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Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 09:38
by jason
So I've been fiddling with the mixture on the SU carburettors and I've managed to lean them out a bit more. However, my gas milage has been dropping slightly even with this. Do Canadian gas companies go with a "winter blend" like the US companies do and does this reduce gas milage?

Thanks

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 09:43
by Rehs
Maybe it's that thicker oil you're using now. A little more engine drag. At least until it gets really hot, which I don't think will happen in the weather we've been having. I've been trying something over the past year and have noticed a significant increase in fuel milage. It's the Lucas Fuel conditioner/upper cylinder lubricant. It's supposed to help lubricate compression rings and valves while decarbonizing as well. Seems to be doing an awesome job. When we blew the headgasket one race weekend and had to pull the head, there was no buildup of carbon or gunk. Also, I seem to be able to get about roughly a 1/4 more distance out of a tank of gas from when I use it to not using it. That's just from my experience. Give it a try!

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 09:52
by jason
Morning Andrew, could be, the 20W50 is making a huge difference in the oil consumption though, doesn't seem to going through hardly any compared to before..... Oh well, trade offs.

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 13:06
by bertvorgon
Only change in gas, is the REID VAPOUR PRESSURE point is changed to help the gas evaporate at colder temperatures. That itself should not effect economy.

I lose a couple of miles per gallon in the winter on the Toyota, for all the reasons above, colder oil, cold start is on longer,
SHITTY TRAFFIC, wheel bearing and transmision oil colder, blah , blah.

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 14:54
by jason
Hmmm.... oh well, guess I'm going to have to get used to 21.5mpg for the winter then :cry: ! So much for the extra tuning efforts on the carbs....

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 17:43
by bertvorgon
two things, do the Prairie warm up by building a fire under the oil pan, or, put a brick on the gas, go for coffee, come back, and...it's warm!

Speaking of coffee, next week lets get together again for lunch at Fenders, get Rob out, etc..

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 17:50
by jason
I'm game, lunch at Fenders works for me. Rob should be better by then, I think I almost killed the poor guy by dragging him out Sunday, he caught a nasty flu! Now about that prarie block heater, how big does the wood pile need to be :shock: ?

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 18:35
by datzenmike
Hey, jason.
Well, you said it! A big ass block heater. Plug it in anywhere and anytime you want a faster warmup. I had one on my B 210 in Ontario, and when I turned the key on, the gauge was already reading slightly. It started way better and the choke was on less. I've had the in-line and the ones that fit in the frost plug hole. The in-line are easier to install, but, loose some heat pushing the hot water up the heater hoses. One or more of the in block type can be installed on the passenger side. Just plug them in or set a timer, for a hour before you get up, and like the coffee pot, it's ready when you are.

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 19:14
by jason
Hi Mike, yah, the idle time is up in the morning for sure. Thing is I've dropped from 25.5mpg to 21.5mpg with the oil change to 20W50 and the cold weather. Whoo boy, milage drops like that bite.

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 19:41
by datzenmike
Ouch! Hurts more if you say it's an 18% drop! That brand new '76 B 210 would turn over exactly 3 times when it was treal cold. I had been useing 40W oil, just like I used in all my previous N AM V8 cars. Switched to 10W for the winters, (much better)but the block heater made the most difference.

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 20:09
by jason
Painful isn't it! I'm running the 20W50 so I can minimize the oil burning for my aircare. That's why I'm also leaning out the carbs a bit at a time right now. I'll do a plug check tommorrow when it's supposed to stop raining for the day so I can see if I'm on track or not. I will probably change out the oil if I pass aircare to straight 20W50 without the Lucas though for the regular service!

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 21:19
by datzenmike
Plug reading eh? I was doing some reading too... there was an article about SU tuning for proper mixture, and it describes a special sparkplug with a quartz 'window' so you could look inside the combustion chamber. The proper mixture was evidenced by a bluish flash when the plug fired.
Have you read this?

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 17 Nov 2006 21:24
by jason
I think Princess auto sells those gadgets Mike, I use a Unisyn for vacuum balancing the SU's and I've been running rich idle for the last couple of months. Of course it ran OK, but, had an irritating low RPM stumble. So, I leaned out the carbs a bit and rebalanced and lo, it runs much better. Of course my milage sucks now, but, hey, I need to pass aircare which is why I'm fiddling now, I'm due next month so if all goes well I'll go and get checked at month end and see....

RE: Winter Gas?

Posted: 18 Nov 2006 11:20
by Rehs
Forget the quartz window spark plugs. Just make a really big aquarium for Scotty, in trade for him replicating an A87 Closed chamber head in transparent aluminium! "Hello Computer!" :wink:

Re: Winter Gas?

Posted: 08 Nov 2011 17:44
by jason
Well, here's reviving an old post. Looks like the stations have switched to the higher ethanol "winter blend" for us lower mainlanders again ... I've had a nice, fat 7% drop in fuel economy in the last 2 tanks of gas and it's the right time of year for it ... The buggers :evil: !