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Excessive Fuel Usage

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Excessive Fuel Usage #1 This topic is about my 1959 MG MGA 1600
joerberg Joe A Hoosick Falls, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1954 MG TF 1959 MG MGA 1600 1963 MG MGB 1965 MG MGB & more	Topic Creator (OP) Sep 29, 2016 01:37 PM Joined 11 years ago 1,166 Posts

I am restoring an MGA with a five main MGB engine and all mechanicals are done. After driving the chassis without a body I'm noticing that it seems to be using an extremely high amount of fuel. Running the car around the block will burn maybe a pint and a half. The car starts and idles fine and runs very strong with no indications of overly rich settings. Fuel levels are good in both carbs. I have an electric fuel pump that runs continuously and does not shut off like the original ones but there is no indication of overflowing from the carbs and no leaks in the fuel lines. I don't know if it means anything but it won't idle below 800 rpm. It stumbles and dies.

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Re: Excessive Fuel Usage #2
RAY 67 TOURER Ray Marloff Fort Bragg, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB "My Girl"	Sep 29, 2016 01:40 PM Top Contributor Joined 14 years ago 17,490 Posts

Your non-stock fuel pump may overpowering the needles in your carburetors and dumping the gas into your intake manifold. It would cause both of your problems. RAY

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Re: Excessive Fuel Usage #3
ClayJ Clay Johnston Mt. Olive, MS, USA Sign in to contact 1972 MG MGB	Sep 29, 2016 02:24 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 17,646 Posts

Let us see a picture of the spark plugs after a run with little/no idling.

Properly tuned should see 25-30mpg depending on driving conditions. I usually tune for 27-28mpg.

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Re: Excessive Fuel Usage #4
HiPowerShooter James Booker Lake Winneconne, WI, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB	Sep 29, 2016 03:11 PM Joined 9 years ago 7,787 Posts

Truer words were never spoken...

In reply to # 3364261 by ClayJ
Properly tuned should see 25-30mpg depending on driving conditions. I usually tune for 27-28mpg.

"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

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