I'm a bit concerned whether old engines consume more gas, as I own one. I heard somewhere that they emit more greenhouse gases too. Does that mean I should replace the old V8 of my '61 T-bird? It still runs fine (well, given that I don't really drive it around that much), and being the purist that I am, can't think of modifying the car. :p

(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 17, 2009, 4:38 PM)

Nah - just have it running it's best. Emissions are a direct corrolation to how much energy is used. A heavy vehicle simply uses more energy. Greenhouse gasses - don't be fooled. Isaac Newton had this down pat ages ago - "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" >> With that I believe it doesn't matter what energy you use it causes something somewhere. Nuff said......

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

I think nope as long as your engine is in perfect condition .If there is some link in the gasoline tank then there would surely be gasoline leakage and it would consume more gas . I think aircon consume more gas
http://www.thecarconnection.com-car

does old engines consume more gas well yours being a 61 it sure does keep in mind. in
that era fuel economy was not a big factor gas / oil were cheap at that time.
and engines were nothing by far like todays engines todays engines pack more horespower and fuel
economy than 50 years ago

john b,

NOT - the HP thru the 60s was underated if anything! Some of those could suck a newer car thru it's air intake, spit the chunks out the tailpipe and not cough!

MPG - Everythings weighs less and yes newer is much more capable of accurate fuel delivery. A lot at the expense of durability for certain things.

Weight meant strenghth and metal was abundant too.

Actual cost of fuel adjusted for inflation was still a consideration all along,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

My two cents,
When I was in the USAF back in the late 50's I had a 53 Merc flathead V-8 that got 20 plus mpg, more on a long road trip. It was big and heavy too
Now I drive a 97 Jeep GC limited V-8 and I am lucky to get 16 MPG.
With all of todays technology you would think I should be getting more MPG not less, What hasppened?????

Bill,

Some serious things changed and you are right - 20+ MPG wasn't that hard on a long trip even with a vehicle that weighed a 1,000 lbs more!

In 1963 the "emission" controls were just beginning and by the 70s they destroyed fuel economy and horsepower both!

It took about 15 years to get the HP back while keeping them clean and those years stunk!

Ever notice how seldom you see the word "Gasoline?" Back when we were buying a pure petroleum product, enhanced by tetra ethyl lead (low % of volume) which naturally had more BTU available then this junk we buy today diluted with anything that can still make a gallon and be legal. Quite literally ONE gallon of good gasoline can weigh almost a pound more that the junk of today! Wish they would charge by weight and not the fluffed up fuel.

Sub note: It takes a much higher percentage of crude oil to make a gallon of higher octane rated fuel than the 87-93 that's now available so virtually all engines are redesigned to run on garbage. The biggest deal was to lower compression ratios across the board.

Anyone remember Sunoco "260 Action" 105 OCTANE? !!

T

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

>>Anyone remember Sunoco "260 Action" 105 OCTANE? !! <<
We never had Sunoco on the West coast, that I know of...Chevron White pump was 105 if I remember correctly.
Loren
SW WA

Sure do remember it.

We had it around here.

We had an "Amoco" station with one pump with "White Gas" aka "Marine Gas" as it was without lead which was less stable for storage.

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No joke: That old gas station is now "West Sport" in Sudbury, MA 01776 (walking distance from me) and it was "West Sport" that sold the knife that was used in the Sharon Tate Murders by the Charles Manson gang oh so looooong ago!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

In Reply To

Well, that thing's full time four wheel drive, right? That causes more fuel burn. And, being a Jeep, I bet it's geared a little low for off road use..... maybe.....

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(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 8, 2009, 3:18 AM)

It's heavily emission controlled - such a deal!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston