Real world MPG from 2 1/4?

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Chalky.

Chalky.

Well-Known Member
Posts
5,150
Location
Mid Wales
Hi guys!

I drove my series 3 , 5 bearing 2.25 petrol for about 3 months when I was 18, I took it off the road then, and now, at 30 I want to get her back on the road as a weekend fun toy.

What mpg can I expect (roughly) out of it? I'll just be tootling along, 35-40 mph, with 7.50x16 xzls.

I have a surplus v8 that is my ideal, although this would mean rebuilding the box and buying a conversion ring etc before I can get her running, this is the cheaper option, just get her back asap.

If the mpg is too rubbish then I might reconsider and do the engine conversion first as I may as well have pulling power and rubbish economy as opposed to just rubbish economy!

Any thoughts welcome! :)
 
My S3 with a 2 1/4 petrol did at best about 22mpg .. but used almost as much oil! Rarely dropped it, just burnt it ... ;) At worst, towing a caravan and fully loaded with family and crap it only dropped a few mpg though, maybe 17mpg, but rarely hit 55 mph.

When we fixed it, had the top end rebuilt, it still did about 22 mpg but didn't need petrol additives or much oil at all and stayed roughly the same mpg empty or loaded, though would cruise at about 55-60 pretty cleanly. I'd hazard a guess that a V8 wouldn't be stupidly far away from those figures simply due to the lack of weight compared to what a V8 was expected to pull, but as you probably know, that also depends on the state of tune and so many other things. I'd go V8 if I had one just for the extra giggle factor, which is high anyway .. :)
 
Paul D said:
My S3 with a 2 1/4 petrol did at best about 22mpg .. but used almost as much oil! Rarely dropped it, just burnt it ... ;) At worst, towing a caravan and fully loaded with family and crap it only dropped a few mpg though, maybe 17mpg, but rarely hit 55 mph.

When we fixed it, had the top end rebuilt, it still did about 22 mpg but didn't need petrol additives or much oil at all and stayed roughly the same mpg empty or loaded, though would cruise at about 55-60 pretty cleanly. I'd hazard a guess that a V8 wouldn't be stupidly far away from those figures simply due to the lack of weight compared to what a V8 was expected to pull, but as you probably know, that also depends on the state of tune and so many other things. I'd go V8 if I had one just for the extra giggle factor, which is high anyway .. :)
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That's an absolutely spot response mate, and really, just what I wanted to hear! :) I think ill attempt the gearbox with Dad and just take a bit longer to get her back on the road! Cheers again Paul! :)
 
never had the petrol but people seem to say there is no noticeable difference in economy between the standard petrol 2.25 and the 3.5 v8.

if you have a spare v8 it would be an offence not to stick it in there :D
 
suburban said:
never had the petrol but people seem to say there is no noticeable difference in economy between the standard petrol 2.25 and the 3.5 v8.

if you have a spare v8 it would be an offence not to stick it in there :D
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Is that down to the V8 being detuned so as to make bugger all power though? Compared to what JE, Kingsley or the other tuners seem to get out of it anyway.

Now a 4.6 V8 would be another matter entirely...
 
Gottschalk said:
Hi guys!

I drove my series 3 , 5 bearing 2.25 petrol for about 3 months when I was 18, I took it off the road then, and now, at 30 I want to get her back on the road as a weekend fun toy.

What mpg can I expect (roughly) out of it? I'll just be tootling along, 35-40 mph, with 7.50x16 xzls.

I have a surplus v8 that is my ideal, although this would mean rebuilding the box and buying a conversion ring etc before I can get her running, this is the cheaper option, just get her back asap.

If the mpg is too rubbish then I might reconsider and do the engine conversion first as I may as well have pulling power and rubbish economy as opposed to just rubbish economy!

Any thoughts welcome! :)
Click to expand...
If you take it easy on acceleration, you should get reasonable mileage for a carburetted petrol engine in a heavy vehicle.

Keeping the engine well tuned, and a Weber carb, will help.

Similarly, with a well tuned V8, and driving like there is an egg under the accelerator, you could get up to 20 mpg. If you boot it, expect single figure MPG.
 
suburban said:
just did a search, quite a few threads on here where people say about v8 and 2.25 having similar mpg

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/v8-series-3.90683/#post-917642

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/series-3-as-a-daily.226009/#post-2578578

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/88-series-1-restoration-few-questions.265094/#post-3197692
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Yeah my old man put a high compression v8 from an sd1 into a 2a in the late 80's, and he was/is a bit of a wizard with balancing and fettling carbs, especially the twin su's that it was running. He got 20 mpg driving gently and 25mpg when they drove to my Grandmas in the south of France. The cam started to wear badly and the old rope seal started leaking oil badly, so as a temporary measure fitted a 2.25 and absolutely hated it.... Hes keen to help with the conversion so that's the direction in headed! Thanks for all the heads up though! :)
 
Turboman said:
If you take it easy on acceleration, you should get reasonable mileage for a carburetted petrol engine in a heavy vehicle.

Keeping the engine well tuned, and a Weber carb, will help.

Similarly, with a well tuned V8, and driving like there is an egg under the accelerator, you could get up to 20 mpg. If you boot it, expect single figure MPG.
Click to expand...

Hi turbo!

Yeah the engines been out since 2008, and the carb was siezed, so would have to buy a new/reconed one and I'm not too keen on spending out bucks on something that's fairly gutless and similar mpg.

When my 3.5 was in the classic I bought new tappets and timing chain and gears, new cam, new 4 barrel weber and edlebrock/weber intake and electro dizzy....they've never been out their packaging (except for the occasional oggle) and I'm kinda desperate for an excuse to build the old v8 up and get her into something, she should be fairly ok on juice if careful as the 88 is pretty light, and ill swap the rangie diffs into the series axles! Means I can have a useable second vehicle for work that will actually tow ok too!

I'm pretty sure this is the way ill be going! :)
 
Blackburn said:
You could overhaul the 2.25 and fit high compression cylinder head. Have a look at Turner engineereing site.
Click to expand...

Yeah thanks for the pointer, I like their site, and they are THE name in Landy engines....only downside is cost really. I already have the bits and bobs to get the v8 up and running so it wont cost me much extra (apart from conversion kit and getting the clutch modded) thanks though!
 
Last edited:
jamesmartin said:
id stick with a 2.25,though 2.5 would be my favourite,v8 is slightly heavier on fuel and ruins a good truck fitting
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Hi James! I totally get were your coming from, but this isn't a nice straight truck we're talking about!

Its got that many re)welded legs/outriggers etc that me and my old man had to set plumb lines in the workshop floor and cut and reweld to make chassis level and accurate. Someone at some point put extra outriggers on for a roll cage and ****ed it about a bit...so its not concours by any means!

My plan is to build her back as she's been in bits since I was 18, do the gearbox with dad, then see where I stand! :)
 
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