Woohoo almost 60MPG

[jtbo]

Sure that kind of figure does mean boring car and it is that french fwd crap.

58.85MPG is exact number (UK Gallons) that is combined, city+highway and with 300kg load. It has been running very low fuel consuption recently, do you think that it is about to fail soon then?

I wonder if it would be impossible to install that Ford/PSA unit to 340/360? It is almost completely mechanical motor, surely there would be huge trouble to mate bellhousing and clutch shaft. Those more modern Hdi engines are certainly impossible.

That 400 series diesel is perhaps not so great motor for performance diesel hatch, petrol starts to be too expensive for any serious driving so maybe better start to think alternatives. LPG is not an option here and perhaps will never be.

Has anyone information about ethanol usability in 360GL with all new fuel related gaskets? Here they sell RE85 which is 85% ethanol made from trash. It would be perhaps something to think about, I don't support ethanol fuels made from food.

[filthyjohn]

I would imagine it'd be fine on Ethanol, as long as you replace all the fuel lines with something that it won't eat through (very corrosive to rubber). It's around 101 octane so you could even make more power if you adjust your megasquirt.

[SteveP]

Impressive figures! Best I got out of my old E36 325tds was 51mpg... which is pretty good considering it was a 2.5 litre I6

[jtbo]

I would imagine it'd be fine on Ethanol, as long as you replace all the fuel lines with something that it won't eat through (very corrosive to rubber). It's around 101 octane so you could even make more power if you adjust your megasquirt.

My improved fuel line is made of copper, but it has few pieces of rubber indeed, mostly Contitech fuel hoses, all I know is that those are made from black stuff and I presume they are indeed rubber.

How about injector O-rings? These rarely get into contact with fuel, but maybe better be safe than sorry.

Ethanol likes from increased compression right?

French crap seem to dislike fuel these days and has created huge addiction to weird electric problems, as I did guess, suddenly improved fuel economy means trouble

[Ride_on]

I managed 45mpg average in an 1984 340 1.4. It ran very well really.

But seriously the way to achieve high MPG is to rip out the engine and put in an electric motor. Most conversions are battery only but it must be possible to add in a small generator and capture decent range. For instance a 1.6 'serial' hybrid can easily get >100mpg using only petrol for a power source. Keeping the 1.4 engine might be interesting and putting 2 electric motors in place of the gearbox and diff/drive shaft. Of course you need batteries aswell. Running on mains stored power also helps to reduce costs since you are not taxed on it, but its probably not as carbon efficient to used mains electricity (currently).

Internal combustion engines are rubbish at driving wheels compared to electric motors, its only because they have had alot more money spent on development that they are any good atall.

[jtbo]

But electric motors don't sound very manly

[sven360]

Neither do oil burners.

[SteveP]

Neither do oil burners.

Foolish! Drive a good diesel and eat your hat!

[filthyjohn]

My mate's E34 525TDS (I believe you had this engine in an E36 Steve) is remapped to 170hp, must have near 300lbft of torque, yet still can't touch my 340. It isn't *that* economical either. He also won't let me make a straight through pipe for it, they do sound rather fruity once you ditch some of the 15 silencers.

[SteveP]

Yeah it'll be the same engine. Problem is they're heavy, especially the 525 (gotta be 1500kg?) and it's an old engine! Never said they were fast, but with a useful amount of torque and fairly revvy for a diesel (better than a B200E, anyway). They do sound aweosme though, keep on at him... My main problem was that even the 3 E36 series felt like a barge!

[filthyjohn]

Agreed, the thing must weigh more than the moon. It just feels like a big taxi to me but he loves it.

[jtbo]

Neither do oil burners.

Sir, you fail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR0faI8nzSM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3uu68CumVs