914 MPG fish stories

[guards73/2.0]

OK, when you start talking about THIRTY PLUS mpg in one of these things I get skeptical. I know my teener is rich right now, but I've been getting less than 20 hwy with carbs on a fresh topend, recent carb rebuild ( Weber 40's) with stock jets for 73 2.0 ( see Weber book). I love FI, btw. I have it in my Volvo, as
I've had it in my other Volvos, and it's great, amazing in fact, but its modern, advanced FI, not antique FI. I realy find it hard to believe that you could get anything like 35 mpg with this motor, FI or not. I'm not a fuel miser type, I just wnat to know that I'm not washing my cyl walls down with fuel as I drive this thing. Question: what can I do to the timing to improve mpg?

[Bleyseng]

I drive with a lead foot mostly but the most MPG I have noted is 28mpg going to Portland and back. That is with lots of time spent at 80-90 mph.
Geoff

[JmuRiz]

I actually got about 29mpg driving from Atlanta to DC when I drove my 914 2.0, w/ Webber 40's and a mild web cam, home from purchase. That was with the top on, 2 people in the car and driving about 65mph (with a run up to 90-100mph now and then for fun).

Nathan

[norustscott]

My stock 2.0l dJet, when running, gets just under thirty mpg...with average city/highway driving. On the highway I think I could pick up 2 mpg easy.

With Carbs it is a different story, It becomes a cam/ duration/ overlap/ valve timing discussion to get the big mpg numbers...

[Goldfinger '72]

My 72 1.7 once got 2440 miles on under 1 gallon






When I shipped it from Scottsdale to Toronto!

[mikester]

My engine has always been well maintained - my FI as well.

It's a '74 1.8...no idea of the mileage except that I've put about 20K on it.

When I got it I was getting fair mileage - right at 20 on average per gallon.

I spent a little time in the engine compartment making sure all the hoses were nice and tight and my mileage shot up like a rocket. Now if I drive conservatively in the city and with me high amount of highway miles (100+ a day to work and back) I'm amazed at how often I hit 340 miles on 12 gallons of 87 octane.

So, with the stock FI - the time matters but I think close attention to the vaccum system is time well spent.

[AaronM]

I've never bothered to check out the mileage. Too much of a "fun car" to bother with that.

I'm sure that my car could stand having the vacuum hoses tightened up though.

Aaron

[anthony]

My mileage sucks! I'm not sure if it's because the engine has high miles or what - 160K but still with good compression 130psi accross the board. The d-jet is all intact, the car runs well, and it passed smog with flying colors last time.

[sammyg2]

My last 914 (V8) got around 12 mpg. The one previous to that got under 10 mpg (turbo :-)

Top that!

[John Rogers]

My race car with a four uses 5 to 6 gallons of 100 octane during a 30 minute race (mostly full throttle) or about 12 laps at Willow Springs! You guys have it easy!

[greenwood]

When I drove from VA to upstate NY for the 2001 ECR I was getting 32 mpg on the highway. I've got stock FI with a crane electronic ignition.
30+ mpg is most definitly possible.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I can assure you that a properly setup D-jet can get 30MPG+ . It also depends on how you drive it. I once drove from Los Angeles to Sacramento (roughly 450 miles) on a single tank.

[hardflex]

This is with older gasoline, if that makes any difference.

I got 32-33 MPG years in my 76 2.0 running at about 70MPH and have since found out it was a 1.7 MPS, so it was probably a little lean.

MY 72 1.7 (1.8 jugs) got less, about 28mpg, but I had it tweaked too rich with an inline resistor because I was afraid it would run too lean.
(this was pre-Brad's page, in the 80's)

But I think 30mpg should be about right.

[Biggy72]

how can your v8 914 only get 12? My truck gets 15 and its 3,000 lbs heavier. It gets around 12 when I'm goin a little harder though. Its just a stock 350 with a 650 cfm holly street avenger carb, high rise intake, stock electronic ignition and headers. I can't imagine a 914 gettin worse than it does.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

biggy,

It all depends on how he has the carb jetted. Granted, you could run only a two-barrel on a V- powered 914 and it still would be like a rocket. But if it was jetted incorrectly, it would get bad mileage.

[scg]

Long trips with my old '75 1.8 (with stock FI) = 32+... "long" being defined as any trip taking at least 1/2 a tank. Shorter trips 25 to 28.

Not enough miles on the 2.7 to get an idea yet... I'll have a figure for you by the end of the summer

[Jake Raby]

I'm tired of implications that I'm lying about this. I know its hard to believe.

If there are any members here from the Atlanta area, come take a ride with me and do the math yourself. It won't be around the block, it may be a 3 hour ride.

Hell, I had a 150BHP 2270 "C" TIV in my beetle that got 30 MPG with short beetle gearing!

The problem with 99% of engines is that they are NOT IN TUNE.

I run synthetic oil (royal purple)
I run a Mallory unilite distributor
I have .035 static deck height
I have a 9:1 static CR
I have a split duration cam with modified lobe centers
I modified the valve margins, with a stock exhaust and larger intake
I have a super balanced engine (within .02 oz.in)
It got 2 days on my dyno for dialing in purposes, thats a huge help, the fuel flowrator does not lie about BSFC.

All these things have some impact on the efficiency, and in conjunction with each other make my claim a reality. When I built this engine I did not just bolt it together. Skirt clearance was increased(less friction/heat) and I set the main bearing tolerances looser than the book states. I added rod modifications to the big end and increased side clearance. I run minimal spring tension to control my valves as well. This is not a race engine, it is my 100% daily driver.

I did not make my post to start a huge battle, I expect people to doubt things that seem extraordinary, thats the human way. People doubt my power figures too, till they experience it in their own car! Then they tell others!

BTW, I made 191 BHP today from a little tiny 2316cc engine(I have witnesses), it did burn race gas, but only has 10:1 static CR.......Believe that if you want, it happened, and is repeatable. I now have the recipe perfected.

[Joe Ricard]

Well except for the super tuned balanced motor. The hardest part is keeping my foot out of the FUN PEDAL.
I get decent milage definately better than my 928. 18MPG that is being easy on it. Upper 20's for the teener

[mikester]

Jake,

How does it breath? FI or carbs? I believe you.

One day, I'm gonna need an engine...

[Jake Raby]

Dual weber 44s, with 34 vents.