MPG Contest, Who wants to play?? Options

[r_towle]

I started this on another site...not alot of joiners.
The idea is to test, tune, and tweek your car, and your driving style, to get the most MPG in a 914.
This is a redo of a contest that the NY region did with 356's back in the day.
These guys got 70mpg with one guy getting 100mpg.
Alot of it is tuning, more if it is driving style.

Here are the ground rules.
We have several classes.
1.7, 1.8, 2.0, 2.0/6, and modified (all the rest of you), and vendors (special class)
This is for 914's

Using the honor system the goal is to win the mpg goal in your class.

I am in 1.7 and aiming for 40mpg this first round out..
The contest will run from Memorial Day till Labor Day...this gives us all time to change things and tune things.

This is meant to be fun with the 914magazine offering t-shirts as the prize...so its not meant to be for cheating.

So, if you want to join, list the following.
year, motor, tire size
Use GPS or highway mileage markers to verify your odometer so we are all being fair.

Rich

[Wanna9146]

2 gallons has lasted me almost 1 yr.




Of course, the car is on jackstands, but that still ain't bad.


There may not have been a lot of "joiners" on your other forum, but there are a lot of smart-azzes here! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

The electric guys are going to smoke us.

Well, okay "smoke us" is not the right term, given.

But you get the idea.

Zach

[jcd914]

Is there a required minimum distance covered?

If I put air in my tires and freed up the brake (a little rusty) and push it down the street (it does not run) I would be getting infinite MPG, right. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Maybe I could calculate (with my daughters help) the evaporative fuel loss over the distance traveled (100 yrds) and come up with a figure.

Jim

[SirAndy]

So, if you want to join, list the following.
year, motor, tire size

Year: 1970
Motor: 3.6L /6
Tires: 225/50 x 15
MPG: ~24


speedo is from a 944 and is veryfied to be accurate.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Andy

[r_towle]

damn, 24mpg for that beast is pretty interesting.

What do you think you can get it up to???
I know you just got it running again, so you sure need time to tune and play.

BTW (OT) I found an article in Up Fixen der Porsche regarding foam in the oil filler. The cure was to add air (open a port) in the head/valve cover.
Apparently the issue is that there is no fresh air getting into the system so the oil foams up due to moisture. The moisture is cured by allowing air into the system....so, you have have these ports, and they may be blocked or closed...take a look.

Rich

[Root_Werks]

Keeeerap, my 914 would loose right now (carbs suck and suck even when in good shape). I have a 74' stupid beetle that gets upper 30's average. It has 914 2.0 fuchs, can I enter that?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[racunniff]

The electric guys are going to smoke us.

Well, okay "smoke us" is not the right term, given.

But you get the idea.

Zach

This got me to thinking. To put it on a level playing field, I propose we would allow electrics, under the following conditions:

* The electrics would have to drive the same kind of course as the gas (still TBD)
* They would start fully charged
* They would be allowed to use the gas or diesel generator of their choice to fully recharge.

The amount of fuel used for the recharge would then be used for the MPG calculation.

I *think* I'd still come out ahead, but it would be interesting to find out... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[SirAndy]

BTW (OT) I found an article in Up Fixen der Porsche regarding foam in the oil filler. The cure was to add air (open a port) in the head/valve cover.
Apparently the issue is that there is no fresh air getting into the system so the oil foams up due to moisture. The moisture is cured by allowing air into the system....so, you have have these ports, and they may be blocked or closed...take a look.

hmmm ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

i do have the vent on the oil filler neck go into a puke bottle that has vent holes in it. so there *is* venting on the neck. but it might not be enough ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Andy

[r_towle]

* The electrics would have to drive the same kind of course as the gas (still TBD)

There will not be a course. This is a worldwide contest.
It wont have a specific course, but the duration is memorial day to labor day.

Rich

[racunniff]

* The electrics would have to drive the same kind of course as the gas (still TBD)

There will not be a course. This is a worldwide contest.
It wont have a specific course, but the duration is memorial day to labor day.

Rich

Well, that makes it harder. I guess I could recharge from a generator during that duration and record miles driven and gallons used...

[r_towle]

Record miles driven, term and type of charge...you should be able to figure out total energy input/output over the summer.

Then you get to figure out how much fossil fuel you used....that will be tough...unless you use solar panels.

Rich

[SGB]

I'm in.

2.0 liter group

I think all these will effect results:
Kumho 205/50-15 @ 35 psi (Good for MPG?)
Street Hydro Webcam (bad for MPG)
40 IDE Twin Webers (bad)
Mallory Unilite (good)
SSI (good?)
Triad dual outlet (bad?)

The best and easiest way I've found to get MPG is to add 10 gallons when the light comes on. Set odo to 0.
Go intil the light comes on. Add 10 gallons. Note miles. Divide by 10, OK MPG.
Repeat several times then average all your MPG conclusions. It should be statistically sound ( I think 90 or 95%) after 9 or 10 fillups.

But for my car I will need to GPS actual miles and correct my ODO. I'm thinking I would need an indicated 33 mpg to equal actually 30. I think I can get that (to start). We will see.

[r_towle]

fill it to the top, drive it for a while..fill it to the top again.
the light is pretty random..I can make mine go on and off going around corners..so its good for 2-3 gallons difference IMHO.

If you are not racing it, you can get smaller vents and jets for the 40mm carbs to get them perfect...the cam should help.
The exhaust should help.
Rich

[Chris Pincetich]

1972 1.7, tires TBD

This is awesome! I just started a new job which has me out of the Lab and Into the Wild, with a 70 mile round trip on the twisties of West Marin. My Suby gets about 28 mpg and the 914 is on jack stands...should be done and cruzin/racin in 1-2 weeks (Memorial Day or BUST). I plan to move to Marin when my lease in Emeryville expires Sept 1 = Labor Day. Now I can spend all summer driving the 914 to work. I plan to have corner balance, alignment, and possibly new commuting tires in the next month. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[r_towle]

lookup "low roll resistant tires"
The tires for the Insight and Prius are these types.
They are good for a few mpg's

Rich

[r_towle]

So far here is the list.
Class 1 (1.7)
Towle, 72 1.7 205/50 (speedo calipbrated, using GPS also)
ChrisNPDrider 72 1.7 (TBD)

Class 2 (1.8) none
Class 3 (2.0) none
Class 4 (2.0/6) none
Class 5 (modified)

SGB 2.0 liter carbed 205/50
SirAndy 3.6/6 225/50
racuniff ELEC (TBD)


Rich

[Root_Werks]

I'll be in for class 5

1976 914-6 Modified 2.5, carbs. I'll probably loose, but it'll be fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[jd74914]

My 1.8 should be registered in 2 or 3 weeks, once it is I'll try to start recording mileage too.

[racunniff]

Record miles driven, term and type of charge...you should be able to figure out total energy input/output over the summer.

Then you get to figure out how much fossil fuel you used....that will be tough...unless you use solar panels.

Rich

I use wind power (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif) Looks like it's time to get that plug-in watt-hour meter I've been wanting...