Gas mileage 914 2.0l

[remcleod]

I'd like to get some feedback on the gas mileage some of you are getting on the 914 2.0L. I have a '73 914 2.0L(completely stock)which gets around 20mpg. This is a bit disappointing since my wife's SUV gets about the same mileage and has a V-6, is 4 wheel drive and weighs over 4000lbs. My engine is in good shape (completely rebuilt approximately 5000 miles ago w/new cylinders, pistons etc), I don't have a heavy foot most of my driving is done on the freeways of So. Cal. I had a '74 2.0L 25 years ago and the mileage was much higher. I can remember several trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco(approx 400miles)where I would arrive with almost 1/4 tank of gas. The highest mileage that I recall on the '74 was 44mpg on one stretch of a trip that I back east in 1975. I would be happy to get 25mpg with this car.

[John Rogers]

Could be the gas? There have been a lot of press in Panarama the last couple years due to the "special gas" we get here in CA. Several things were noted including milage drops, idle problems, stumbling when accelerating. Our 1974 gets approx 20 mpg around town and Julia has a heavy foot. On the only long drive we took it got 24 to 25 mpg, but the road tires are oversize and milage is off some.

[Tim Polzin]

I have a 72 with a stock 74 2.0 engine. The best I can get is about 400 miles on a tank (65 mph and country driving). Around town, the best I can get is about 265 miles on a tank. Remember that your SUV has 25 years of added technology in it's favour. My V6 Dodge mini-van loaded with people gets better mileage too, but is not half the fun to drive.

[Harold Hedge]

I support John Rodgers reply. Several years ago I moved from Southern Ca. to Wa. My gas mileage increased by about 5 to 8 mpg upon arrivel to Wa.

[John Rogers]

I forgot to mention that I put 2 to 3 gals of 101 octane racing gas in both our 914 and 930 each week and when doing an autox I use 101 octane only. I let the tanks go low a day or two before the autox date and fill them with the good stuff. It is amazing how clean the exhaust pipe gets after a day of running just 101 octane, takes about two weeks before they start to soot up again.

[JP Noonan]

John Rogers: When you put in the 101 do you bump up the timing? If so how much? In my experience drag racing my truck at the 1/4 mile strip I saw little or no gain in higher octane unless I bump up the timing, of coarse I I'm using a 93 Ford EEC-IV FI system so things are different. By the way what brand of 101? I think Shell was going to test market 101 or 103, the highest I've seen at the pump was 110 "Cam2", but that was Ohio. If I'm remember right the higher the octane the less flamable the gasoline is, octane allows more timing to be set so the flame has more time to propagate across the fuel mixture so at top dead center more of the mix is lit, therefore more power.

[John Rogers]

I don't change the timming or other changes. I add the racing gas mainly to offset the additives that are in the CA gas now in the name of clean air? But since your milage goes down, you burn more gas to go the same amount of miles? Sounds like government number twisting to me. Anyhow, our turbo is not stock and can run uo to 1.25 bar of boost at time-trials so the anti-detination additives in the 101 octane gas are nice to have. I use Trick brand (it looks like grape juice) and it is about $4 per gal. I also only burn only Chevron premium and add a can of Techron a couple of times a year. Techron is still the only gas additive I think Porsche recommends?

[JP Noonan]

Ooooooo... A TURBO..... Now it makes sense. I still think you can put in some more initial timing, although it would be a little dicey. One of those "turn it up until you hear detonation, then turn it down a few degrees" which is O.K. on my 351 with cast iron GT-40 heads, but on an air cooled turbo....KABOOM!!!!
It seems you have a good setup, the 101 should give you some breathing room between the higher temps and higher compression from the turbo. I'm sure this is info you already know.

[Gonzo]

I know this is a different engine size, but I have a 1.7 that I just converted to some 34ICT Webers which get me 26 mpg. That's running on unleaded gas. And I have yet to see the negatives of using carbs!

[JP Noonan]

Carbs aren't bad as long the conditions don't change. i.e. altitude, temp, condition of the engine. Also carbs need more frequent spark plug changes and tuning. Not to mention the problems dirt and varnish build up cause.