> I'd suspect you may be leaking gas rather than burning it. Do you smell gas? Especially when cornering with a fullish tank? If so, you may be leaking from the rubber elbow where the fill pipe connects with the tank. Another possibility is a leaky fuel pump diaphragm. There is a little hose on the pump that directs leakage in to the cooling air stream below cylinders 1 & 2 <it's the one that goes thru the sheet metal>. Pull it off at the pump. There should be NOTHING coming out of it. My '72 had 137.5 main jets and never got great mileage <17-20>, but it never got as bad as 14. During the time I had that bus I had several fuel leaks from various places: Cracked hoses, leaky fuel pump, one of the little brass tubes where the hose connects to a carburetor came loose, etc., etc. It's not expensive and probably a good idea to simply replace every piece of rubber fuel line between the tank and the carbs if you've got the time.
Dave
> My gas mileage has hit an all-time low of 14 mpg. I have a 72' 1700 > and I'm at my wits end as to how to get more miles for the buck. I've > changed the ignition system completely (i.e. brand new), I've checked > the compression and its A-OK and I've changed the cut-off jets in the > carburator. All of these things were done on the advice of > mechanics... What I have not yet attempted is a carb equalization. I > didn't think it needed one because the engine runs like a Swiss > timepiece. Any suggestions? Is the "volume control" screw really just > an idle mixture screw? If not, then is there a volume control screw on > the passenger's side carb? AAArgh, I hate not being able to drive my VW... > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Mark Sabourin > > "They all err; Muslim, Christian, and Jew > Two make up humanity's universal sect, > One man, intelligent without religion > The other, religious without intellect." > - Ma'arri (1057) > > "The plague of man is the opinion of knowledge. That is why ignorance > is so recommended by our religion as a quality suitable to belief > and obedience." > "Man is certainly crazy. He could not make a mite, and he makes gods > by the dozen." > - Michel de Montaigne > > Carleton University > > Email address: msabouri@chat.carleton.ca > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >
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