33 replies to this topic

[happydude2012]

below the line now  - starting to think the red line is just to warn of 1/4 tank left.

Had a go with the gunsen colortune - fecking nightmare of a gadget - everyones videos theirs goes lovely and blue - ive been messing with the mixture for hours, think ive got it now.

no doubt my carb is in need of a good seeing to generally.

New plugs are the slight browny colour so i think ive got the mix right.it aint orange/yellow and it aint white on the gunsen so i think its ok.

[Cooperman]

I have done a couple of 'Economy Runs'.

 

The tank is filled right to the brim at the start. Then a set route is driven which has an exact known distance finishing at a petrol station and the tank is brimmed again. The exact amount of petrol used for an exact known mileage is then known and the mpg can be calculated to 1/10th of an mpg.

 

If using the mileometer to establish distance you can calibrate it on any motorway as the small posts are 1/10th of a kilometer apart. So 16 posts = 1 mile. That is how we used to calibrate our rally computers.

 

With rally cars it is important to know the fuel consumption under different conditions. I use the same method as above by first calibrating the trip meter using the km markers on a motorway, then brimming, driving as appropriate then brimming again. By the way, my Cooper 'S' would do around 12 mpg on special stages!

[pusb]

Don’t rely on the gauge - use a torch and peer down the filler neck when you think it’s empty and see him fuel is in there.

Perfectly normal for Mini fuel gauges to be ‘rough guess’ your Mini is nothing special

 

Not just Mini's. Quite often I've topped up my Citroen Xsara when the gauge has said its half empty, only for it to drop even more once it was filled!

 

As for my Mini, I usually found that filling it up would result in the gauge going to full, until I literally got outside the petrol station, where it would fall to 3/4. I had a theory that its because modern fuel pumps are halfway down the tank to start with? So the top of the tank will always be empty.

[Cheeser]

The cheapest permanent way to accurately check mileage and speed that I have found is to buy and fit a bicycle computer!! How you check the mpg is something else.
A cycle computer can be very accurately calibrated and will give you not only mileage and speed but usually trip, max speed and other functions depending on model chosen.
Usually you will need to extend the cable find some way of attaching the pick up and also attaching a magnet to a disc/ hub or similar.
I have had one fitted to my early 60s sportscar for over 5 years, and find it very helpful because the speedo/ mileometer is VERY inaccurate and is only easily visable by the passenger and not visible to the driver at all when driving with the tonneau in place!
Also the car does not have a fuel gauge so the mileometer helps prevent running out of fuel, although I do use a dipstick and I carry a spare gallon on board.
Driving at night does present a problem as the computer is not illuminated, so have to rely on the tacho. Also when the battery runs out it's a bit of a pain resetting the computer.
What it has done is help stop me going over speed limits inadvertently and prove I'm getting either side of 30 mpg depending how I drive my tuned 1380.
The Sigma sport computer that I use will record max speeds of well beyond the max speed of my car and all Minis, is hard wired and cost about £20 at the time.