Worst time to join the site

[occupant]

Let's see here, all the cars I've owned in the past, I've strived to squeeze more mileage out of them. Can match or slightly beat EPA ratings in darn near anything. Drove my boss's Expedition (rated 14/18) while towing a 6500lb trailer and averaged 19.2mpg over 1100 miles. It's fun.

But then our ever-growing family decided to rear its cute little head and require us to purchase something with 8 or 9 seatbelts. We searched for over a month and couldn't find anything we could buy for cash. Then a $900 1984 Suburban showed up online and seemed to be in good shape. About the time we thought we'd keep looking for a minivan or a station wagon, my Celebrity died. We thought, let's look harder. Then my wife's Lumina started acting up and we thought, forget it, let's get the Suburban.

So here we are, and I'm keeping track of my gas mileage in this monster. First tank was an even 10mpg. I thought, this is going to be BAD. Second tank 9.45mpg. Third tank 9.75mpg, fourth 9.54mpg. So I kept driving gentler and gentler in an effort to make it better. Fifth tank 8.3mpg. This is SICK!!!

So I changed the oil and filter, the air filter, rerouted some of the vacuum lines, replaced the PCV valve, its grommet, the breather filter, its housing, hose, elbow, and grommet, and tried again. 9mpg even.

I gave up on trying to get better mileage and drove it like I stole it for the next week. That 40 gallon fill-up lasted longer than the others. 11.6mpg!!!

So I'm going to tune the engine, set the idle/mixture screws, lower the idle speed, set the timing, hook up the vacum advance, see if there's a lockup converter that should be engaging (it's a 3/4 ton 8600lb GVWR truck, I don't think it has lockup), and air up the tires to max (44/51 seems high but max on these load range E tires is 80psi all around...I'll have to go to a truck stop to find a compressor that'll do it).

Wish me luck, if I can't crack 15mpg in this thing by summertime, I'm giving up and finding a diesel 'Burb to replace it.

[budomove]

mmm, diesel. maybe do plugs/wires/rotor/cap, and see if that helps. idle adjustment sounds like a plan. Welcome!

[rh77]

Sounds like you have a challenge on your hands.

So is the '84 a 350 V-8? With that age, I'd be concerned of any rubber components and sensors. The carb may have some issues too. I'm sure you know the drill -- check and diagnose.

Best of luck!

RH77

[95_corolla]

you need a miracle or a different car I sagest you go find two little crappy beaters. Example, a tercel you can find them cheap just by one with a salvage title. If the work was done at a dealership you know what your getting and it will serve its purpose.

[budomove]

95 corolla, Do you suggest he weld them together? He needs a giant to transport his family. You're right though, a suburban probably does not have much potential, every little bit helps i guess.

[cfg83]

occupant -

Welcome to the site!

I always imagine drilling holes in a heavy car until it looks like swiss cheese. But, somehow, I doubt that would be the safe thing to do.

Are there ways to shed weight (i.e. uneeded seats)? Does the 'burb have cylinder deactivation?

Sorry to hear about your woes. Sub 20 MPG would drive me INSANE!!!!!!!!!

CarloSW2

[red91sit]

Originally Posted by cfg83

occupant -

Welcome to the site!

I always imagine drilling holes in a heavy car until it looks like swiss cheese. But, somehow, I doubt that would be the safe thing to do.

Are there ways to shed weight (i.e. uneeded seats)? Does the 'burb have cylinder deactivation?

Sorry to hear about your woes. Sub 20 MPG would drive me INSANE!!!!!!!!!

CarloSW2

lol, i like the swiss cheese Idea. It has 2 barrel deactivation haha. You drive it easy, it uses 2 of the 4 barrels, hit the gas the other 2 open.

Speaking of carbeurators, ever consider getting a smaller one? I would imagine a stock one would flow quite a bit less air and fuel. If you don't want to go to such drastic measures, you might consider SeaFoam before your next oil change. It is just about the most amazing product for old gummed up carbeurators and motors ever created. Not to mention the cloud it produces is second to none

I do feel your pain though, my car started off getting a solid 9-11 mpg, YICK.

Originally Posted by 95_corolla

Actually an old limo may not be so bad I used to love looking at old ones on ebay like mid 80ish they look sweet and are big n safe. chevy, caddie and lincolin made some of the 6 door versions I always thought they were unique and can hold 9 peeps. I wish you best of luck

I second this man. I'll list a few key points to this great option.

1. Old limo's have a very small market, most people who want a limo are going to be getting a new to slightly used one, not some ghetto a$$ hooptie' haha. Most Limo service companies also have to update their models to stay attractive and competitive.

2. 99.9% of the time they are taken care of exquisetly from the time they are purchased till they are sold. This is mostly due to the fact a new limo is a rather large investment, and they have to be able to get their occupants from A-B with no reliability problems. Maintanence is the best way to keep it like new.

3. They're usually driven very nicely with mostly highway miles. I guarantee you've never seen a limo power sliding around town haha, mostly because the occupants would NOT like this at all.

4. Most importantly, If you get an older town car, I wouldn't be the only one with one on this site :-)

5. The misc. cool factor, what kid doesnt' want to get chauferred to school in a limo? Most limo's are the top of the line luxury models when new as well, so you get a real nice ride with the sweet options. Entry/Exit is easier than climbing over seats and such (never figured out why suv's and van's don't adopt 6 doors like some Limo's. Big trunks to throw your stuff in. Climate control systems designed for maximum comfort of ALL occupants, where as the SUV is mostly desinged for the first 2 or 4, the ones in back are usually cold (atleast in EVERY suv/van i've ever ridden in)

Ebay is full of Old Limo's noone wants, I'd imagine there are even more if you really look for them.

[Gary Palmer]

Ok, got one more consideration.

I used to have a 81 Plymouth Reliant, with a Mitsubishi 2.4L in it. On that car I leaned the idle mixture down to a point where the engine was not running smoothly, at all and would buck and snort, at a stop light. However, my mileage went from 22-23 mpg to 27 mpg.

I don't think this did any wonders for it's smog compliance, so this is a user beware. I readjusted the idle mixture before I had it smogged, and it passed fine. I couldn't see that it caused any other mechanical issues, for the motor, carburater or so forth. What it did apparently do, was to keep fuel from being dumped down the drain, keeping the idle path working full time, when the engine was just driving us down the road.

I don't know if their is any way to do anything on that carburater, but I believe my 87 carburater has a vacume bypass, that allows the idle circuit to not pull any fuel when the engine is above a certain rpm. The other thing which could be done, but I don't know if anyone does, is make a vacume bypass circuit for the regular jet's, so that the circuit can have a release that allows the fuel to be cut off, entirely, when your coasting, in gear.

Anyway, don't know if any of these are something you can or want to do, just thought I'd throw them out their, in case.

[skewbe]

As long as you keep it utilized, you could be ahead of the game as far as saving gas goes.

1. If you average 8 people in the vehicle then it is much like an 80mpg car carring one person. If not schlepping the family, then schlep a bunch of your coworkers, for a little mula of course

2. you can probably plan your trips a bit more efficiently, i.e. stock up more at the store, and save a few trips in the process.

3. You now have a financial motivation to walk with the fam to places within a couple miles of your house that you would have driven to previously.


Welcome to gassavers

[budomove]

Originally Posted by skewbe

If you average 8 people in the vehicle then it is much like an 80mpg car carring one person.

good point!