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MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Transit Mk1 & 2 Forum. All Transits 1965 - 1986

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MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby Tinnitus » Mon May 02, 2022 2:56 pm

Hello everyone,


I'm a new member and fell in love with the MK1 transit. I am looking to buy one for myself and was gathering informations about the car; I found a few websites but none of which could give me info about the Fuel economy;
if you calculated your MPG or L/100km i would be very thankful to hear from you.
if you have any other useful information and what to look forward to driving a MK1 or MK2 as well as what to look for when buying one; I would be very interested in that as well.


Thanks for your time;

greetings from germany
Tinnitus

Current car:
1997 Ford Escort 16V 1.6l
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Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby dumper » Mon May 02, 2022 8:19 pm

From memory the mk1 we had at work with a 2.4 York engine I think it had a 7.5 gallon tank it would do 150 miles on a run I once ran out at at 165 miles.that’s abut 22 mpg .
And my own mk 1 with a 2.0 L pinto petrol with a 5.1 diff was 18 mpg I put a 4.6 in it and it dropped to15 mph that was with the speedo adjusted correctly and on the same driven route it was a nicer ride but I did change it back to the 5.1 diff .
The engine Wes a completely rebuilt engine with a brand new Webber twin choke carb when I sold the van I kept the engine and fitted a second hand 1.6 pinto out of a 1.6 L cortina I only ran this for a short time and only did a few miles in it did 20 mpg they were mainly driven at 60 mpg on all of them but not hanging about getting up to speed hope this helps.
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
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Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby Altransit » Mon May 02, 2022 10:04 pm

A long time ago now, because it was crashed and written off in 1977, but my 1968 Mk1 V4 2 Litre was a SWB low roof and always fully loaded (probably overloaded) all of the time.

That van used to manage 16/17mpg, but it was all short runs in lots of traffic. I only remember it breaking down once, and that was when the petrol pump packed up.
1994 Mk4 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (R.I.P.)
1997 Mk5 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (Gone, but not forgotten!)
2004 Mk6 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.0 TDDi - Vantunered (Also gone)
2008 Mk7 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.2 TDCi - Also Vantunered
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Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby Tinnitus » Tue May 03, 2022 7:42 am

dumper wrote:From memory the mk1 we had at work with a 2.4 York engine I think it had a 7.5 gallon tank it would do 150 miles on a run I once ran out at at 165 miles.that’s abut 22 mpg .
And my own mk 1 with a 2.0 L pinto petrol with a 5.1 diff was 18 mpg I put a 4.6 in it and it dropped to15 mph that was with the speedo adjusted correctly and on the same driven route it was a nicer ride but I did change it back to the 5.1 diff .
The engine Wes a completely rebuilt engine with a brand new Webber twin choke carb when I sold the van I kept the engine and fitted a second hand 1.6 pinto out of a 1.6 L cortina I only ran this for a short time and only did a few miles in it did 20 mpg they were mainly driven at 60 mpg on all of them but not hanging about getting up to speed hope this helps.



thank you very much, this was quiete useful. having the rough MPG from various engines gives me a good look into the fuel economy.

looking at the MPG and the fuel prices in my country (plus the cost of buying one and probably having to fix something) I hope there will be solid MK1s by the time I can afford owning one. My dream would be a short wheelbase ; 1.6l engine
Tinnitus

Current car:
1997 Ford Escort 16V 1.6l
Tinnitus
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Posts: 4
Joined: Mon May 02, 2022 2:06 pm
Location: Germany / Lower Saxony

Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby Tinnitus » Tue May 03, 2022 7:46 am

Altransit wrote:A long time ago now, because it was crashed and written off in 1977, but my 1968 Mk1 V4 2 Litre was a SWB low roof and always fully loaded (probably overloaded) all of the time.

That van used to manage 16/17mpg, but it was all short runs in lots of traffic. I only remember it breaking down once, and that was when the petrol pump packed up.


Thank you, I'm looking for a SWB 1.6l so this is pretty good to know,
By the time that I own one it wouldn't be fully loaded or loaded at all, so the MPG would probably be better (especially if I find a good 1.6L).

I guesstimate a lot here; but that would probably push the MPG to 19 or 20 MPG
Tinnitus

Current car:
1997 Ford Escort 16V 1.6l
Tinnitus
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Posts: 4
Joined: Mon May 02, 2022 2:06 pm
Location: Germany / Lower Saxony

Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby dumper » Tue May 03, 2022 2:06 pm

Try and get one with a overdrive box if you can all mine listed was the 4 speed box if you are lucky you may find a original York engine one that’s had a 2.5 DI fitted that should be better. My hightop mk3 with the 4 speed fitted used to do 30 mpg when I fitted a O/D box in that it then did 32mpg but I did drive it harder after fitting it for a mate of mine I fitted a di with O/D box in a mk2 twin wheel X minibus and he drove it steadier and says he got nearer 40 mpg .
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
Transit Extremist
Transit Extremist
 
Posts: 5438
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby Tinnitus » Tue May 03, 2022 2:57 pm

dumper wrote:Try and get one with a overdrive box if you can all mine listed was the 4 speed box if you are lucky you may find a original York engine one that’s had a 2.5 DI fitted that should be better. My hightop mk3 with the 4 speed fitted used to do 30 mpg when I fitted a O/D box in that it then did 32mpg but I did drive it harder after fitting it for a mate of mine I fitted a di with O/D box in a mk2 twin wheel X minibus and he drove it steadier and says he got nearer 40 mpg .


Wouldn't an overdrive box be bad for city driving? As far as I know you have very low RPM at highway speed, I don't know if it would work in city driving as well.
an O/D Box would still be a good idea, thanks for the input. I will have a look for a good car in August or in late 2023, depending on if I want to keep my Escort till Inspection is due.

As I said earlier, I'm just kind of worried about expenses as I'm still in apprenticeship.
Tinnitus

Current car:
1997 Ford Escort 16V 1.6l
Tinnitus
Newbie
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon May 02, 2022 2:06 pm
Location: Germany / Lower Saxony

Re: MK1 fuel economy and useful info?

Postby dumper » Tue May 03, 2022 4:58 pm

You only use the overdrive when at speed it works on 3rd &4th gear when engaged in 3rd it is just lower geared then 4 th gear is without it engaged and when engaged in 4 th it is probably about the same gearing as a 5 speed box and round town if you don’t engage it it’s just a normal 4 speed box .
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
Transit Extremist
Transit Extremist
 
Posts: 5438
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 pm
Location: Lincolnshire


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