How can you make a REALLY fuel inefficient car fuel effcient?

Question

In my family, cars are passed down, thus I have inherited from my father a 1977 Lincoln Mark V, which gets (no lie, as stupid as this will sound) SEVEN MILES TO THE GALLON. It's a nice car, it is, but at the price of gas today, I'm better off walking unless something can be done to make this car fuel efficient. If anyone has any suggestions (actual ones, not 'haha, put it on eBay' suggestions) I would be eternally grateful. I like it, but not enough to keep it at 7 mpg. :(

Answer 1

Consider a Liquid Petroleum Gas conversion.  In Australia you can convert to LPG for about $1000 to $2000, and there are government subsidies for doing so, because it helps the environment.  An LPG tank takes a bit of space in the boot, but they're about 30% cheaper to run.  Also, I think LPG is better for the environment as a fuel.  

I would ask around for quotes to get the work done, and also look into any government subsidies where you live that might help with the cost.  It would be worth it to keep an old car like that.

In the meantime, drive it very conservatively, and keep your tyres inflated to the highest safe inflation.  That will reduce fuel usage minimally.  Maybe this needs to become the 'special occasion' car that you keep while having a much more efficient car as your day to day car.  I would consider lightweighting the vehicle as much as possible.  Don't carry unnecessary stuff in the car, because the heavier it is, the more fuel it'll use.

Best wishes

Answer 2

just use it only when you have to, be grateful and enjoy the car.... there is nothing short of getting something else that would help save on gas for that car..

do the simple things like keep the car tuned up, tires properly inflated, never carry lots of junk in the car...extra weight costs ,more to haul around... new air filter, clean oil...etc

Answer 3

fuel consumption of a car, per mile, is determined by many factors, including:

- efficiency of the motor

- efficiency of the transmission

- air resistance

- rolling resistance

- weight

Your car has very little efficiency in every one of these aspects.

It seems a insurmountable task to seriously improve your car.

Answer 4

That's a cruising (traveling, not just showing) car.  It's not made to stop and start all day, every day.

Even so, I think that car should get at least twice that mileage on the highway.  Around town is a different story.  I don't think it should drop to seven unless you are pushing it all the time when you start.  Be particularly gentle on the start.  That's where a heavy car like that sucks the fuel.

I had a Rochester Quadrajet that came on my 1968 427 Corvette someone talked me into converting to a Holly double pumper.  That was a stupid move.  I lost 5 miles per gallon and didn't get enough performance compensation.  The Quadrajet had small primaries and giant secondaries.  It gave decent mileage on the first and the car seemed to leap off the ground when the rear ones opened at higher rpm.  

After everything I note below checks out, you might look into a carburetor like that.  That big old car won't hop.  It's too heavy and the engine isn't performance rigged, but you might get a few more mpg.

The first thing to do is make sure the engine is running properly.  Does the engine run smoothly?  That car's should.

If so, what's coming out of the tailpipe?  Is it almost clear when it's idling?  If so, put your face near the tail pipe but not right behind it and wave some of the exhaust toward your face.  If it smells fairly clean but perhaps a little like vinegar (acidy), the engine is probably running OK.

If it smells oily or like raw gasoline, your engine needs work.

If white smoke (not just water vapor when the exhaust pipes are cold) is coming out it has valve guide or ring problems that can foul the operation.  If it has black smoke it's fouled or you have carburetor, or ignition problems.

Any of those things causing the black smoke will kill your gas mileage.  Anything making the engine run rough will kill some gas mileage.

Answer 5

I can't think of anything free or cheap, maybe someone else is more creative.  I'd be looking at leaning out the carburetor or replacing it (and possibly the intake manifold).  Obviously, keeping it tuned up is a must and keeping your tires inflated properly, etc.

Answer 6

There are specific equipments you can put to increase your fuel efficiency by 4-15% more.

Don't race with that car or you'll burn a lot more.

Dont' carry heavy loads with it and you may want to change some of its parts to lighter materials (not practical since you'll only save a very minimal amount of fuel)

Get a check-up for that car, 7mpg seems a lot.

Bottomline is get a mechanic or buy a new car.

