MGB & GT Forum

Welcome! Sign In Register

Please Sign In or Register to Search

MGB expected MPG?

Posted by n56545

MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey, Jaguar, Classic British Car Restoration Parts & Accessories

Want to advertise your business in this space? Click here for more information!

Page 2 of 2

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

Re: MGB expected MPG? #21
mac townsend Fairfield, CA, USA	Posted: March 06, 2013 01:57PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 18,409

I'd say a realistic range would be 18-35.

anything much over 25 I'd suspect of bad records/calculation or heavy highway miles.

a heavy foot shows up more prominently with the B. And it seems a lot of folks seem to believe one must keep the tach needle between 4 and 6 at all times.

And city driving also drags it down further than a modern car would see.

1973 Roadster. A nice 50-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed
MGB Tips and Tricks: www.mgrescue.com

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #22
Jim K James A. Krasnansky Liberty, KY, USA 1970 MG MGB GT "Chloe" 1971 MG MGB GT "Roscoe" 1972 MG MGB "Camilla"	Posted: March 06, 2013 03:56PM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 8,012

I bought a '70 GT in 2010. I put 12,000 miles on it in a year. Mid-grade fuel, HS4's, OD. I average about 28 - 32 mpg. Got 36 on a couple 700 mile runs with OD on the Interstate. This '70 is the best running MG out of the 6 I've had.

Jim K is a grease-stained wretch

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #23
Starbuck Monte johnjulio Greensboro, North Carolina, USA 1967 MG MGB GT "Toaster" 1974 MG MGB "The B" 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 "Shitfire"	Posted: March 06, 2013 05:34PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 3,340

If properly tuned:

Ethanol fuel will reduce your mileage 8-15%

Tire under-inflation can also affect it as can thicker viscosity oil.

Also how you drive is important. holding in a lower gear too long can really pull down your mileage but shifting too soon and lugging the engine can do the same.

I averaged 27-32 with my roadster over a 10 year period using straight 50wt oil.

My GT has averaged around 26-28 over the last 1000 miles though I do have some more fine-tuning to do.

Neither car has overdrive.

"...They say that a man with two restoration projects is a poor man...I now have three...WTF was I thinking!?!?!?!?!?!?!" UPDATE---I now have four projects!

1967 MGB-GT, 1974 MGB Roadster, 1995 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1, 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500, 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible (Wifey's)

My 1974 MGB restoration at: http://mgbproject.blogspot.com/
My 1979 Spitfire restoration at: http://spitfire1500project.blogspot.com/
My 1967 MGB-GT restoration at: http://mgbgtproject.blogspot.com/

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #24
tom706 Tom D Cape May, USA	Posted: March 06, 2013 08:52PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 13

my 71 with 32/36 weber non o/d pertronix ig, new plugs/wires/cap & rotor about 22mpg overall average--rebuilt head, new oilpump and premimum fuel .. most rides 50 miles or under, some 100 milers..I keep stabil in all my fuel as todays gas deteriates if it is not used within about 2 weeks of purchase.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #25
mgguy1976 Mike Keeney scenic Fleetwood PA, USA 1976 MG MGB	Posted: March 06, 2013 09:35PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 170

I figure on 18mpg as my average. 76 B, twin HS4 with AAA carb needles, desmogged, performance cam, no OD, I don't drive like an old man, it is for fun.

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #26
mac townsend Fairfield, CA, USA	Posted: March 06, 2013 10:39PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 18,409

the only time I have ever seen premium fuel to deliver greater mileage was when I had a SAAB that would advance timing until it pinged and then back off. High test got about 10% better over about 5,000 miles.

Never saw that on any other car. Including the MG. The only way consumption would be affected is driving parameters or active engine tune adjustment and the B doesn't have the latter as the SAAB did.

It is true that if the car is having (perhaps unrecognized) detonation, then premium would probably reduce/eliminate that and that would affect mileage to the good. But that means the state of tune was inappropriate for the fuel. Correcting this should change the matter considerably.

