Classic Winnebagos & Vintage RVs

Topic Boards => Chevy - GMC Chassis => Topic started by: Aaarrghh on May 09, 2019, 07:12 PM

Title: Better mileage!
Post by: Aaarrghh on May 09, 2019, 07:12 PM
The guy at the parts store told me how to tell if I needed plug wires - he said to look under the hood at night, and if you saw a glow around them, they needed replacing. Well, after 20 years, there was no glow. I changed the cap and rotor, and the spark plugs, but the motor still ran a little rough. So I gave it new wires. Well of course, you say, and the motor smoothed out nicely and now I get 14 mpg instead of the 11-12 I've been used to. Of course!

Just sayin'
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: cosmic on May 09, 2019, 07:23 PM
14 miles to the gallon.. you must have the Mercedes diesel. Hm? I cant get 8mpg down hill.. lol
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on May 18, 2019, 09:24 AM
Quote from: cosmic on May 09, 2019, 07:23 PM
14 miles to the gallon.. you must have the Mercedes diesel. Hm? I cant get 8mpg down hill.. lol

Right?  My well tuned Chevy K5 Blazer with a 350 only got around 10mpg, and that was empty with no back seat.  Must be one heck of a magical engine. 

:angel:
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: Rickf1985 on May 18, 2019, 04:01 PM
He is driving a G van, it is very possible. And when I had a garage i worked on many Blazers and Broncos since they were very popular at the time and the Blazers always got right around 15 MPG. The Bronco's with the 351M engines were the gas hogs at around 12 MPG. It was my job to get these things at there best mileage so I am well aware of what they were getting. G camper vans were no different than a loaded work van and most of them averaged 12-14 depending on how they were driven. Kevin, you must have a very heavy right foot! Or you are a left foot braker.
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: Aaarrghh on May 18, 2019, 06:18 PM
I still have not recurved the distributor and advanced the initial timing, which from some old posts I was given to understand would help a lot. There's never an end of things to do!
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: Aaarrghh on May 18, 2019, 06:24 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on May 18, 2019, 04:01 PM
He is driving a G van, it is very possible.
It is a P20 chassis. Is that different?
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: Rickf1985 on May 18, 2019, 06:58 PM
Not sure, Never heard of a P20 but looking at your picture I am seeing a G series van. Maybe they are calling it a P series because of the RV body?
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: DaveVA78Chieftain on May 18, 2019, 11:23 PM
QuoteIt is a P20 chassis. Is that different?

Yes, a little bit different chassis from a G Series van even though they typically had G like front end sheet metal

QuoteBlazers always got right around 15 MPG


My 1996 Blazer (4.3L) gets 17 mpg on average.
Remember, there were full size Blazers and smaller ones based on the S-10 Chassis.  Mine is the smaller one.
Title: Re: Better mileage!
Post by: Rickf1985 on May 19, 2019, 08:01 AM
I was referring to the full size from the 70's.