Answer 7

You should be getting much better then 7 mpg even in town, if I remember right, it’s been a long time since I drove a 77 Lincoln, you should be seeing about 12-15 mpg in town and about 18-20+ on the highway.

I’m willing to bet you need your carburetor cleaned and repaired. Then I’d start checking for vacuum leaks, and lastly transmission. You didn’t say how many miles were on the car, but it really doesn’t matter, it probably has a lot of varnish in the carburetor, and the floats are probably full of fuel. The metal floats will develop small leaks and let them sink too low; the rubber one will absorb fuel over time and will sink too low. This would result in too much fuel in the carburetor and it will cause the engine to run rich resulting in bad gas mileage, fouled plugs, and if it’s really bad smoke from the tail pipe. The kit and floats aren’t that expensive so if you’re really handy and have to tools you could do it yourself, if you don’t want too or can’t find an older mechanic, mid-40’s +, to do the work. I say mid-40s+ because they probably have the most experience working on carburetors then a younger guy or gal. Carburetors can be a little touchy and someone who hasn’t working on them before may not look at the needles, or the seats, etc. Then have the mechanic look for vacuum leaks, and then finally make sure the transmission is shifting correctly.

I’m willing to bet most of the problem though is in the carburetor.

Hope it helped and good luck.

Answer 8

sell it buy a honda....new cap rotor,plugs and wires should get u 12 to 15 mpg...clean the carb  and pcv valve....

Answer 9

put in new engine

Answer 10

there are a number of things you can do to improve the fuel efficiency of your Lincoln. however with its 460ci V8 dont expect 25mpg.

start by freshening up the engine by replacing the rings, bearing, regrind the valves, new gaskets, etc.

install a cam with a more modern profile to maximize efficiency, such as the comp cams xe262 extreme energy cam.

swap the carb for fuel injection. i would use an after market system for maximum tunability. something like the F.A.S.T. system. you will also want one that controls that ignition as well, preferably a coil on plug system.

change the transmission to an over drive trans.

change all the lubricating fluids to synthetic fluids for maximum lubrication.

make sure the tires are properly inflated, and sized right for the car.

remember that this is a big, heavy(5000lbs curb weight) car, that wasnt designed for fuel economy. with the right mods, you might get 20mpg rolling down the freeway on cruise control, and you might even get as much as 12-13 around town. but that will require you to keep the car tuned razor sharp all the time, and i dont think you want to put that kind of effort into the car. i would get it close to where i want it, and call it good. and i would use it on weekends, or at times where i just didnt want to drive an econobox, or as a back up car in case something happens to the primary driver.

Answer 11

Don't drive it! get a hybrid and keep your car in a safe place until gas prices will go down ( unless they don'T).

Answer 12

A free car trumps four dollar gas - for a while.  Drive it until you are able to get a substantial amount of money up for a reasonable car.  That is a car that gets at least 30 mpg on the highway.  Then sell it for almost nothing and buy a high mileage car.

Answer 13

Sorry unless you feel like extensive engine modifications, you're not going anywhere. I would just recommend keeping it, and buying another car to drive around in more like a civic. Then you could still take it for a cruise once in a while and the gas wouldn't hit ya too bad!

Answer 14

If it's diesel you could convert it to run off used cooking oil which can be purchased for pennies a gallon from restaurants...if not get it for free from them (otherwise they have to pay to dispose of used oil).

If it uses unleaded, you are kind of screwed...

Answer 15

park it.

Answer 16

I saw a news report about a man who is running his car on vege oil given away (with thanks) from his local chinese restaurant.  It only costs him a few dollars a month and I am sure there is more to it than pouring the oil directly in the tank - but nothing worthwhile is easy.     You could try lightening the car by taking out non essential items (like the back seat, door trims, !!).   A good strategy would be to plan your upcoming week so that you use as little fuel as possible to get through (eg stay overnight at a friends place is it is close to where you have to go).   Another suggestion would be to car pool and share costs with people having to travel in the same direction as you.      Acceleration uses heaps and heaps of fuel so try and do it gently - also look ahead on the road so that you dont rush up to a stop - every time you brake unecasarilly you are wasting the fuel that got you to that speed in the first place.

Answer 17

throw dat car to junk !