some simple stuff but here’s what's working

1. ~3 weeks ago replaced ~10 foot of vacuum lines to canister and vacuum ball under the canister. This raised RPMs by ~225 RPMs but no improvement in gas mileage.

2. last week found small gas leak where previous owner has put 2 new fuel lines connecting fuel lines to fuel pump. maybe not too dangerous near radiator but was slowing leaking my mileage away. Tightened up existing clamps and mileage increased from an all time low of 13 mpg in the city back to 15.25. Current tank is also getting decent mpg.

3. finally had time and good warm day to recheck timing after replacing vacuum lines. timing was off maybe 8 degrees instead of 0 Degrees BTDC where it should have been . To set timing correct had to actually back out the idle solenoid down. purring real nice now in drive, park, & w/ a/c-defrost. Attached an Actron dwell meter, cranked, and the car started at 26 degrees for couple seconds and then rose to a sweet 30 degrees. Hope to get back close to 18 mpg when commuting to work n back.


So it was a slow gas leak and a vacuum leak that killing my mpg and timing.

 

gtg keep on it.

 

what do you mean my purring real nice now in drive??? The exhuast sounds better?

How did you know you had the leaks or did you just go looking for them and found them?

I also think my timing is killing my mileage right now, even though I get about what you are getting, But I know we can get slighly better with everying tuned good.

 

I meant that once the engine slightly warms up (temp gauge moves off lowest possible line showing its barely heated up), then the engine runs calm n steady very close to factory specks for RPMs at idle, drive, & with A/c or defrost on.

I was taking my time to try & understand the emmissions systems so looking for leaks, etc. replacing vacuum lines. that vacuum pot vacuum leak was a bad deal for sure & when it was fixed that's when timing needed to be changed.

350 someday after I understand more...