Technical Articles
Fuel Consumption
Well, we all should know about vacuum advance and be able to repair them by now. Neil Thew at Kiama is
putting a new diaphragm in his Healey right now, so he’ll be able to help out the South Coast members. Just
remember: it’s there to improve economy at light throttle, cruising between 2,000 and 3,500 RPM. Average fuel
consumption should be between 23 – 26 MPG. The formula to calculate your average fuel consumption is:
John Kent in his BJ8, with a 3.5:1 diff, big circumference tyres and a 22% overdrive was getting close to
30 MPG on his way to Albany. When Geoff Sherman and I went across to Perth, Geoff was getting 34 MPG
with a 3.5:1 diff, big tyres and a 28% overdrive. With the vacuum advance system working correctly you’ll get
a clean, efficient burn and clean plugs & cylinders. You can actually go up one grade colder plugs on a long trip.
At the last meeting we showed the TEFBA radiator water filter and I think these are a good idea and keep
your new $800 radiator from clogging with krud. Flush it every 2 years. I refill with Nobles Ultra Pure Water
and a bottle of tri-acid corrosion inhibitor such as Nulon or Wynnes. You do not need glycol or anti-freeze
unless your Healey lives in the mountains. Glycol actually makes the cylinders & pistons run hotter due to
fact that it is denser than water and slows down the heat waves escaping from combustion.
Have fun,
Barry Campbell
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