376 mpg - might be of interest

[Christopher Jordan]

Not even aerodynamically changed much! Opel - but not a Manta either!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...ml?source=mypi

countersTrike

[WaxyChicken]

I've been considering something like that with my project car's back axle. But i just wouldn't know where to start. (and I'd V the body back, too.)

[bestmapman]

The mileage from the mostly stock four-cylinder came from heating and insulating the fuel line so the gas entered the engine as lean vapor.

Does anyone know how this works.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by bestmapman

Does anyone know how this works.

carb voodoo

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I see he took the shag carpet out (for shame).

I did not edit this post I accidentally clicked on edit instead of quote. Sorry Frank.

He has done a nice job of cleaning it up.

[bennelson]

Wow! That car even beats my electric motorcycle in terms of efficiency!!!!!!!


OK! Whose turn is it to design a "gas tank heater" for their car?

I know one of the problems with a vegetable oil diesel conversion is that you need to heat the oil before you use it. That is usually done by running coolant pipes from the engine through the oil tank.

Maybe something similar can be do with a small aux gas tank?

I think I have heard before of heating gasoline for better fuel economy, but have never seen it done on any project.

[zjrog]

Even losing 200 MPG means it still would beat a Prius... How to make that little machine drivable and still get better than 100 MPG owuld be interesting.

I hate to think of the people that are going to get hurt trying to heat their fuel lines. Honestly, it won't be easy to do and still be safe. It can be done though, I'm sure.

(heading for the garage and a "Hold my beer" moment...)

[bennelson]

OBVIOUSLY SAFETY FIRST!!!!

No exploding gas tanks allowed!!!!!!!!

[Lazarus]

Here's the original article.

Here another interesting link. A 244 MPG fiat 600.

[Ryland]

Nice to see that car restored,
They point out that the carburator is 3/4" bore, I have a 50cc moped carburator in front of me that is 1/2" bore, and I also notice that the engines air intake is the valve cover... basicly a warm air intake, but in adition to that they are burning oil vapor in adition to gasoline.
I also suspect that under that tourqe converter houseing is simply a really big fly wheel allowing the engine to turn really slowly and that works great with that gear reduction, 16 teeth in the front and about 55-60 teeth in the back, giving a 3.75 reduction, I can't tell what size those tires are, but lets say they are 15" rims, you can currently get 155/80-R15 tires that are 24.7" tall, and 842 revs per mile, you want to go 30mph, or half a mile per minute is 421rpm of the tires, or 1,578RPM of the engine, that is assuming that my figures from the photos are correct, I suspect they amed more twards 1,000rpm or even slightly slower, and it's hard to tell if the engine is set up to run on all cylenders or if they have wires there just to confused people.