tnttim Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I got thinking about a good topic of discussion and this obviously is a big issue right now. Give any suggestions or ideas you have to help other 7 owners squeeze every mile out of that gallon of gas. Or lets see how some of the popular models stand up to each other. (And no Autocross miles do not count.) Here is an example.... I plan on finishing my build off with a Mitsubishi 4g63 turbo motor. The car currently being driven to and from work has a few issues with it. It has either a manifold leak or something, but the idle air bypass is screwed in all the way and the butterfly is closed as far as I could. It is Idling at around 1500 RPM, 600 RPM being normal. BUT since it started dong this the fuel mileage went up to almost 33 miles to a gallon. I figure for a 91' motor thats not bad and no plans on fixing it. That car weighs in at around 3200 Lbs and I generally drive it about 70 MPH to work and back. When I put that engine in to the locost chassis, I hope the milelage will go higher due to the loss of all that extra weight. Then I have to take into account the lack of aerodynamics our cars have and I may just break even. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Great topic!! We plan on doing a MPG calculation this weekend to-from carlisle. We plan on averaging about 75 mph which is about 3700 rpm on the clock. We have a plain jane 1600 with webers we guess maybe getting 100 ponies. right now we suspect we are geting about 25 mpg highway...not too great. usage means ALLOT...on our old vintage racing sprite, we had a 1275 putting out about 110 ponies. at the track she would gobble up the cam 2 at about 10-13 mpg...but 26 cruising mpg on the highway..huge diffrence. i have heard the z-tech engines in a se7en with single injection getting 28 +mpg? maybe better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 250 hp Duratec - 35 mpg (that's U.K. gallons - 1 of those is approximately equal to 1.2009 U.S. gallons) http://www.blatchat.com/T.asp?id=136481 edit -- added foreign unit of measurement clarification and HANFD symbol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twestrup Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 250 hp Duratec - 35 mpg http://www.blatchat.com/T.asp?id=136481 I am sure the measurements were not perfectly accurate, but 4.4 liters equates to 0.9678 UK gallons thus he was probably getting around 36.2 miles per UK Gallon, which converts to approximately 30.1 miles per US Gallon. Still not too shabby with the level of horse power. The best way to get good mileage is not use the brake (and the associated light on the loud pedal...which isn't too common in a Seven!) :_deadhorse: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 The only time I measured mine (back when I had an odometer), I got 26.5 MPG. The trip was a mix of spirited driving through the mountains, and 80MPH cruising on the highway. Same drivetrain combo in my vette gets 31 MPG on the highway, and about 19 MPG mixed driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 ~24-28 mpg mixed. autoX full throttle/grid idle, city, highway cruise 4000rpm. with Mazda's disclaimer of when the odo/speedometer was functioning. zx2 zetec, non carbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locost7018 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 About 33 mpg at back road speeds. I only have a 1300cc xflow with a 1v carb, Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Premium gas up here has been well over US$ 5.25 per US gallon for a while now... I do not want to know what mpg I get, I even make a point of not completely filling the tank each time so that calculations are impossible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1Steve Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Hi, My wife asked the same question about MPG on the way to the Jersey shore a few years ago. My reply was " Good I guess". She did the math, and I filled it back up and she said, " WOW, 31 mpg on the highway, thats great".My normal drives are back roads,and I like to push the loud pedal, so less MPG and more fun. Steve :7fume: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 I don't know the exact calculations, but I was getting 90 miles per fill up. Standard Caterham tank with 48DCOE Webers. The fuel injection is much better. I can go nearly 170 miles now. Personally, I find treating a Seven as an economy vehicle rather impossible. How can one resist the urge to firmly plant the welly at every possible opportunity? :thumbs: This post to be read by enthusiasts only. The author can not be held responsible for adverse reactions from spouses and/or parties with controlling influence of the aforementioned enthusiast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirkinBernie Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 My Birkin with a bone stock '98 Zetec, including the factory fuel injection, averaged 33 mpg on the 2005 USA Tour...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 My gas milage in my home built 7 (when the MGB engine is running and not overheating) is limited to seat time which is about 3 hours of constant driving or about 150 miles due to my age.... no just kidding my car averages 28 mpg ( I have a lead foot ) and I have a 6.5 gal. gas tank..... In all truth though I find that after about 1.5 hours of driving I just need a break and that makes for a good time to look for a gas station to fill the car and get something to drink ( H2O, Soda, Cola, Ice Tea, etc... ) and then more driving and more fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locostv8 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I just got an economy car, couldn't wait for the 7 to be done and the new car has weather equipment. Solstice GXP 2.0 Ecotec turbo 260 hp auto trip from VA to FL included some mtn and town driving then about 75 with CC = 30.1 mpg that compared to the traded Jeep GC about 22 same trip. http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery2/d/10899-3/Solstice08GXP.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 My Ultralite gets about 20 to 22 mpg during "spirited"driving on the twisties. I have not checked it on an interstate, way too boring to actually find out the answer. On the track, under full throttle, it drops to around 6-10 mpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sporqster Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Toyota 4AG-E w/ 5speed, 28mpg cruising at ~60. At Roebling Road, it gets...8. Yes just 8. Typically around town I'm getting around 22mpg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 22 mpg road. 11 mpg track. Furthest on a tank of gas- 140 miles until I increased tire pressure from 18 lbs to 24 lbs. Now I can go 165 miles per tank, at 70-80 mph on the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparecr Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Lotus Twin Cam Dual Weber 45s 27-28mpg I never drive in an economy mode. Actually cheaper to drive than my truck 15mpg, even though the Cat runs 93 or 98 octane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solder_guy Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 I'm getting excellent mileage .. my car is still up on all fours! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevet Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Only time I ever measured it was coming back from 7/7/7 - averaging around 80mph on I81 I got 32mpg from my xz2 Zetec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athens7 Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 20-22 mpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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