... we've finally had our '79 kombi engine rebuilt.

Performance is good - it purrs along so quietly that I can hardly hear it.

Accelerates smoothly when warm - has a nice elastic quality that the original engine never had.

Doesn't seem to be any oil leaks - what a nice change!

But after having the engine and carbies set up by my mechanic (who very much seems the goods) I'm getting 15L/100km or approx 6.5km per litre of fuel around town. How else can I put this? ... about 15mpg (using the gallon mark as 3.8L).

I'm not hoping for much - around 18 - 20 mpg would seem fine, but somehow, the mark that it's at now doesn't make me feel happy about my investment! ...

Can I hope for any better than I'm getting?

Cheers,
T

Well I know of 3 that consistantly get 26 to 28mpg.....................................who did the engine? Are they concerned about the consumption?

Hi

The chokes on those motors need careful setting up, they usually stay on way to long.

Steve

might be your right foot has become addicted to the new power and just likes to test it a little more often AND unitl run in the motor will be tight you should notce a slight decrease in fuel usage after 3000k best of luck

Are the chokes staying on? I ripped the leads off of ours cos one was sticking all the bloody time and causing crap economy.

dont rip the leads off em without adjusting them to the off position. They are thermo coils and when heated (from electrical resistance) they expand and release the choke....

There are a few things you might want to check, are your carbs stock? Are fuel bowl levels within spec? correct jet sizes? (may have over jetted in an attempt for more power)?

i was getting around 16L/100km, then i put on a set of rebuilt carbs and that dropped to around 12 or 13L/100km.... around town.

it depends alot on how you drive, shift earlier, use the torque that T4's are renowned for, avoid powering into stops, ie if you see a red just cruise till it goes green... little things like avoiding stopping help a fuck load in fuel economy. hope this helps

re assess your mpg as there are 4.54 litres to the gallon, I think your got mixed up with US Gallons, which are smaller

so 18.3 mpg which is not too bad

15L/100km doesnt sound to sketchy at all for in-town driving in a carburetted kombi... considering our VR Commodore eats about 25-30 in town...

Are you still running it in?
often they run them rich to start with till you put a few k`s on the motor.

omg.. glad i got a T4 diesel it does between 9.5 and 12L/100kms.. hooray! hehehe
do miss my T2 tho even if it was more costly to run.. oh well..