Tank Ledger

Oldsmobile Delta 88 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Oldsmobile Delta 88 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 1984 to 1988. Across those years its best rated version returned 21 mpg (1984) and its thirstiest returned 16 mpg (1984). The EPA record holds 9 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.

21best combined mpg (1984)
16worst combined mpg (1984)
20latest year best (1988)
9configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1984821 mpg16 mpg#7 of 14 (54th pct)n/aRegular, DieselLarge Cars
1988120 mpg20 mpg#6 of 20 (74th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Oldsmobile Delta 88 placed highest in 1988 at #6 of 20, and lowest in 1984 at #7 of 14. It spent 2 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 9 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19883.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular(FFS)172620575.014.9$3,100444.35n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-OLDS)141916718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS)142116718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) CA model141916718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19845.0L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular(GM-OLDS) CA model142016718.818.6$3,900555.4375n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-BUICK)152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19843.8L 6-cyl Automatic 3-spd Regular(GM-BUICK) CA model152017676.517.5$3,650522.7647058823529n/a
19845.7L 8-cyl Automatic 3-spd Diesel(350 V8) (DIESEL), Diesel182521547.617.0$4,250484.76190476190476n/a
19845.7L 8-cyl Automatic 4-spd Diesel(350 V8) (DIESEL), Diesel182721547.617.0$4,250484.76190476190476n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1984 → 198821 → 20 mpg-1 mpg575 gal

What Delta 88 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1988 Oldsmobile Delta 88 burns 575 to 575 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,725$1,725$0
$3.50/gal$2,013$2,013$0
$4.00/gal$2,300$2,300$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 1988 model year is $3,100 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $4,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Large Cars

Across the 305 nameplates EPA classifies as Large Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 20 mpg the Oldsmobile Delta 88 is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $96 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Oldsmobile nameplates

Every Oldsmobile model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.