Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

prezoom wrote:Playing with the bleed valve in the bottom of the float chamber can make drastic results in mileage. The accelerator pump moves a lot of fuel every time you move your foot, extra fuel your engine does not need. Saying a steady foot makes for better mileage is spot on. Try enlarging the bleed hole until it starts diminishing your performance. It will help increase your mileage.

Rob Walker
26-4889

On a Delorto, the throw of the accellerator pump is adjustable by two nuts locked together on a screwed rod at the engine side of the carbs.

You have to take them off to get at the adjustment, so it is tedious.

Too little throw & you won't be able to pump the throttle to prime the engine to start it.

It is just possible to adjust them with the carbs on but you need three very small hands!! I have been thinking of replacing the little two nut (lock nut!) setup with a three mm nylock. Anyone done this? It should then be possible with a little ratchet spanner (Got one) to set the throw to suit. My carbs are still very rich on the acc' pump and it is causing a slight rich cut / flat spot. Livable with but could be better.

Alex....

Well.....got back earlier. 246 miles in total, mainly M-Way & Dual Carriageway. Arrived having travelled at a sedate pace (60-70) & then 40 mins traffic jam. Went home & 20 mins traffic jam before plain sailing. So....topped up shortly after leaving the circuit ( I reckon I used between 1/3 & 1/2 a tank on the morning journey), putting in another 16.5 litres. That brimmed it again - & I still have over half a tank left.

So I reckon I would have made it without a fill-up, which is comforting to know the range would probably be 260-270 miles. Also, I concur with the steady throttle position style of driving - minimal inputs as mentioned earlier.

Good to see so many Lotus F1s. Even the 43 ! (Lotus BRM). Such a shame it was sans engine....

If I get time I'll put some pics up.

Regards
Richard

I put newly rebuilt dellortos on my 1970 s-4se using a 150 hp twincam with a ZF 5 speed and got 6 mpg I've gradually tuned from there and got 36 mpg when I thought I had it about right. Drove 90 miles today mostly on curvy secondary roads and returned 39 mpg. One plug looked a little lean so I've adjusted that barrel slightly. Think I've got it pretty close now Scott

My Stromberg Elan regularly returns 29 miles per U.S. gallon around town. For highway driving, it gets 35. Last weekend, I completed an 800 mile trip in my 5-speed big valve Stromberg Europa Special. Averaging 70 m.p.h., I got 37 m.p.g. Apparently, the extra gear is worth no more than 2 m.p.g. so one of the benefits of performing a 5-speed conversion on the Elan probably deserves reconsideration.

I was checking my mpg a lot towards the end of last summer before the car was put away for all the work. I was getting around 32-38mpg depending on conditions and as I knew the engine was being rebuilt I was not very, erm, mechanically sympathetic, shall we say (e.g. only below 5,000rpm when waiting at junctions).

I really would like to hear what owners of Elans with a five speed box and EFI are getting to the gallon.

Mazzini

You will shortly,I've just altered my cruising ratio to 16.5:1 and am going to finish this tank full on my trip over to Sheffield tomorrow,going to VOSA as they want to double-check my chassis number...

P.S. I wasn't really doing 95mph on my way to Newark Autojumble Sunday morning...

Shortly

John

Not best pleased,just filled the tank and am getting 38.7mpg,was hoping for the upper 40's but there is still room to maneuver yet...

John

it all sounds way too accurate to me... I get about a weeks driving to a tank...

Hi Gordon,

I guess petrol isn't as heavily taxed in Oz as it is in the UK?

All the best,

Louis

AUD$1.50 a litre, issue is more a fuel gauge that is dodgy to say the least!

I'm paying approximately AUD $ 2.10, I think most of that goes to HMG in tax.

I did 262 miles yesterday just for a service and MOT, topped the 11 gallon tank right up the night before and still have half a tank left. I get way over 40mpg on a run, even when I am baiting the repmobiles who think I'm driving an old and slow sportscar. Perhaps I'm cheating using a zetec with fuel injection?

My old twincam did over 40mpg so long as you didn't go over 70mph on a run.

regards

Fit a diesel.