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Old 08-02-2013, 01:15 AM   #85 (permalink)
Frank Lee
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
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According to this article
Mileage Miracles - Shell Fiat
*Ben Visser, a Shell research group employee, drove it. Doesn't say who built it. One pic shows "Martin, Visser, and *******" on the fender.
*It ran a 14 mile course along River Road, Wood River, Ill. Don't know if it was all downhill? Paved? Google maps doesn't show any River Road today.
*Top was chopped, but so what? Contemporary pics show no glass in it.
*Article says bicycle chain drive; pics clearly show heavier chain, so article isn't gospel.
*Article says aircraft tires @ 200 psi; another source said 150.
*Pulse from near stop to 13-14mph; average 9 mph.
*There's a pic of Ed Brown winning the motorcycle division. With a loaded sidecar. On a dirt road.

*This page Shell Mileage Marathons - Shell Fiat does not jive with the article. One begins to wonder if an accurate account exists at all.

*From 1981 Texas newspaper(?) http://www.59fiattestcar.com/vehiclesofinterest.htm:
*Visser is a Sr. Research Engineer in the fuels performance section.
*Cars built by Shell development employees on their own time.
*This time P&G is from 3 to 12 mph- done by ear since speedo cost 10 mpg.
*In '81 optimal fe for stock cars was at 30-40 mph. 55 vs 70 mph was 20-25% better fe.
*14 ply a/c tires, tread ground off, 200 psi front, 300 rear.
*Visser says car owners should run sidewall max, at that time 32-35 psi.
*Ran straight coolant at 280 deg., intake 240 deg.
*Stoich 14.2-14.5:1 depends on fuel; fe increases up to 10% leaner than stoich then drops off... but it's "more art than science".
*CR was 9 or 10:1 :/
*Says it has a scooter carb, but it looks like a mower carb to me.
*Higher CR > low; long stroke > short; tall gears > short... until engine strains too much.
*The Opel weighs 2400 lbs... I don't think so.
*Now it has a windshield Hmmm.
*Deposits in the intake improve fe.
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Last edited by Frank Lee; 08-02-2013 at 01:28 AM..
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