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V-8 Fuel Economy

Nice looking truck !

Since you have the overdrive tranny , it should drive O.K. in town if you keep the OD locked out , no ? .
 
Yes, I typically have to keep it in third around town. I have a Lokar floor shifter so easy to do. Other than some local car shows I mostly drive highway. Even at 70 mph on the highway the engine is just a bit above idle. I designed the tranny/rear end for highway use primarily, and seemed to accomplish that. The other rodders I crusie with are amazed that I have the largest/heaviest vehicle and am getting way better milage than any of them.

Thanks for asking.
 
Auto OD Trannies

It's amazing how few people know to do this ~ the CAFE requirement means they're designed to pop into overdrive at way too low speeds , this lugs the engine to death .

I showed this to SWMBO and she thnks I'm crazy because it doesn't mention it in the owner's booklet .
 
WHY I Started This Thread

O.K. , you've all been very patient with me and I apreciate it . :rolleyes:

I have a V-ate powered automobile :eek: ~ my 1974 Mercedes 350SLC , it is a European car so it has a manual transmission (one of maybe 3,00 made) and I've been tweaking the Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection , so far it's gone up to 20 MPG in mixed driving , most of the time it floats between 18+ and 20 MPG .

I am quite happy as it's better milage than my old truck although it requires mid grade fuel or better to avoid pinking .
 
Pinging is that funny noise the valves make when you run too low an octane gas and then "step on it". The valves clatter...and...well...PING for crying out loud. Ain'tchoo never heerd a valve ping youngun':D ?

andy
 
'Ping' or Detonation (Pinking)

Actually the valves are not what this high pitched clinking noise is , it is the sound of the fuel mixture in the cylinder _exploding_ rather than burning as it should .

You don't EVER want your fuel to explode unless you're driving a Diesel , that's why they're so noisy ~ the rattling sound is the Diesel fuel exploding as it reaches terminal compression .

It can be caused by a multiude of reasons but the important thng to remember is : it's terribly BAD for your engine !

Think of it like hitting the piston crowns with a BallPien hammer ~ :eek:

Heavily carboned up valves can get glowing spots on them and this can cause the ping .

BTW Jon ; don't feel bad , I'm just a dumb old man ;)
 
Sounds like a text book answer nate. I couldn't have said it better myself. The fuel now a days almost makes anything ping anymore. Don't the fuel companies know that vehicles can't run on water?:confused: :confused: Don't let the engine ping to much because after a while you'll be doing a piston job.
 
NO Question is ' dumb ' if you don't know the answer .

Here in California (Land of Fruits & Nuts) he don't have ' Gasoline ' anymore ~
for some years we've had Foo-Foo tree hugger " Motor Fuel " witche's brew crap that actually damages many engine components as well as being incredibly low Octane .

It's even yellow in color as you're pumping it into your tank ~ looks like pi$$ and is about as good too :mad:
 
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