Thread: What to do first when looking for better economy?

Originally Posted by Richard93Vogue

Thanks for the banter!

My economy at present is hovering around 20l/100 and that included a drive from one end of Stockton beach to the other at the weekend.
My main concern was that I used to get the same economy in my carburettored 83 4door. I thought, perhaps a little naively, that the fuel injected 3.9 might be a bit better...

I might go through and check the compressions later in the week when I get some 'spare' time.

Thanks all.

You used to get the same as your '83? You're getting close to my '81, so maybe I should be asking what your '83 gets and what you did to it to get less than 22l/100kms?!!

Originally Posted by StuRR80

You used to get the same as your '83? You're getting close to my '81, so maybe I should be asking what your '83 gets and what you did to it to get less than 22l/100kms?!!

With my 83 I rekitted both carbies and made sure to put oil back in the dashpots of both. I found that I had been running with not enough oil in them and had erratic idle and associated problems, but with the right oil and new kits and a day spent tuning them without the proper rover gear I was able to get it to 20l/100. 4speed manual and 7.50/16 tyres

No one has mentioned tyres yet.
Pump your tyres up about 10% above recommended.
Makes a significant difference.
Brian

And run highway pattern tyres rather than mud type.

Originally Posted by Brian

No one has mentioned tyres yet.
Pump your tyres up about 10% above recommended.
Makes a significant difference.
Brian

Does this cause a hazard at high speed road use?

No reason why it should. Factory recommended pressures are usually on the low side anyway.

Originally Posted by CSK

Does this cause a hazard at high speed road use?

No risk if you are staying inside your highest recommended settings. Highway recommended pressures are usually higher than low speed pressures anyway, so the only downside is a bit firmer ride. Check your tyre placard.

The 7.50-16's that I was running were a truck tyre with a fairly straight pattern. I ran them at 60psi with tubes. They had so many plies in them that they just about stood up on their own. Never ever had a flat with them and they stood about 70mm taller than the standard tyres, this also helped with economy, just had to do some calculations for the speedo error.
I put these tyres on when I lived out in the bush and the car didn't see much of town or bitumen. I also wouldn't reccomend doing it, they used to track horribly on the bitumen but I didn't really notice on the dirt so I just put up with it.

Re: LPG, I talked to the local gas fitter here and he says that underbody tanks for a classic are not available anymore and he prefers not to fit them anyway....(do I care what he prefers???) Can anyone tell me if they are available new?