Motor Home Mileage

[Chuckles]

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

...Heat and high voltage can do wonders to these so called high temp wires. Exhaust leakage around the gaskets can cut them like a knife.

That is interesting Glen. It leaves the question; "is there any point to the High Temp wires?" A local lad here, strongly into all the oldies (cars & Buses), swears by straight forward copper cores, hence my hesitation in going "hi-tec"

We have a supplier/workshop in the UK., that specialises in the "Old American Iron" and I have, for the time being, ordered his sets. It will be interesting to see what they are like and how long they last.....

I take you point on the problems with stock exhaust so I will, when time and funds permit, be purchasing the tubular manifolds (Headers) and new exhaust, and hopefully 'kill two or more birds with one stone'. At the moment though its up-up-and-away, we are off again in a weeks time for a long C&W weekend, That's followed by another week, in the Cotswolds then on to a USRV show.

I intend to get as much use out of her as I have with our Classic trailer caravan, a VanRoyce. Top build of the 80's and 90's.

[GlenCoombe]

Chuck, my money is still on high priced wires.... oh and no exhaust leaks...did I mention 60 degree spark plug boots

[Geophilist]

I think you guys are calculating your mpg wrong. Last trip our in my 280, I got 18mpg! Well, when you consider that I tow a Saturn, that makes Two vehicles going down the road. 9mpgX2=18mpg.

Speaking about gas, what grade do most folks run? Mine does not like anything but high test. Is there something I could do to perhaps get to a lower grade? My coach is completely stock.

Steve

[Robfike]

Steve,
I like your idea on fuel mileage. Motorhome+race trailer+race car= 6.5x3=19.5mpg! Now thats more like it.
I run 87 octane regular fuel. Seems to work great, even towing.
Rob

[GlenCoombe]

Regular...and lots of it for Airstream One! I fill up often on the road and am always looking for the best deal. I use a lot of Murphy Oil gas via the Wal-Mart prepaid gift card for the 3 cent discount. Seems I'm often at Wally World and don't give them too much time with my money. Gas hit $2.06 here this week so net is $2.03... can $1.98 be far behind.

[Chuckles]

I still haven't managed to find time to photograph the plug leads (sorry - wires) yet; but believe me some were bad!

Here in the UK Unleaded is rated at 95 octane so after running with the timing set from the USA since we had it, and with the help of a mate who knows about these things, we set the timing (from underneath) from 14.5 degrees BTDC as it was; to a retarded 8.5 degrees BTDC. (UK Owners note)

Wow! what a difference! It starts easier, is quieter and above all runs like a 7.4Lt should, I even have to use the brakes to keep the speed down!

Fuel consumption? well I think it is getting better all the time. We have just toured the Cotswolds in England, then on to Ireland (North and South) and a few places in Wales on our return. .... And I thought we in Dorset had small roads.... you should experience those in Northern Ireland and Wales - I still cringe at the thought.....

Then it is one final fill up to hopefully arrive at an accurate figure of fuel consumption, but it is looking good.

I have been advised that the Qjet uses the choke continuously, so by disabling the choke altogether, I am told, am reducing the efficiency of the running. Do you think it is right to be thinking of a replacement carburettor before the Engine LPG conversion?

It frightens me a bit that I may be contemplating using the choke again following the experiences in the past.

Any comments on this I would be grateful to hear

[Chuckles]

Well; after an initial fill up after a trip, first lot, I was dismayed to see the gauge only showing half full and I put in 30 gallons!. So on the rebound from that I went back to the filling station and hopped in another lot of gas (Good??? no mention of petrol this time! - Dough! ).

Only 45 litre went in..... a quick calculation, and guess what ...... 10.6 mpg. (from less than 5mpg originally)

The only thing now is the fuel gauge. It started with a bad connection and the reading dropping to 1/4 tank and warning light on. A wiggle with the wire on the back of the gauge and it springs back into action... - OK; - ...but now it will not register over 3/8 full, most of the time about a quarter, and I know (I hope) its a full tank!

Can any one throw some light on this? My thoughts are that on the last but one fill up the float must have gone to the top of the tank as it registered 100% full on the fuel gauge (first time that has ever happened).
So I am thinking that perhaps the float has become porous and has some fuel in it or the rod is bent, Having not looked at it yet (The tank's still full!) does it sound a likely cause. If it is can the sender unit still be found or is there an alternative?

Thank you for your indulgence

[Chuckles]

Panic over!

The wiring to the fuel gauge and associated earths (Sorry grounding wires!) were the culprit.

What a relief! I was visualizing emptying the fuel tank (not difficult really when going somewhere!) and dropping it to inspect the fuel level sender.

So again trial and error produces a simple solution - always check the obvious, in this case old wiring terminals.

