How to get the best fuel economy from a Minor

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am

or indeed any car!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/puffbox/hype ... 658509.stm

I've read folks on here who don't believe the Minor can do high 30's mpg average and up to 45mpg on a long run- watch the video clip!

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:46 am

dont drive it

Post by **morrisman1** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:01 pm

it depends on how you drive it

i drive my morry like i drive any other car, cruise at the speed limit, accelerate at the same rate and because the car isnt designed for this pace it tends to suck the fuel. i get around 29mpg out of mine. it used to be as low as 22 mpg!!

on a long trip with a full load cruising at about 55 MPH i got about 35mpg. i guess driving at 1960 speed 45 miles per gallon is completely possible.

Post by **Judge** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:08 pm

aupickup wrote:dont drive it

It seems that a lot of people are already following this advice

Post by **aupickup** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:59 pm

see moggies are very cheap to run if u dont use them

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:00 pm

Very good video, thanks for posting the link, chickenjohn. Will see if I can get Griff to watch it

I think Alex said he got over 40mpg on the LEO run.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:02 pm

With great care, driving just below the open road speed limits and 'drifting' down hills I can just squeeze 46 mpg out of my daughters 07 Clio - according to the fuel computer anyway. This is an aerodynamically shaped car with a modern fuel efficient engine -yet that's the best it can do. So I really doubt a Minor will be as good as that unless driven at very low speed.

Post by **Judge** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:19 pm

I got over 40 out of my 1275 on the LEO

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:39 pm

Sure the mileometer is reading spot-on ? It may be showing rather more miles than you are actually doing. But I agree - with care 40 should be possible on long runs. In fact pretty sure if I don't hammer my 1098 Traveller it will do 40 - but where's the fun in that!!?

Post by **dinger** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:50 pm

Did a round trip M25 > M3 > A3, Middlesex to Hampshire and back averaged 47mpg. Round town 35mpg. Rebuilt 1098 engine, easy on the loud pedal and anticipate traffic in front, motorway speed 60mph with the HGV's in front giving some 'pull' effect.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:34 pm

On the run to the Isle of wight trip in 2006 I got 44mpg out of the traveller, averaging 50-55mph without trying especially hard for ecomony, so I'm sure more is available.

As well as driving style, making sure your ignition is tip top as well as carb settings, and as Rob Thomasson has correctly pointed out, overhauling the cylinder head restores lost MPG. in early 2006, I lapped the exhaust valves in- this restores lost compression from eroded valve seats. I think its a good idea in these days of no lead in fuel to remove the head on a minor every 4-5 years and check everything, lap the valves back in or replace if worn etc.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:49 pm

Indeed - high compression IS the route to fuel efficiency - that's why a diesel engine is more economical - it runs at 20/24 :1 comp ratio with wide open throttle all the time !

Post by **RogerRust** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:59 pm

Thats how I got 61mpg out of my volvo on the trip to Gretna for Gill and Cam's wedding.

Post by **eastona** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:05 pm

Didn't most of us get 43 or 44 ish on LEO overall. Cam, Alex, Neil and myself posted mostly around that mark IIRC. I don't think we drove especially gently?

I got 50mpg out of one tank on my usual commute, but that was reeeallllllyyy slllloooowwwwww. I also leaned it off a bit, hotter thermostat, checked tyre pressures etc.

That's really good out of a 1275 Bill, presumably the 5 speed helps?

I get high 30s even when I drive it like I stole it.

Andrew

Post by **d_harris** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:31 pm

bmcecosse wrote:With great care, driving just below the open road speed limits and 'drifting' down hills I can just squeeze 46 mpg out of my daughters 07 Clio - according to the fuel computer anyway. This is an aerodynamically shaped car with a modern fuel efficient engine -yet that's the best it can do. So I really doubt a Minor will be as good as that unless driven at very low speed.

And prob weighs twice as much as the minor! And no doubt has plenty of electronics sapping mpg too!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:19 pm

Yes indeed - the modern car is quite a bit heavier - it has to be to pass the crash tests! And all the comforts we now expect, although it is the 'poverty' model - so no air-con etc, but it does have a wireless set - and, it is possible to actually hear the thing, which is not the case in my Traveller - hence it now has no wireless.

Post by **benmagoo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:32 pm

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

Thats how I got 50 mpg on a run down the A1 to Brands earlier this year?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:58 pm

Hmmm - not entirely convinced. Would need to see back-to back tests against say an identical white car.
Maybe it was down hill and there was a tail wind on that run " down" to Brands - and the return journey was 20 mpg ??

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:02 pm

On the subject of Moderns fuel economy. I recently got ~50mpg from the fiesta (1.3 N neg and its so rough it sounds like an old diesel) so I should think 40s should be easily possible from a minor

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:51 pm

It's a pity nobody has entered a Minor in the current MPG 'race' that's going on at the moment.