Thought my SS got bad gas milage

LEADfoot927 · 01-27-2012, 09:05 PM

Over the weekend I bought my wife a 2003 Cadillac CTS. It has 220 hp, 3.2 liter v6, and a curb weight of 3550lbs. Immediately we noticied that it sucks through gas. When I looked up the EPA fuel consumption I was suprised: 16 city and 24 highway. My SS is rated at 16 city and 25 highway.

Can someone explain to me why a car with half the power and displacement, and 350 lbs lighter than my 2011 Camaro ss achieves these horrible numbers? Does the LS3 have more fuel fuel saving technology? Can it be the gearing? Im very confused.

jtzako · 01-27-2012, 09:07 PM

Gearing definitely could do that. Or the 220hp engine has to work harder to move that CTS more so than the 400+ hp engine of the Camaro.

zogster · 01-27-2012, 09:08 PM

The '03 CTS has the old Opel 3.2L engine. Doesn't have the modern technology like the '04 and up with the 3.6L. Still you would think the mileage would at least be pretty decent, that's really bad.

SUX2BU · 01-27-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEADfoot927

Over the weekend I bought my wife a 2003 Cadillac CTS. It has 220 hp, 3.2 liter v6, and a curb weight of 3550lbs. Immediately we noticied that it sucks through gas. When I looked up the EPA fuel consumption I was suprised: 16 city and 24 highway. My SS is rated at 16 city and 25 highway.

Can someone explain to me why a car with half the power and displacement, and 350 lbs lighter than my 2011 Camaro ss achieves these horrible numbers? Does the LS3 have more fuel fuel saving technology? Can it be the gearing? Im very confused.

You kind of just answered your own question.

CLEAN · 01-28-2012, 12:19 AM

Engine w/ half the power has to work twice as hard for the same performance. Plus you've got an extra gear.

ihaveacamaro · 01-28-2012, 12:21 AM

It's a 2003 so the tech and efficiency in the engine won't be as good as today's engines.

dolt45 · 01-28-2012, 03:03 AM

I'd start with a tune up.
If that didn't do the trick, screw it... turbo that sucker.

BigDan · 01-28-2012, 03:19 AM

Its going on 10 years old.

MMC · 01-28-2012, 07:31 AM

Blame Ethanol for some of that, both of my trucks lost about 2 mpg since they started adding 10% to gas. The EPA uses 100% gas when they determine mileage ratings. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml

RichGreene · 01-28-2012, 03:33 PM

You would've been smarter getting the full size DeVille.The Northstar gets great gas mileage.

01-27-2012, 09:05 PM	#1
LEADfoot927 Drives: 2012 GT500 SVTPP Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Lewis, WA Posts: 448	Thought my SS got bad gas milage Over the weekend I bought my wife a 2003 Cadillac CTS. It has 220 hp, 3.2 liter v6, and a curb weight of 3550lbs. Immediately we noticied that it sucks through gas. When I looked up the EPA fuel consumption I was suprised: 16 city and 24 highway. My SS is rated at 16 city and 25 highway. Can someone explain to me why a car with half the power and displacement, and 350 lbs lighter than my 2011 Camaro ss achieves these horrible numbers? Does the LS3 have more fuel fuel saving technology? Can it be the gearing? Im very confused. __________________ Past rides: 2002 BMW M3 2010 Camaro V6 2010 Camaro SS L99 2011 Camaro SS Ls3 2011 Dodge Charger R/T 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee/ Reso Delete Current ride: 2012 GT500/ 2.3 TVS, Afco Dual pass heat exchanger, Roush Extreme Exhaust: 606 rwhp/ 611 wtq

01-27-2012, 09:07 PM	#2
jtzako Drives: 2010 IBM Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 1,157	Gearing definitely could do that. Or the 220hp engine has to work harder to move that CTS more so than the 400+ hp engine of the Camaro. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS Imperial Blue \| CAI Inc, CAI \| Solo Hi Flow Cats \| X-Pipe \| Backup Camera \| PDIM

01-28-2012, 12:19 AM	#5
CLEAN Drives: '19 Stingray '22 MB GLC 300 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 447	Engine w/ half the power has to work twice as hard for the same performance. Plus you've got an extra gear. __________________ "Ever since we got the Camaro, everything seems better" -My 6 year old daughter

01-28-2012, 03:03 AM	#7
dolt45 Glorious Ignoramus Drives: SS 45th Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 653	I'd start with a tune up. If that didn't do the trick, screw it... turbo that sucker. __________________ * Sent via Scooby-Doo decoder ring Disclaimer: I really have no idea WTF I'm talking about.

01-28-2012, 07:31 AM	#9
MMC Drives: CGM 2SS/RS, 1987 & 2014 Silverado Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 1,012	Blame Ethanol for some of that, both of my trucks lost about 2 mpg since they started adding 10% to gas. The EPA uses 100% gas when they determine mileage ratings. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml __________________

01-27-2012, 09:08 PM	#3
zogster Drives: 2014 RRM ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: IL Posts: 661	The '03 CTS has the old Opel 3.2L engine. Doesn't have the modern technology like the '04 and up with the 3.6L. Still you would think the mileage would at least be pretty decent, that's really bad.

01-28-2012, 12:21 AM	#6
ihaveacamaro I like teeth. Drives: #198 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 4,817	It's a 2003 so the tech and efficiency in the engine won't be as good as today's engines.

01-28-2012, 03:19 AM	#8
BigDan Drives: bug Join Date: May 2009 Location: nv Posts: 1,319	Its going on 10 years old.

01-28-2012, 03:33 PM	#10
RichGreene Account Suspended Drives: 2011 1SS M6 Green 1993 Custom Eldo Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 973	You would've been smarter getting the full size DeVille.The Northstar gets great gas mileage.

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