Posted on 02/06/2011 1:40:33 PM PST by MulberryDraw
The new Mini Cooper Countryman can get 63 MPGs on the highway – just not on our highways.
Like so many other high-mileage, diesel-powered vehicles, it’s not available in the United States. Instead we get gas-electric turkeys like the Toyota Prius hybrid – which maxes out at 48 MPGs on the highway. If you drive it at around 47 MPH in the left lane with your turn signal blinking… .
(Excerpt) Read more at epautos.com ...
I call mine the forever car ‘84 Turbo 273,000 mi...just broke it in...
“I looked into dropping my Perkins into my truck and it does not turn fast enough.”
Guy I worked for 30 yrs ago had a 4 cyl Perkins and a 9 spd trans in a 68-72 Chevy pickup. He said it got 30 something on the road.
Go to Fordtrucks.com /’73-79 Dentsides and search for user name “Perky.” Look at his gallery. I think he is running the 6cyl (~354 cu-in).
A machine shop in San Antonio TX built and sold a lot of adapters to do the swap.
The biggest problem with the Perkins these days is availability and cost of parts.
I would look real hard at the 4bta and 6bta Cummins. Check Diesel Truck Resource, Turbodieselregister, Fordtrucks, 4bt swaps, and I think there is a Cummins-swaps.
You will find mine on some of them but not under this screen name. 400 hp 6bta in a 4x4 extended cab and 20 mpg.
If someone wanted to do a truly efficient “hybrid” they would use a relatively small direct injected turbo diesel turning an 3 phase alternator and “track motors” like locomotives use.
I remember those, my mother drove a diesel VW Passat.. I also remember finding diesel stations was a challenge at the time.
The 63 mpg claim is what Mini claims on their UK website. That means imperial gallons were used. Believe it or not, the car companies still advertise mpg there.
You had to know ahead of time where the diesel stations were, and plan carefully not to run out of fuel.
I assume you’ve seen the HPA Motorsports site where they’ve done this, and are selling conversion kits, all the way up to including crate motors and installation?
I have a 2006 Prius and love it too. I’ve never owned a better car. It’s never been to the dealer. In Colorado I average 53 MPG in summer and around 45 MPG in winter. I remember one trip from Colorado Springs to Aspen, up and over Independence Pass - 12095 ft. Total miles 240, it took 4 gallons of gas to fill up. My extended warranty is to 8 years or 120,000 miles so I won’t be back to the dealer for awhile.
>If someone wanted to do a truly efficient “hybrid” they would use a relatively small direct injected turbo diesel turning an 3 phase alternator and “track motors” like locomotives use.
Indeed. Though I wonder how well a hydraulic drive-system would do (esp if it could be, in effect, an auto-tuning infinitely-variable transmission); you could even put on each wheel it’s own hydraulic motor.
Thanks for posting this. No I didn’t know about their conversions. Unfortunately for me, they only do the YJ not the JK, which mine is. Not that much of a difference, so it’s still good info. Thanks again.
I’d chat with them if you’re serious about it. I don’t know much about Jeeps, but there might not be much difference.
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