Living in California: $3.95- No Jive Low Octane Blues

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 21, 2011, 8:57 am

8.5 miles a gallon in the Big Black Mariah.
Not my daily driver; my only driver.
$65 every ten days to the crude pariahs.
It is hard just trying to survive her.
I need clues.
Gotta ger rid of these low octane blues.

trueblue0409 · Post by **trueblue0409** » March 21, 2011, 2:09 pm

what is your engine size rear gear ratio and type of tranny?

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 21, 2011, 3:35 pm

352
No Clue
3-Speed OD

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » March 21, 2011, 4:45 pm

How far is your daily compute? Lots of bike lanes in California, maybe it's time to break out the two-wheeler

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 21, 2011, 4:52 pm

Gritsngumbo wrote:How far is your daily compute? Lots of bike lanes in California, maybe it's time to break out the two-wheeler

Would be great in Northern Cal or the Central Valley. I'm in the desert. I'd be doing 22 miles RT in 100-115 degree temps April to June and August to November.

I was believing with the 3-spd od I'd get better mileage.

trueblue0409 · Post by **trueblue0409** » March 21, 2011, 6:12 pm

one thing that can help your mpgs is a low rear dif gear ratio. i would try to find you and if its not in the threes i would see about changing it. also look into your carb any fuel management can be tweaked being that it is not electroic. also if your distribitor is manual you can adjust you ignition timing.

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » March 21, 2011, 6:19 pm

A cheap an economical beater car may be the best solution

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 21, 2011, 6:21 pm

How does one figure out the rear differential gear ratio?

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » March 21, 2011, 7:17 pm

HaHaHa... Cryafornian....

randyr · Post by **randyr** » March 21, 2011, 8:22 pm

jacobd wrote:How does one figure out the rear differential gear ratio?

Here's one way to do it.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Enyf67KTs

Haus · Post by **Haus** » March 21, 2011, 8:33 pm

22 RT must be nice. I don't drive a slick to work but I'm still out about $14 per day driving 70miles RT.

Not sure the heat is a big issue on a motorcycle when you compare it to a truck with no AC.

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » March 21, 2011, 8:41 pm

Yeah, 8 1/2 mpg doesn't cut it for a daily driver. I also have exactly a 22 mile round trip to work. My DD gets right at 20 mpg and it's hard to take it with gas at around $3.50 here.

Not sure a rear end ratio swap will get you enough to make a big difference. It could be an easy thing to try, though, if you have a 9" rear which you probably do.

To get a idea of the ratio you have, jack up the rear end, trans in nuetral, and count how many times the driveshaft turns to make the wheel go one turn. Or....if everything's original, it should say what the ratio is on your data plate.

I would have to go along with the econo-car driver suggestion. Keep the truck in case gas goes back down to the $2.50/gal. level.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » March 21, 2011, 9:05 pm

buy a 1000 accord and call it a day.

White97 · Post by **White97** » March 22, 2011, 7:33 am

That hurts. I just dumped a 2008 Honda Ridgeline I bought in August, made 4 payments and traded it in Dec 31st. Couldn't believe how horrible the gas mileage was. Worst Truck wanna-be ever. 9-11mpg. I knew if the commodity traders wanted to stick it to us again I was going to be hurting. Traded it in on 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Avg 25 to work and upper 30's on the highway. Even touched 41mpg highway last trip.

Last go around with these SOB traders it at least dropped back down. Don't think that is going to happen this time.

Anyhow, there should be an tag on the rear pumpkin that will tell you the ratio, your door tag should also have something. Thankfully my 65 is just a project toy.

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » March 22, 2011, 9:08 am

SOB traders should read SOB traitors their loyalty is only to increasing their personal wealth

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 22, 2011, 9:42 am

fire truck wrote:HaHaHa... Cryafornian....

I guess this is the most accurate in several aspects.

I don't want to drive anything else; so why am I complaining? All my spare change and tree hugging environmentalist recycling monies go into the dent which will get worse mileage.

I'm not leaving this state, even if plan on running to the hills soon. I live better and work union. And no other district would hire me.

I imagine when the Big Black Mariah's rebuilt, things could improve. I think I have a screwed up carb. Might look into replacing that.

But for now... C'est la vie mon amie

I do wanna check the gearing though.
Was also wondering if the oil bath could be a factor.
And the choke cable that seems to open up a bit as I drive. Seems I need to push it in frequently to calm the idle.

jamesdfo · Post by **jamesdfo** » March 22, 2011, 9:54 am

Jacob: I will probably take flack for this, but I have never been an FE fan. (OK, I do get wood when looking at pics of SOHC's:)And of the lot, the 352/360's that I have known of were the worst for mileage.
So, even if yours is in good condition, the mileage ain't going to be great.....and the oil bath air cleaner won't effect the mileage any more than an average OEM paper element, but it will sure help with engine longevity.
If it was me, I'd be looking at swapping in a more modern engine/trans....but if the 352 is just plain tired, out of tune, has a worn out carb, etc, then there is room for improvement there, and axle ratio is a big factor in mileage as well.
Do you have a tach?? What is it turning at highway speeds?

James

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 22, 2011, 10:02 am

jamesdfo wrote:Jacob: I will probably take flack for this, but I have never been an FE fan. (OK, I do get wood when looking at pics of SOHC's:)And of the lot, the 352/360's that I have known of were the worst for mileage.
So, even if yours is in good condition, the mileage ain't going to be great.....and the oil bath air cleaner won't effect the mileage any more than an average OEM paper element, but it will sure help with engine longevity.
If it was me, I'd be looking at swapping in a more modern engine/trans....but if the 352 is just plain tired, out of tune, has a worn out carb, etc, then there is room for improvement there, and axle ratio is a big factor in mileage as well.
Do you have a tach?? What is it turning at highway speeds?

James

Tach is aftermarket. Just how aftermarket, and how instaled I do not know. It may be accurate. Idles just above 1000. I know it is supposed to be 600 to 800 but I cannot seem to get it there. At about 50 mph, which is fast as I need to move, it in the 2400 to 3000 range. I will pay better attention and give exact update tomorrow.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 22, 2011, 10:25 am

passed the $4 gal. mark here a while back.

not planning on giving up my comfort in the slicks for anything smaller
although an early falcon i could deal with.

besides even with the fuel costs its far cheaper to drive the trucks, we own them , no payments and insurance is cheap. so are parts and i can repair them myself.

jacobd · Post by **jacobd** » March 22, 2011, 10:36 am

ICEMAN6166 wrote:passed the $4 gal. mark here a while back.

not planning on giving up my comfort in the slicks for anything smaller
although an early falcon i could deal with.

besides even with the fuel costs its far cheaper to drive the trucks, we own them , no payments and insurance is cheap. so are parts and i can repair them myself.

That is how I feel too, aside from the repair them myself part, but I am improving. There is a uni at the body chop with a strait six, maybe a 63. Bet that gets good mileage.