1973 Roadster. A nice 50-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed
MGB Tips and Tricks: www.mgrescue.com

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #27
cdaubs Charlie Daubs Redding, California, USA 1964 Jaguar E-Type "Snowball" 1970 MG MGB	Posted: March 06, 2013 11:59PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 109

My '70 got 30mpg when I drove it home from Las Vegas to Redding. A trip of over 800 miles. Not really sure how many miles are on it since it has been through a couple of owners and the speedo has turned over and the cable is now broken. But I think with proper tuning, good gas, and a light to moderate foot, you should get something close.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #28
ShickenChit Toby Foster Danville, CA, USA	Posted: March 07, 2013 01:22AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 421

19.5mpg overall, Weber DGV 32/36, wider than normal "boy racer" Civic tires, 5 speed tranny, "hot street cam," California gas. I've never really messed with my timing, as my timing light died, and it seems to run fine except for being consumptive.

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #29
woodstock1 jim jensen cleveland, USA	Posted: March 07, 2013 06:11PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 563

...check the plugs.....and the points.......if plugs are black, then adjust the carbs......or go to ngk bp5 es.......jim....ps- if fawn colour- to heck with it.....just enjoy the car........most here can afford a few bucks in gas.....

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #30
ourmg George Heissenberger Victor, New York, USA 1973 MG MGB "OUR MG- The Old Girl" 2006 Mini Cooper "Greta's Mini"	Posted: March 07, 2013 09:04PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 2,827

1973 desmogged MGB with stock SU HIF's and I get 25-27 MPG like clockwork - have for decades.

"OUR MG" Glacier White 1973 MGB, owned since 1983. Factory hardtop. Member MG Car Club Western New York Centre
"Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Ben Franklin

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #31
spikemichael Michael Caputo Athol, MA, USA 1973 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB "Freebie" 1976 MG MGB "B-4" 1979 MG MGB "MegaBeanie" 1989 Suzuki Intruder 800 → more	Posted: March 08, 2013 12:40AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,938

'79 Rubber bumper
no over drive
Weber 32/36 (DGEV)
stock internals
Peco exhaust w/ resonator at the back only
Consistent 28 MPG on 89 Ethanol 10%
25 MPG on 87 octane E10.

sniffer says I run lean.

Michael J. Caputo
'79 RBB and '73 CBB owner with extensive experience in 12v Audio System design and installation.
Vendor of Regalia and Promotional Products. Forum Member with a warped sense of humor.

How to advertise on this website

MG CALENDARS! MGB or MGA order TODAY! – Athol, MA USA $20 delivered anywhere! Visit www.mgbcalendar.com or CALL 617-674-4367

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #32
Rod H. Amity, Oregon, USA 1964 MG MGB 1968 MG MGB GT	Posted: March 08, 2013 01:11AM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 14,987

I've always got about 20 in town and 30 on highway trips with my MGBs, with no overdrive. Got about 32 once with the roadster on a trip, and have sometimes dropped to 18 or so when the trips were short and the weather cold.

To the pure, all things are pure...

'63 MGB
'68 MGBGT
'80 VW Vanagon Kombi
'09 Mazda 3 with 5 speed manual

Reply Quote

Re: MGB expected MPG? #33
gerrynj gerry brinkman nj, USA	Posted: March 08, 2013 06:50AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 217

MkI - Overdrive - Supercharger;

Regularly get 25mpg - took a few tries to get the mixture and timing right
but now is perfect. Plugs are a nice malty colour, engine has good torque/power.

You may want to try an O2 sensor and a good gauge to tune the mixture.
Gerry

Reply Quote

Page 2 of 2

Topic List Forum List Newer Older Start New Topic

RSS

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute

MGB & GT · MG Midget · Buy, Sell & Trade · Vendor & Group Buy · MG Engine Swaps · Original MG · MGA · MGC · MG Magnette · 1100 & 1300 · T-Series & Prewar · Modern MGs · MG Motorsports · MG-2013 Event · Member Meetup · Other Vehicles · Off Topic · Clubs

Having trouble posting or changing forum settings?
Check the Forum Help File (FAQ) or contact the webmaster.
View the archived version of this thread.
Built using Phorum Open Source Software

The MG Experience

www.mgexp.com

MGB & GT Forum

MGB expected MPG?

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!Members Sign In if you've already registered, orRegister a New AccountRegistration is free and takes less than a minute

Join Our Club

MGExp Menu

—

Adjust Text Size

More to Explore

Add your reply here, or post your own questions!

Members Sign In if you've already registered, or
Register a New Account
Registration is free and takes less than a minute