I am now going one step further with this wiring. I am going to break all the connections to the dash and fit a multi-plug and socket so the dash can be removed entirely, after disconnecting the speedo cable of course.

Has any one done this? if so can a multi-plug type/manufacture be recommended? I assume all cables must be at least 1.5mm/Sq. (is that 14awg?)

[GlenCoombe]

Ah Chuckie, you really are in this for the long haul aren't you? Sounds like a major undertaking but one that would make removing the dash for attention quite simple. Me thinks you'll need more than one multiplug though.
Now have you considered that by making that many more connections you may cause that many more problems in an attempt to correct the problem? The fewer numbers of connections the less can go wrong... on paper anyway.

[Chuckles]

Quite agree Glen, but there again, judging by the problems experienced so far in such a short space of time, the less pulling about the better!

Having said that, I make up control cabinets for BEMS and Air Quality Control so it is not entirely alien to me. I have used 16 way connectors quite often but most cables are control and not taking much current. Knowing me and my approach I will probably end up with loads of relays, soldered terminals and every thing strapped down!

I hope I am going to have a quite time at work this winter, or at least before we start travelling again so I can get it finished. If I do succeed I will post details and some photos - IF - I get it finished that is!!

[GlenCoombe]

Well Chuck, before some moderator type tells us.... I believe this may need to be a seperate thread when you get started...er ...finished.
Just remember the KISS principal. I believe the original plan is to make the panel removable... and to clean up some of the cobbled together approach AS had.
I'm in knee deep with my new generator install and need to replace my headlight switch before I go anywhere. My panel is very much like yours..... a tangled web. Where you lead I may follow.

[Chuckles]

At last pics of how a plug lead should not look like! This is just two of many...

The leads (Sorry wires) looked in excellent condition until I pulled them from those little shields. I was warned that a pin hole leak on the exhaust can cut a wire, well here's the proof - although I didn't find the leak, perhaps that was sorted earlier by the PO -Who knows .....

[Chuckles]

Cracked it!

13.1 MPG (Imperial) last trip.

I did add some lead replacement additive juice just before, It was handy at the time! Whether that played a part only time will tell.
I have the Hedman's now and in the process of making up a new exhaust to finish it off.

Electric Cooling fans next to replacing the Viscous one after removing the AC. It never was connected!

[John H.]

Do cooling fans, running all the time ??? help engine longevity and Improve MPG ???

[GlenCoombe]

John, heat is the enemy. If you use an electric cooling fan up front, running all the time it should ease the demand on the clutch fan which when engaged is a significant drag on the engine. How much drag is up for debate but you'll never loose by keeping your cool.

[choctawmel]

Do electric fans really increase air flow at highway speed?
I installed a oil cooler under the front bumper with an air damn from frame rail to frame rail. It has an thermostat controlled electric fan. It does come on in stop and go traffic.
Wish I could get the A/C and Transmission coils out from in front of the radiator.
mel

[GlenCoombe]

Mel, when traveling down the highway at 60-65 mph and in a no wind situation the velocity is going to be maxed out at 60-65 mph. The electric fan will push much more than that if I'm not mistaken.

Depending upon the outside air temp you may not need to run the fan(s) all the time unless climbing but if they aren't hurting anything I'm in favor of letting them run. I have faulty memory and don't want to look down at the temp guage at 220 to remember it's time to throw the electric fan switch!

The original question was will the electric fan help fuel economy and I believe the industry has proven electric over engine driven fans for many years. Very few new cars today have anything but electric fans up front. Though I'll give you that they are thermostatically controlled.

[Chuckles]

The Hedmann Headers are in; the 2.1/2" exhaust has two 1 meter long straight through 5" dia custom made mufflers, Electric Fan fitted and tune up. What do I get?12.5-13.5 miles per Imperial Gallon! all that for the same juice? crazy...

Yes I suppose it runs smoother and quieter, and, I was towing a PT Cruiser on a Blue Ox Aladdin; perhaps I was expecting too much.

Not to be outdone - I managed at last, to buy the GV (with park brake option too!) and that goes on during the next week or four, ready for this years touring.

One puzzler though IS the drive line angles that critical?

[DaveFL]

Originally Posted by Chuckles

The Hedmann Headers are in; the 2.1/2" exhaust has two 1 meter long straight through 5" dia custom made mufflers, Electric Fan fitted and tune up. What do I get?12.5-13.5 miles per Imperial Gallon! all that for the same juice?

Does imperial gallon contain ethanol?
Just did the math and your gallon is 20% larger than our U.S. gallon so my 9.5-10 mpg with ethanol at about 10% is close, without special muffler.

[GlenCoombe]

Chuck, angles are everything as is balance of the new shorter driveshaft. If you can find another shaft to shorten and retain your old tail housing and drive shaft just in case you need to remove the GV for repair at a later date.