I am considering purchasing a Holden running a gen 3 Ls1 because. well I just love the V8 sound. I realise this will increase my fuel bill a fair bit. Though being a 5.7 litre engine and with fuel costs what they are (let alone maintenance) just wondering if anyone can share their own thoughts/experiences on the reality of running these.
It would mostly be doing the 50kmh crawl across town to and from work and the odd blow out in the weekend.
mugenb20b,
Oct 15, 6:32am
The best I've seen was 10.88 litres per 100km, so not bad as long as you take it easy.
redslapper,
Oct 15, 6:33am
good for highway use but i hope u have a deep wallet for using it around town, we have one, love it to bits but we do alot of travelling and not alot of town. Insurance companys require a immobaliser in them for them to insure
magicmat,
Oct 15, 6:43am
Ah really. I hear mixed feedback on consumption ranging from around the 10litre per 100km right up to 20litres per 100! Yes it would be mostly used around town too but insurance will be no problem (has immobiliser). What sort of dollar amount were you spending slapper when using around town! (just approx amount and guesstimate on kms would be great)
redslapper,
Oct 15, 6:52am
around the 16L per 100km's but can range to 18L if in heavy traffic in hamilton. They are a fantastic pretty much bullet proof car. One thing to check though is the oil breather hose, as these can break in several places, fairly common problem though and easy fix. I used to have a v6 commodore and now i wouldnt go back, just something about v8 despite the costs in town but dont believe people that tell u they are expensive traveling because my one is better than my old v6 which was the same year
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:01am
Thanks for that redslapper and that is what I was kind of expecting in fuel costs. I am aware that it is going to cost more than the 2litre Camry we are running now lol but if its too excessive will can the idea. Guess I may just have to take the risk and enjoy it.
brooki_darling,
Oct 15, 7:02am
just pushed the button on mine and it shows 14.8l its a manual ute and is predominately round town over the last 3-4 weeks
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:05am
See I could handle that kind of consumption quite nicely. Thanks for that - its the around town usage that is most relevant to me as thats what I would be doing most of the time.
brooki_darling,
Oct 15, 7:06am
i figure when you buy a v8 you're not too worried about fuel,lol but i find the ute not too bad on gas if you drive with a light foot
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:10am
Heh. oh yea I am not so concerned about a reasonable increase but I have heard your worst enemy can be your own foot with fuel economy!
And though I am at the age I am more nanna than anything else, it certainly will get a hiding every so often - just to remind me I am still alive lol
cowboy110,
Oct 15, 7:13am
Mines showing 12.1 at the moment and that has been all town running for the last month or so.2006 auto.On a trip I can get it down to about 9.5l/100k
jkm,
Oct 15, 7:15am
Bought an LS1 18 months ago and loving it. Highway driving is good at 10-10.5 litre/100km around town im guessing 14L /100km. Other running costs are the same, although I needed new park brake shoes and the little suckers were $240 for the set with out the labour. i use Caltex 10-60 at the oil change as i find thats the best to keep the engine quiet on start up.
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:22am
Cool - it sounds like they can actually be way more economical (well for 350ci) than you would think. Like I said I know that its going to cost me more - but I suspect it may be worth it.
$240 park brake shoes. ouch!
cowboy110,
Oct 15, 7:39am
Personally I think one of the biggest downfalls of the standard LS1 Commodore is the restrictive air intake.A small triangular vent between the headlight and the bonnet leading into a square box.Not really conducive to good air flow. I took mine out and replaced it with a Growler cold air induction (bought on TM second hand for about $300) and man what a difference."The beast can breathe".I'm picking that's one of the reasons I can get 12 around town and 9.5 on a trip.Oh yeah.it sounds damn fine too!
brooki_darling,
Oct 15, 7:43am
oh and i always run the higher octane fuel don't muck around with 91
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:43am
Yea cowboy I have been coming across many people recommending cold air intakes for the LS1. May well be worth the investment.
And regarding the sound! Hell yea that alone is worth the extra fuel cost!
magicmat,
Oct 15, 7:44am
Yes I have heard that it actually ends up being a false economy buying 91. I think I may sob gently to myself the first few times I fill it up lol
jkm,
Oct 15, 8:34am
Dont expect your first 2 tanks full of petrol to get you any where as you will just have to put your right foot down!
magicmat,
Oct 15, 8:47am
Ha ha yea jkm, I am in no denial that this will be the case!
wrong2,
Oct 15, 9:32am
gotta love the people with a 300 + HP v8 - but crawl everywhere like a nana because it costs so much to floor it
magicmat,
Oct 15, 9:58am
I dont think anyone buys a car like that with the intention of crawling everywhere all the time. The fact is that almost all city driving is @50kph and there is hardly any great thrill in that - so you may as well get the best fuel economy possible. When you want to have fun, I dont think anyone doesnt realise that you are going to chew through gas. On a forum I read a guy saying his LS1 was reading 90litres per 100km when he was doing 185 on the back straight! (rural property in Aussie)
wrong2,
Oct 15, 10:02am
you are probablly 100% correct
but im passing a lot of cars which are crawlingthese days that are clearly more powerfull/quicker than my tinny work hatch
& im probally getting to my destinations cheaper to boot. it makes me wonder "why do they bother"
kingfisher21,
Oct 15, 11:04am
I have a 2004 SS, has a OTR CAI, headers and big bore and a mafless tune 320kw on the dyno, averages 11km/l on a trip, and that not taking it real easy, and averages around the 17km/l mark around town. Pretty bullet proof and reliable, I use Catrol Edge 10W - 60. some earlier ones had a poor PCV setup which caused oil usage and also had piston to cylinder clearance issues.
"why do they bother" You could apply that logic right across the board. Why have a 50" tv when a 32" will suffice, why have a $1000 suit when a $250 one will do. Why have crayfish when lemon fish will do! Why pay $10 for a beer at the rugby when you can have a dozen for $16 at home! Its about the joy of ownership and pleasure in the moment.
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