triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

RE: TR3A Gas Mileage

To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: TR3A Gas Mileage
From: "Randall" <tr3driver@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:48:51 -0800
> The carbs are rebuilt & tuned correctly

Really ?  How did you match them to your cam ?  The 'book' adjustment only
sets the mixture at one point, then assumes that your engine is stock at all
other points (thereby matching the original mixture curve).  Doesn't take
much change to upset that.

> Anyone who has driven my car says that it is one of the
> nicest driving TR's that they have been in.

Gee, I don't remember saying that <G>

> My gas mileage is consistently around 22 mpg.

I got about 20 commuting to work every day, before it was wrecked.  Didn't
really keep records though, I wouldn't care if it was only 15 ... it's worth
it !

One thing to keep in mind, the stuff they sell in CA as 'gasoline' is
deliberately watered down so it doesn't have as many BTU/gallon as normal
gasoline.

And I agree with Irv, no way those drivers got 30 mpg while racing.  Maybe
they won races in cars that would get 30 mpg on the street ... but keep in
mind those would have been Imperial gallons, some 25% larger than US
gallons.  That's why a 'pint' beer mug holds 20 ounces.

Chart in the TR2 workshop manual gives fuel consumption as 0.5 pts/bhp/hr at
full load & 4500 rpm.  That's 88 bhp, so total consumption is about 5.5
Imperial gallons/hour at what would be about 110 mph (with OD) or 20 mpg
Imperial, 16 mpg US.  And that's for a TR2 with 83mm liners, H4 carbs and a
stock camshaft, running on real gasoline.  Running richer needles (as I'm
sure Irv does) can really kill fuel mileage, but most racers don't care.
And I'll bet that wasn't the only modification on the cars at LeMans.

Randall




<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>