Any way to find EPA ratings for older model vehicles?
 

I finally got a full tank on the Buick, but now I'm wondering... How do I lookup the EPA ratings of older vehicles? I know when it was still stock I used to get about 14 MPG, but I wonder what the actual EPA ratings were.

-Jay

I am wondering the same thing- that website only goes back to 1985

I already checked... Can't get data for 1981 model year vehicles there...

For now I have decided to put in the mileage I got before I modified the vehicle as the EPA ratings. I would like to update the Buick's page with actual EPA figures if I can find them though...

-Jay

The best way I know is to find a car which is as close as possible to your car. My Cad is an '83, but it is pretty much the same car as an '85, so I use the '85 figures. Otherwise, maybe there is a Buick site out there on the WWW wherein there is a Buick guru which might be able to answer your question. Also try Yahoo newsgroups.

Good luck...

Well you could have bought a car that looked just like my car up to 1987, however, my car has a bastardized powertrain. 1981 was the first year of computer control. My Buick came stock with a 231 V-6 with a computer controlled 2bbl carb and a 3 speed TH350 automatic. The cars I can lookup on the EPA site (The 85's - 87's) are all fuel injected and came stock with 4 speed electronic overdrive transmissions. I do have the newer model transmission in my car, but not fuel injection. Also I would like the real EPA numbers as I'm considering the transmission upgrade a FE mod

Head to your local library (or maybe a nearby city library if your local library isn't big enough for this) and find archival copies of some car magazine's annual review edition. Something like Road & Track or Car & Driver.

PM me after 4:30 eastern time today. I have an encyclopedia of American car specifications from something like the 1950s through 1996. It may have MPG numbers.

Do any other GM cars 85 or newer and the same size car have the same specs as yours? If so the EPA estimates should be similar.