Gas mileage sucks!

[mygatts57]

I have a 72 T with a 71 2.2 engine. I'm getting a miserable 10 mph in city driving. It is running on webbers which have been professionally rebuilt and tuned. The engine is tired and burns oil -
a rebuild is scheduled for next spring. Can a tired engine screw up mileage that bad? Any ideas? Thanks. djl

[RSBob]

It depends. Of course! Do you have your foot it all the time? Drive conservatively? Drive 50/50? My old S motor '73 got about 15 on the highway and 10 around town with MFI. My new, slightly modified 2.7RS spec motor gets 23 on the highway and about 16 if driven REALLY hard with 30 more horses. Old motors get tired, and inefficient.

I had a '72 T with CIS, and because the car felt slow to me, I always had it floored. That killed MPG. Now that I have a fast car, I seldom floor it, unless passing on a two lane, out on the twisties, or at the track.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by mygatts57
Can a tired engine screw up mileage that bad? Any ideas?

I'm with Rick on this one.. and sometimes carbs can be tuned to somewhat hide an old engine's poor operation.

[GSpreeman]

I had the same problem with my 3.2. Found out the parking brake was jammed! Now I get 18/24.