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Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:17 am

Hey there..
I've been getting very poor gas mileage lately...
I drove 52kms with 10 liters of gas... that averages to 5.2km per liter which IMO seems really sucky for a VW bug. My engine is a 1600cc which has recently been rebuilt. I know I don't have any gas leaks or anything like that. Oh the gas chicler (main jet) is a 125 one.If that helps Well any help would be greatly appreciated.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:07 am

What elevation are you driving at? That does effect your gas mileage.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:10 am

Well, that still works out to about 12.3 miles per US gallon. Pretty bad. Even at that elevation. That fuel has to be going somewhere! I'd make sure the choke is functioning properly, that the fuel pump isn't leaking fuel into the crankcase, and that the ignition system is set properly/valves adjusted. Look at the spark plugs and see what their color is too.

What carburetor (and distributor) are on there? That main jet size could be decent at high altitude on a 34PICT-3, but it goes along with the size of the air correction jet as well.

-Andy

Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:23 am

gt1953 wrote: What elevation are you driving at? That does effect your gas mileage.

La Paz, Bolivia averages between 3000-4100m above sea level. That's about 9800 feet and better. I'd suspect the jetting, and do the tune up stuff that Andy suggested.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:44 am

Hey Juan,
I would check the most obvious items, such as timing, Carb tuneup, Jets being used. Also find out if your choke is adjusted properly. Otherwise it might be holding the butterfly valve open longer than necessary.
My that way elevation is a major issue too. I remember when I was there in 2001, I was feeling it walking 2-3 miles a day around the main plaza.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:45 pm

jpartieda wrote: I've been getting very poor gas mileage lately...
If the change in mileage is a recent change and the altitude isn't, then altitude isn't the cause.

Max

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:39 pm

It is also all about how you drive, if I make a concious decision to focus on mileage, like on a long trip, I can make 35-37, if I just upgraded something and am having fun around town, I can make 15-20 if I try. Steady foot is THE KEY.

Accel pump drinks the gas..

Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:32 am

my bug will get 35+mpg highway hmm you have somthin going on

Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:56 am

Only time I had bad mileage like that,, the engine had just been rebuilt,, like about a week before and I was past due to set the valves,, after resetting the mileage went back to over 30 mpg.

on the flip side I have two motors that at best get around 6 to 8 on a good day and they are VW configuration motors

Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:15 am

The only time I've ever seen that bad with a stock carb on my cars, was when the choke died on me while on the highway.