20MPG on SVO, no-boost/gentle driving?

[BLK BRD 88]

Ok,
Two tanks of gas and I have averaged 24mpg mixed, town & freeway driving, now that the timing is set correctly & the spout is connected.
I stayed under 3000rpm on the freeway and shifted before it hit 3000rpm in each gear while driving out these two tanks.
I bought a ten page 84 SVO brochure on Ebay the other day that says estimated mileage 21 city 33 hwy.
I suppose that back then with the 55 speed limit that may have been possible.
Ron

[squeeezer]

I bought a 85 and am bringing it back from the dead. Now I know not to expect 30 mpg

[BLK BRD 88]

Has anyone on here with an SVO ever taken the upper wing off to see if the mileage improves or gets worse?
Ron

[TheSVOTrust-MarkHaas]

Has anyone on here with an SVO ever taken the upper wing off to see if the mileage improves or gets worse?
Ron

No but I've run without AC equipment, Radio and power windows (read Comp Prep) and gotten 11MPG in a SCCA enduro race!

Mark
P.S. How did the brackets go? Get the bolts for them?

[BLK BRD 88]

No but I've run without AC equipment, Radio and power windows (read Comp Prep) and gotten 11MPG in a SCCA enduro race!

Mark
P.S. How did the brackets go? Get the bolts for them?

Ha that is funny!

The brackets are on & they fit like a glove
Thx Mark
Ron

[EJSVO]

Update on SVO MPG -

My son and I just drove up to Sunday's Mustangs Unlimited NE Region SAAC Show in CT from NY

Total Miles 258.3 -
Fuel consumed 9.7 Gals Premium -
Avg Speed Round Trip - 56.6 MPH

Trip MPG - 26.67

Now if anyone is familiar with the North East and I-95 on a Sunday on a beautiful Spring day -

That is where the 56.6 MPH Avg speed becomes relevant -

Because - in the AM portion of the trip we made it 129 miles in just over
- By 7 minutes - 2 Hours - Which included a Brief "Pit Stop" -

So we moving at the pace of the AM traffic flow -

Which then puts the 56.6 MPH Avg Round Trip speed in proper perspective

And thus makes the MPG Figure a fair number for a 27 year old 2.3 Turbo with 3.73 Rear Gears and two 190 Lb occupants

[EJSVO]

I forgot to add

That on the Return leg we ran with the Windows & OEM Ford Sunroof OPEN

So toss in a little Aero Drag and the 26.6 looks even better

[BLK BRD 88]

At 26.6 MPG that SVO is definitely
"Daily Driver" material LOL

Ron

[EJSVO]

Ron:

Will be trying the same trip in the fall with my 1988 TC 5 Spd -

Looking to hit 28+ MPG given the same conditions

And with only me in the TC as my Son - will be away in College -

Good for him - Lonely for me - I won't have my Crusin" & Car Show Buddy

Expecting my new Fusion in 5 days -

Which should be about Mid Twenties in it's DD role

[bosscar]

Ok,
Two tanks of gas and I have averaged 24mpg mixed, town & freeway driving, now that the timing is set correctly & the spout is connected.
I stayed under 3000rpm on the freeway and shifted before it hit 3000rpm in each gear while driving out these two tanks.
I bought a ten page 84 SVO brochure on Ebay the other day that says estimated mileage 21 city 33 hwy.
I suppose that back then with the 55 speed limit that may have been possible.
Ron

Well, here is the original window sticker from my 83 Capri (which is 500 lbs lighter than an SVO) and it says 22 avg. And 30 years later, it gets almost exactly 22 mpg, pretty accurate estimate back in 1983. But I drive it at 70-75 back and forth to work, plus a lot of stop and go traffic. It could probably get 25 pretty easy if I slowed down a little. I just don't like getting passed on the highway! I forgot to mention that I added A/C a couple years ago too!

[BLK BRD 88]

Well, here is the original window sticker from my 83 Capri (which is 500 lbs lighter than an SVO) and it says 22 avg. And 30 years later, it gets almost exactly 22 mpg, pretty accurate estimate back in 1983. But I drive it at 70-75 back and forth to work, plus a lot of stop and go traffic. It could probably get 25 pretty easy if I slowed down a little. I just don't like getting passed on the highway! I forgot to mention that I added A/C a couple years ago too!

I am not sure where you found info that says your 83 2.3T Capri weighed 500lbs less than an SVO.

