s10 I get about the same mielage as I do with my 5.3 67. Maybe beause I hate the s10...

[John Gilbert]

Hey Brad, that's funny I figured I'd rattle somebody's cage with that "girl car" remark. As a past editor of 3 different truck magazines my official stance is cars are good because girls have to drive something. The truth is I like just about anything.

If I really get bothered about the gas situation I'll start riding my Harley more at 40-60MPG.

My '05 GMC with a 5.3 L59 get's 15MPG pulling a tandem trailer at 60MPH with any kind of shortbed truck on the back, which I think is pretty damn good considering this is averaging in the climb up the Grapevine with my foot on the floor.

[Chevy350V8]

If your aiming for better MPG, try the following:

Replace wires, plugs, change oil, check for correct tire pressure, and MOST OF ALL REPLACE ALL o2 SENSOR'S! (o2 is the most common reason for bad MPG on 2.2's)

If there is nothing in your bed, put tail gate down if you dont wanna buy a cover.

Electric fan swap

Cold air intake

New muffler (It will sound ricccy as you know what, but if you really want more mpg....)

Hope this helps!

[68C15]

actually a cold air intake is a bad idea for MPG. cold air doesn't support complete combustion as well as warm or hot air.

I suggest OE (AC Delco) plugs, wires, coils etc.

"hot" coils will do nothing to improve upon a properly maintained powertrain in stock form. same with plugs and wires.

now, if you want to play around and experiment you could try a hydrogen generator.

[C-10 simplex]

How does this engine, if at all, differ from the one in J-body's?