Best MPG, A series engines

[KevinM3Coupe]

Hi All,

I have a MK3 Midas Coupe with a 1380 engine, modified Cam (not sure which but its lumpy on tickover) standard SU carb. I get approx 36 mpg on a run.
I am just wondering what may be possible with different engine / head configurations for max MPG (not worried about performance). Current owners setups and experiences re MPG would be interesting.

Many thanks

Kevin

[Hans Efde]

Welcome to the forum Kevin. Sorry can't help you. My turbo engine must be the worst gas guzzler Midas around, if not David's cars! But there are members who used to commute with a 1000cc in the front and I've heard about amazing milage. I hope they are on this forum as well (now 149 members!)

[Jon]

My first Mk3 used to do between 35 and 45mpg depending on roads and right foot. It generally managed low 40's on my thirty mile commute. That was on a standard 1275 with a 3.1 diff.

My second Mk3 was registered as a 1400, but I never actually confirmed that it was. It had a lower final drive and more torque, and consumption was pretty much the same.

The engine and gearbox from my first Mk3 is now in my Mk2, having been bored to 1330cc, with Kent 266cam, roller rockers, standard HIF44 with K&S filter and RC40 twin box exhaust. It still has the 3.1 diff, but it's now on 12" wheels.

However I drive it, I cannot produce a consumption lower than 40mpg. On a recent trip to Scotland it managed 47.8mpg over 1114 miles at and average speed of 53.1mph. These figures used the trip function on my GPS, not the over-reading speedo, so I'm confident that they are accurate. I must admit when I first did a check in the Mk2 and came up with a figure of 48mpg I thought I must have made a mistake, but I've now done 7K miles with that engine I know it is definitely very economical. It's a shame it still has such a poor range with that crappy little tank.

[Rich]

Mine is running an ACDodd 1330cc unit with ported head and Kent 266 megadyne, the carb is a standard HIF44 with a modified needle. I've replaced the ignition with a Megajolt system which (still) isn't rolling road tuned. I don't know what the diff is but it's pulling 4000rpm at 70mph from memory.

Day to day I get around 40mpg and I don't hang about, on a motorway run averaging 60mph it returns 50-55mpg. Like Jon the mileage is accurate, checked against GPS which matches the speedo, one of the joys of going digital.

Personally, I'd put a Megajolt on anything with a mechanical dizzy.

Rich

[Geoff Butcher]

I used to get about 48mpg from my 1380 when I was doing about 16000m a year, That's with a 3.1 diff and fairly gentle driving in view of the horrendous mileage this engine has done.

[Rich]

Just checked on the way home and mine is pulling a shade over 3500rpm at 70mph, that's on Metro Turbo 185/65 tyres, the 175/50's ran at 4000 rpm..

[Geoff Butcher]

Mine indicates 69mph at 3000rpm with 165/65 - 13s.

[KevinM3Coupe]

Thanks for the info guys.
I am thinking the best option is to stick with the 1380 & go for a 2.9 diff (currently 3.1 I think, 70 mph @3500 rpm). Also add the mega jolt and a book a rolling road mapping with needle tweeking.
I think perhaps the megajolt and the tune should be the first step and see what difference that makes.
I do like the idea of 70mph @ 3000 rpm, as beyond 3000 rpm is when things start to get a bit loud.

[Geoff Butcher]

I can certainly recommend Megajolt. I always seemed to be having trouble with the poor quality of ignition components.