Here is the curb weight data from Automobile Catalog:

83 Capri 2.3 turbo: Curb weight (without a driver):
1333 kg / 2939 lbs

84 SVO: Curb weight (without a driver):
1357 kg / 2992 lbs

85.5/86 SVO: Curb weight (without a driver):
1424 kg / 3139 lbs

According to this data the late SVOs were just 200lbs. heavier than your Capri, and the early ones only 53lbs. heavier.
Ron
PS Anytime you can get the same mileage on a car 30 years later, I would say that it is doing great

[EJSVO]

As to weight

My 1986 SVO is listed as 3068 on the Ford Paperwork and NYS Reg

I can see a 5.0 Mustang / Capri being "heavier" but not sure about 500 lbs difference.

Possibly a "Vert might be close to that number

At the end of the day 20+ MPG is always wallet friendly

[bosscar]

I am not sure where you found info that says your 83 2.3T Capri weighed 500lbs less than an SVO.

Here is the curb weight data from Automobile Catalog:

83 Capri 2.3 turbo: Curb weight (without a driver):
1333 kg / 2939 lbs

84 SVO: Curb weight (without a driver):
1357 kg / 2992 lbs

85.5/86 SVO: Curb weight (without a driver):
1424 kg / 3139 lbs

According to this data the late SVOs were just 200lbs. heavier than your Capri, and the early ones only 53lbs. heavier.
Ron
PS Anytime you can get the same mileage on a car 30 years later, I would say that it is doing great

That's is odd. I guess I have always been under the impression that the 84 SVO was approx. 3400 lbs and the Capri was 2900 lbs. With all the fancy A-arms, crossmember, heavier seats, 16" rims, wing, intercooler, etc, back in 84 I thought I remember reading somewhere that the car was heavy. I actually owned an 84 SVO for a few years along with my Capri, and the Capri was much faster, and it always seemed like the SVO "felt" heavier. Maybe the better ride and quieter road noise made me just think it was heavier. Nowadays, I would rather have the quiet car with the better ride.

[kiwi]

I got about 27-28mpg at a roughly 15-16AFR last trip....

[SVO4PWR2]

Was it a good trip?

[kiwi]

Last Reunion Rick......

[SVO4PWR2]

Geez you're as bad as me. I hope to put on a few miles this year.
-RICH-

[In2Fords]

So I have done my first fill up after putting on the t3/t4.
The whole tank was test and tune, 90% city and 90% of the time my entire goal was to spool up to see where my turbo/boost was at. I had a problem with the wastegate actuator since the t4 is not only larger in overall diameter but also in bolt diameter and rotated for the wastegate mount so it need to be heavily modified and then adjusted. That meant each time I went out for about 10-15 miles and stomp on it repeatedly in all ranges to see where I was. I couldn't get the actuator to close all the way in the position it need to be in line and I couldn't get it to open all the way in any other position, I found that out after about 170 miles of test, tune and repeat.
I bought a cheap aftermarket actuator that has a threaded rod and adjustable mount and installed that and repeat for another hundred miles.
With the stock actuator I never got over 10 psi and with the new one I ran between 12 and 15 psi.
I filled up and it took a little over 11 gallons, I did the math and came up with 24.5 mpg. I kow this is with stock or less boost BUT its almost all in town and continually stomping on it to 6Krpm through 3 gears, slowing back down and doing it over and over on a non intercooled mostly stock 85 t-bird 2.3T in a 84 t-top.
Im hoping I get much better now that Im dialed in and I shouldn't be stomping on it for a while as I got no tickets but a few warnings in the last few weeks

[kiwi]

I cant believe romping on it thru the gears/test at 10psi and still got 25 mpg???? Come on....Fill it up and do it again....

[In2Fords]

This tank has been mostly normal driving, very spirited but still daily driving, I have a aero tank so my gauge reads backwards and wrong, my best guess is that Im at about 1/4 tank or little less and I have about 235 miles, so im still on track at 24-25 mpg. Will update when I refill.

[In2Fords]

Just went out to make sure I was right on this tank and took a pic. I *think* once my gauge starts reading empty to full, in reality that's just under half to empty so Im some where between 1/4 and 1/2, I think

[In2Fords]

I cant believe romping on it thru the gears/test at 10psi and still got 25 mpg???? Come on....Fill it up and do it again....

A lot of it was real low-no boost and as I understand it the more boost the more fuel consumption.
I wish I has a afr or a egt so I could get a idea if Im running lean or what. This is on a stock tune, 91 octane and injector cleaner/octane booster.

This tank should shed more light on it.

[JTurbo]

Just filled up the SVO. 315.3 miles on the tank, took 10.864 gallons up to fill.

29.02 MPG

That's all local / moderate speed driving (<50 MPH). And I baby the car (most shifts are around 2500 RPM).

I'll check it again and report back in another week or so....

[kiwi]

I might have to throw the flag on the 2500rpm....

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I routinely got 24mpg in my Merkur, but those cars are a good bit lighter than a Fox.