Re: Engine questions

[David Bongo <dbongo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ryan Moore wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Bongo" <dbongo@domain.elided>
> To: "John Hofstetter" <hofs@domain.elided>
> Cc: "IHC Digest" <ihc-digest@domain.elided>
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 17:48
> Subject: Re: Engine questions
>
> <snip>
> >
> > John,
> >
> > Thanks for the reply.  I'm going from "easy and cheap" to "hard and
> > expensive" in solving this. See my previous reply to this list for the
> first
> > round. Would a single tank (or 2) of higher octane gas help?  Or would I
> more
> > likely have to switch over full time?  Wouldn't be worth it do that.  At
> an
> > estimated 8.3 MPG I'd use up a LOT more money by switching to a higher
> octane
> > gas.
> >
> > The spark plugs should be good.  The engine was rebuilt very recently and
> has
> > probably under 2000 miles on it.  (Under half of which are delivery.)
> >
> > If carbon is building up I'll want to fix that, though.  It can't be good
> for
> > the engine (even if it's not specifically bad.)
> >
> > Thanks for the help.
> >
> > Dave
> >
>
> At 8.3 MPG, you sure you don't have a fuel leak or something?
>

I'm pretty sure I don't have a fuel leak.  You must have missed the beginning of
this thread: I use the Scout for mail delivery.  My Cherokee (much lighter
vehicle with a fuel-injected 4.0L engine, headers and an O/D tranny for the
little bit of highway driving I do) got about 10.9 MPG (If I recall correctly)
when it was used on the route.  8.3MPG for the Scout (much heavier vehicle with
a 1bbl carb on a 4.2L engine and NO headers or O/D) doesn't seem too far off the
track.  I'd be happier if it was higher (say 9.5-10) but the Mopar FI kit runs
about $1600, I think.  Plus installation.  Headers would be a few hundred more.
It would take literally YEARS to make my money back on that, if ever.

>
> I'd try the timing, I've had an engine diesel before and retarding the
> timing a little solved it.  Just because you can't hear the engine knocking
> doesn't mean it's not advanced too far.  Just my humble opinion and 2 cents.
>
> -Ryan

The timing is next on my list of things to do...if the rain will stop.

Dave