fuel enconomy - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

JackG · 10-04-2005, 11:08 AM

If I understand your question correctly, I believe my Boxster does the same thing.

I can fill up on level ground, and I let the gas pump stop when it detects the tank is full. I know it is full, because if I try to pump any more gas, the tank overflows (done that twice, but no more!).

The gas gauge not only doesn't show completely full (it's just barely below the full mark), it also drops very rapidly. Within 90-100 miles, the gauge is down to just barely above 1/2 tank.

The last half of the tank goes much slower. It will last over 200 miles.

Bottom line is that the gas gauge is not accurate or linear. It could be the sender unit in the tank, or the gauge itself, but since I know how it acts, and I always reset my trip odometer when I refill, it's no big deal.

Jack

cfos · 10-04-2005, 11:15 AM

Hi Jack (and anyone else who has this issue) -- quick question(s) is your box also a 97? Or is this an issue that other people have with all 986s and 987s?

JackG · 10-04-2005, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfos

Hi Jack (and anyone else who has this issue) -- quick question(s) is your box also a 97? Or is this an issue that other people have with all 986s and 987s?

Mine is a 2000 S model.

Jack

TriGem2k · 10-04-2005, 01:06 PM

Sounds like everyone is getting decent gas mileage... Im lucky if i get 215miles per tank. Any thoughts. Never really thought anything was wrong. Is 215 miles per tank too low? I have a 2001 Boxster.

MNBoxster · 10-04-2005, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriGem2k

Sounds like everyone is getting decent gas mileage... Im lucky if i get 215miles per tank. Any thoughts. Never really thought anything was wrong. Is 215 miles per tank too low? I have a 2001 Boxster.

Hi,

Gas mileage is dependent on a number of factors. Your Driving Style, type of Traffic encountered (what mix of Free-Flowing vs Stop & Go), frequency of long periods of idling, terrain encountered, proper Tire inflation, frequency of use of AC, condition of Air Filter, condition of Motor Oil, condition of Brakes, quality and type of fuel, even if you drive Top Up or Top Down or using lots of accessories at once.

If you feel that your mileage isn't adequate, look into each of these things to see if any improvement lies there. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

10-04-2005, 01:41 PM

Don't worry about miles per gallon....it's all about smiles per gallon that matters!

Look at what people are willing to spend at Starbucks everyday, or bottled water. Don't worry about gas mileage and fuel costs. IMHO.

berj · 10-04-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Don't worry about miles per gallon....it's all about smiles per gallon that matters!

Look at what people are willing to spend at Starbucks everyday, or bottled water. Don't worry about gas mileage and fuel costs. IMHO.

I respectfully disagree.. somewhat. My main concern isn't necessarily cost spent on gas (though that's important too) but rather gas consumed and its effect on the environment. Certainly I'm aware of the fact that I'm driving a performance car with the attendant consumption but it's always possible to find a balance. If you can change your driving habits somewhat (without losing the enjoyment of your vehicle) why wouldn't you? You save money at the very least.

If I were getting only 350km per tank on the highway I would definitely go get my car checked out -- from my point of view that's 32 extra litres I'm consuming (my car get's 800 per 64 litre fill). Over the course of a year of steady driving that's at least $800 wasted.

Even with combined city and highway driving I'd expect to get something like 500km on a tank.

I'm not sure about older cars, though.. and everyone's driving style is different.

tqtran · 10-04-2005, 11:16 AM

same here, I just reset my trip counter and when it gets to 300 miles I go for a refill.

berj · 10-04-2005, 11:38 AM

I've got a 2005 987 and on the highway cruising at about 115km/h I can get somewhere in the range of 750-800km on a full tank. I've never actually let it go down to empty but I made almost 600km (Toronto to Montreal) on 3/4 tank. This is about 30mpg or 7.8 l/100km. The gauge seems to be fairly linear (ie about 100km travelled for each 1/8 tank, 400km for 1/2 tank, etc).

All this was with Esso 91 octane gas. I've started using Sunoco 94 octane but things don't seem to have changed too much as far as fuel economy is concerned.

In the city is another story, however. I'm getting somewhere in the range of 15-20mpg, sometimes less.