gas mileage

springerpete

springerpete

Well-known member
Hope this is not beating a dead horse but........ what kind of mileage is expected from a 29 roadster assuming all is correctly adjusted on the car ? Currently, I am getting 14 mpg when out "cruising" limiting my speed to a max of 40-45 mph when on the good roads and a lot less on the hilly, curvy stuff. Spark lever fully advanced with regular (too expensive) gas. Thanks for your input.
Bye the way, never knew there were so many different levels of performance from turn signal flasher cans. After trying 4, all 6 v, I got one to work. Previous, they all flashed way too fast. All lights are bulbs, no lcd's. Live and learn. :)
 
When cruising with the club at 45-50 mph in our '29 Tudor, I usually get around 18-19 mpg.

I'd say your carb needs some work.

Joe
 
My Model A's all get close to the same. When on the highway to the cottage at 40 MPH I get 20 miles per gallon. In the city ( start - stop ) I get about 14. My Roadsters get a couple less than my closed cars. For 4 or 5 tankfulls a summer not worth trying to improve on !
Wayne
 
I agree with Joe. When I drove 250 miles at 43 to 47 MPH with about 5 or 6 stops I got 22 MPG with my 28 Phaeton all stock. Driving around MPLS with all the stops I get more like 16 to 17 MPG tops.

Years ago the flashers were USA made and better quality. They came standard for just car lights, or heavy duty for a car and trailer. Hard to know what quality you wind up with today, but you should be able to find good used ones at a junk yard. Some of the better yards still have some 6 volt cars and trucks in them.
 
I get in the 20s, local driving,don't keep close track of it but figuring where I have driven and how much spent for fuel--20$, 100 or so miles, on a long trip i averaged 23mpg driving 60-65(1000 mile average) ---stock engine except for "B" cam, 3:78 rear no overdrive ----I do run somewhat lean, plugs burn closer to white than tan
 
Let's put this in perspective, in 28-31, gas was nine cents a gallon and there was no EPA or CAFE!
 
'30 Tudor, I get 20 - 25 MPG at 40-45 depending on conditions. Flat, hilly, steep, wind, no wind, phase of the moon, everything seems to make a difference with these things. I run pretty lean on the road, with the carb adjustment closed or nearly so.
 
I get 20 on the highway cruising at 48-55 mph in my slant window sedan. Back in the days before ethanol, my friends roadster pickup got 24 and my 29 coupe got 22. The woody gets 18-19 on today's corn gas junk.
 
I'v tried every updraft carb & tune up possible & still only get about 15-16 MPG, even with a F-150 overdrive conversion, but even if I could get 20 it would probably be worth about $100. a season in gas either way so does it really matter? I usually put on between 2 & 3,000 miles all year.
 
In my Phaeton I can do about 20-22 if I keep my speed around 45...if I do 50-55 then it's about 18 MPG. It's been pretty consistent.
 
Run the spark about half to 3/4 advance. It may not improve your mileage but your engine will be happier, assuming the timing is correct, witch may also be an issue affecting mileage.
 
Thanks for your input. Quite a spectrum of mileage but it appears I should be doing better. I will do some work with the choke rod adjustment. Hopefully, we will have more cruising days this fall. Bright and sunny today but only 29 right now. Just have to use a better coat, hat and gloves.
 
Some things to consider. If you have a stock head, you'll get less MPGs than the folks with high compression ones do. Also, are you sure your odometer is accurate? Could be off a bit? Additionally consider the following if checking mileage over a period of time; you have evaporation, possible weeping fuel shut off, etc which can rob a few MPGs. I have a 28 roadster with all the above as well as the low compression head and get about what you are for economy.
 
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