Free Ford Tempo Diesel and GMC Diesel Pick up - Page 7 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

vacationtime247 · 05-18-2011, 01:35 AM

Don't think I'll add a turbo. I'd probably phuk it up to be honest. Other than re-tightening the alternator belt it's gone 200+ miles without any problems. Just went below the Full line on the way home tonight.

Shift gears around 2k rpm. Lots of coasting to stops but need to improve. Getting a baseline for mpg. Before adding the drop chin, rear wheel skirts and lower door rust fixes. Need to raise the hood near the windshield, it's lower than it should be.
VT247

Dust · 05-18-2011, 04:01 AM

No worries, just a suggestion. Boost in a diesel just means more air to burn the fuel.

vacationtime247 · 05-27-2011, 05:13 PM

OVER 50 MPG ON MY FIRST TANK!!!!! Drove 541 miles and used just 10.7 gallons of Diesel. Beats my Escort wagon by leaps and bounds! Was only getting 36 mpg in the Escort. Am I happy? No, I'm ecstatic!
VT247

Christ · 05-27-2011, 10:49 PM

That's great news! Some good tuning and a can of diesel purge will ensure she's in top shape after such a long vacation.

Frank Lee · 05-28-2011, 01:16 AM

Motivation for doing my diesel Tempo swap growing...

vacationtime247 · 06-02-2011, 04:02 PM

Sold the IROC. Took $1800 for it. Had @$1100-$1200 in it. Now I get to hear at work, 'You sold the IROC but kept the Tempo?' Ya damn skippy. Sure did with no regrets. Need to fix a leaking injector pump throttle shaft. Hopefully it's just an O-ring. Will post up pics of the part where it's leaking soon. Going to need some help so I don't create an even bigger problem.
VT247

david85 · 06-03-2011, 02:47 PM

Congrats on the tempo! Those things are as rare as hen's teeth. If it were me, I'd be looking for a rust free donor to swap all the diesel stuff in. Good god man, you even have the factory tachometer and AC options!

I had a similar throttle shaft issue with our diesel ranger (2.3 turbo mitsu) and it was a worn bushing combined with a bad shaft seal.

Was your first tank on the old diesel fuel?

vacationtime247 · 06-05-2011, 01:06 AM

Bushing and a shaft seal! That sound like exactly what I'll be fixing. Thanks! Was thinking it was an O-ring. Wonder if I'll have to take out the whole injection pump to fix it.
VT247

Quote:

Originally Posted by david85

Congrats on the tempo! Those things are as rare as hen's teeth. If it were me, I'd be looking for a rust free donor to swap all the diesel stuff in. Good god man, you even have the factory tachometer and AC options!

I had a similar throttle shaft issue with our diesel ranger (2.3 turbo mitsu) and it was a worn bushing combined with a bad shaft seal.

Was your first tank on the old diesel fuel?

david85 · 06-05-2011, 02:39 AM

Looking at the photos, that seems to be a licensed japanese clone of the bosch VE rotary injection pump (likely very similar to VW diesels of the era). The Japanes didn't bother to put an actual brass bushing for the shaft to ride on back then, so the case itself is the bushing. In the case of our ranger, they had to machine the top cover and press in a repair bushing.

If it were me, I would remove the pump, if for no other reason than to be able to clean it and keep gunk out when you pull it apart. Its generally easier to do that on a clean bench. Although its front and center on your car so it might not be so hard to do. Just don't wash the pump when its not or running (EVER!). Use some penetrating oil on the pump shaft nut for a few days before attempting to take it off. Sometimes they corrode enough that it snaps when trying to remove it. Also scripe the alignent of the throttle lever to the shaft before taking it off.

Any diesel injection shop should have a few zillion of those throttle shaft seals in stock. Be sure to ask for a Viton seal. They should all be anyway these days but you never know.

vacationtime247 · 06-25-2011, 02:26 AM

UPDATE: 385 miles driven, 7.8 gallons of diesel = 49.35 mpg The injector pump isn't leaking anymore. Think it only does it when going over 60 mph. Haven't seen a drop since having it on the interstate. Was doing 67-72 mph to keep up with traffic.

Been using it every day I don't ride the bike, which averages @60 mpg. Really want to try and rig up another battery or two in the trunk and go beltless. No power steering, a/c or alternator. Wonder how many more mpg that would net?
VT247