Morris Minor Owners Club

OK I have a normal 1098 2 door saloon, over 8 full tanks she only seems to be managing 29.8mpg, can I realistically improve this? Plugs are a nice biscuit beige, oil and filter changed recently,new air filter 2 tanks ago. Offers..... or am I being too ambitious. I mostly drive in a rural, hilly area and average 2 1/2 passengers per journey, mostly between 4 and 14 miles.

Keep the engine well tunes - tappet clearances, points gap, timing, etc. Mixture sounds OK. Make sure you don't have a roof rack or other disruptions to air-flow. Reduce the weight that you carry - unload the shopping, snow gear, etc. Check tyre pressures. Drive gently. Hills will adversely affect economy, but you should be able to get 33-35 from a 1098. Put your passengers on a diet

Are you basing your consumption on brim-to-brim fills? It's the only accurate way to ascertain how much fuel you're using. Many people rely on the gauge saying they've used half a tank, and assume that means they've used 3.25 gallons.

Also, if you're speedo/mileometer is inaccurate, then that will give an incorrect consumption figure.

If you're after getting the last drop of efficiency out of it, then make sure you don't carry too many unnecessary items/passengers, and make sure they tyre pressures are as high as you're happy with. 28psi would be acceptable, but a little more could help, however that could compromise handling/wear.

I'm basing the MPG on brim to brim fills, Im running 70 profile tyres pumped to 30psi, I could cut the legs off my passengers,but that seems a bit harsh! Tuning sounds good, but complicated, as the car runs well I'm a bit loathe to mess TOO much. Would I notice if my Tappets/points gap/timing were out ? I know that sounds daft, but if it would improve MPG then i would give it a go!

i would say with 3.5 people in the car a few relatively short journeys ( 4 miles ) up and down hills 30 mpg is good going.

just drive gently you only get good figures after a good long run 40 mpg is easilly achived ,but dont get srtessed about it enjoy the car .

oddbod wrote:OK I have a normal 1098 2 door saloon, over 8 full tanks she only seems to be managing 29.8mpg, can I realistically improve this? Plugs are a nice biscuit beige, oil and filter changed recently,new air filter 2 tanks ago. Offers..... or am I being too ambitious. I mostly drive in a rural, hilly area and average 2 1/2 passengers per journey, mostly between 4 and 14 miles.

Evening Oddbod.
Brand new a 1098 is quoted as having an average quoted mpg of 31.2 (Autocar May 8th 1964,) requoted in Guy Saddlestones Morris minor collectors guide.
I get about the same as you in mine.
You could always knock it in to neutral downhill

As others suggest - you are doing well considering your type of motoring - and the small diameter tyres! BUT - I suggest you check the accuracy of your mileometer - you may find the true consumption is actually rather worse........

Cheers for the advice, I am going to borrow a SatNav thingy so I can calibrate the speedo reasonably accurately and check the odometer on a 100 mile Motorway run in the next week or so. Anyone think a shiny air filter would help?

a clean standard one will help on end .

Assuming mechanically in order...
MPG is very much affected by driving style...for example every time you need to brake (before a bend or corner for example, or too close to the traffic in front) then you have wasted petrol. It's all about thoughtful use of the loud pedal.
In the old days people on the Mobil Economy Run achieved incredibly good figures & they weren't supposed to coast down hills
I don't know how they did it, but I get about 42mpg, & almost all my driving is done in town with traffic lights every few yards.
I don't admit to coasting down hills of course!

I don't know whether it is better to get into top as soon as possible or to go up through the gears very gently & slowly...anyone any comment?

I've got a standard filter element which I was accidentally sent when I ordered an oil filter (and was allowed to keep). It's yours for whatever the postage costs if you want it.

Tom

Getting the passengers to contribute will ease the pain, how much would the journey cost by taxi or train?

Well MarkyB if there were buses or trains going to where my journeys were I would get them, and as 2 of my sons are learning to drive in our Saloon the trips do serve a dual purpose!! I'm not whinging about the cost ( well I am a bit!) Its just to lessen the cost as much as possible, better for the environment too

Vastly cheaper than driving lessons too, it's a bargain I tell you!

I've been told that a gallon on your side of the Atlantic is larger than one on this side.
Is that true? Our gallon is 3.785 liters, and I'm getting about 33 mpg on this side of the pond. If you are using Imperial Gallons, my mpg would be 40. Seems too good to be true.
David

Yes, the original and true gallon (known as Imperial) is 8 pints or approximately 4.54 litres. I don't understand why some foreigners want to have a smaller unit when everything else on that side of the pond seems to be so much bigger...

Chris Edgar wrote:Assuming mechanically in order...
MPG is very much affected by driving style...for example every time you need to brake (before a bend or corner for example, or too close to the traffic in front) then you have wasted petrol. It's all about thoughtful use of the loud pedal.
In the old days people on the Mobil Economy Run achieved incredibly good figures & they weren't supposed to coast down hills
I don't know how they did it, but I get about 42mpg, & almost all my driving is done in town with traffic lights every few yards.
I don't admit to coasting down hills of course!

I don't know whether it is better to get into top as soon as possible or to go up through the gears very gently & slowly...anyone any comment?

Good tips! You should never accelerate uphill for best economy and yes, coast downhill! Gentle pressure on the throttle is the key and don't over rev the engine.

AND, make sure the engine is tip- top, take the head off, de-coke and grind the valves in for best efficiency.

I get on average 38-39mph and on a long run 44-45mpg.

few modern cars can better that!

John, I wouldn't advise coasting downhill as the car can run away quite easily, especially when the drums begin to fade...
It is best to have the car in gear and use 'engine braking'.

It is a good point about cleaning up the valves and should give a bit more acceleration too.

I switch OFF going down hill. And my drums don't fade - I wonder why?