How to get the best fuel economy from a Minor

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IaininTenbury
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Post by IaininTenbury »

benmagoo wrote:The best way to increase fuel economy is to paint your car black.

As we all know black absorbs the energy from the sun and gets hot, its a scientific fact that heat rises - the hot car gets lighter and saves fuel :D
Yeah I like that! :) Might pinch the 'hot' tip for the branch newsletter....

I once got a good 50mpg out of my first van. Hadn't had it long and was keeping weekly consumption records. The only old vehicle I'd driven before the Minor was a Morris JB van which cruised at 40-45mph, so I was quite happy doing the same in the Minor. And the journey from Manchester to Chester along the M56 is pretty flat across the Cheshire plains hence the remarkable fuel consumption. This was however in 1990 on a quiet Sunday, I'd be most uncomfortable doing that speed now on the M way.
As for the minor, when the engine started gettign a bit smoky I found a 1275 going cheap and fitted that so I discovered how well it really would go. Never got over 49mpg in it after though..... :-?
cheers
Iain
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rayofleamington
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Post by rayofleamington »

got 47 mpg out of my pick up on last years LEO - that was running very lean and has 3.7 diff.
I got about 43 after richening it up a bit to stop the missfire.

Only got about 40mpg this year but used a bit more right foot when I wasn't with the group.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.

Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block :(
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dunketh
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Post by dunketh »

Not this old chestnut.
:lol:
From personal experience my 1275 moggy would get mid 30s in MPG terms, no matter how I drove it. Thats thrashing or driving like grandma.

My 'modern' that replaced it (1300 escort with 'economy' HCS engine) does between 30 and 40mpg. So much for modern lean burn technology. :roll:
What would Macgyver do..?
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eastona
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Post by eastona »

Considering you had a 3.7 Diff ray, It didn't seem to harm the acceleration too much.

I'd love to get one once I get my 940 yead and new inlet manifold fitted.

A few more horses and more relaxed cruising wouldn't go amiss!

Andrew
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And Project "Traveller"...
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bmcecosse
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Post by bmcecosse »

I tried my Traveller this week on my regular run to/from Bo'ness steam railway. Tank was empty - put in £10 worth (close to 2 gallons) and drove it carefully both ways. Was 'lucky' to get it home! And its a 71 mile round trip - measured it several times with various cars. Same trip/same speeds etc with Clio - £10 worth of fuel and I arrived home with 37 more miles to 'needing petrol' on the computer than when I left. There's no contest really.
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superchargedfool
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Post by superchargedfool »

In answer to the thread question "don't fit a supercharger"

my supercharged mog manages 30 if I don't wind it up.

I usually do though and get less than 20mpg but who cares, its fun.

It has been mentioned already but its no good doing the maths with a inaccurate odometer. I would personally be surprised at anything over a true low 40's being possible.
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Cam
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Post by Cam »

When doing the JOGLE, LEO & Roses Run this year, Gracie (standard 1098) did just over 40MPG average and for the LEO she was loaded up quite a lot. The best I ever got out of her was a 55 MPH run up to the start on the Roses Run and she returned 45 MPG so it is very possible.

I have also checked the mileage with the SatNav and the MPG is approximately the same.
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Onne
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Post by Onne »

I've done mid 40s to the gallon several times, that is doing around 50-55 mph.

I am still running the 4,55 diff though, so more revs.

Best I ever got was 48 mpg, but then I blew a valve because it was running a bit weak :)
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

dunketh wrote: My 'modern' that replaced it (1300 escort with 'economy' HCS engine) does between 30 and 40mpg. So much for modern lean burn technology. :roll:
oooh, High Compression Swirl engine. In this case economy being cheap engine, not good MPG! Got the same lump in the fester
8)

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RogerRust
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Post by RogerRust »

There is a lot of discussion about on the MG forum about fitting EDIS - megajolt - to improve economy.
Someone was in the process of fitting something similar when we went to the rally at a castle last year. Was it ever finished? and if so did economy improve?
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alex_holden
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Post by alex_holden »

RogerRust wrote:Someone was in the process of fitting something similar when we went to the rally at a castle last year.
I think that was Matt.
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

Yes. It was Matt.

Not sure if its made any difference!

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