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Why is it that the L134 gets poor economy?

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wfopete View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wfopete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Why is it that the L134 gets poor economy?
    Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 5:41pm
Is it because of a generally inefficient engine design?

The carburetor?

Gearing? 

Weight? 

Or is a little of everything above?

For some reason the 134 just doesn't produce good MPGs, at least not in a CJ.  I've seen folks try different carburetors, ignitions and engine mods but it seems that 10-12 MPGs is the norm with a few touching 15-18MPG. At 2500 lbs the CJ2A doesn't weigh that much, and you would think with a mellow engine it would be able to double that figure.  Yes the L134 could use a shot of compression to boost torque and efficiency but milling the head will only get you, what? a .5 boost in compression?  Would Hi compression pistons help?  Probably not as I don't see them talked; or maybe I just missed it. If the L134 could produce more power it could pull higher gearing.  I know OD options are out there but unless the L134 is running at optimum it has trouble pulling a OD setup because even with standard gearing the motor has all it can do going up hills unless pushed hard.   Maybe since the long stroke B/S ratio favors low rpm operation all the useful torque goes out the window with the gearing spinning the RPMs up.  Or perhaps it's the fact that a CJ is about as aerodynamic as a brick wall. Anyway the L134 has been around for so long I guess if a solution was out there I would think it would be found by now. 


Edited by wfopete - 25 Oct. 2021 at 5:45pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote windyhill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 5:47pm
40's technology, having it hold up and stay running even on crappy fuel was more important then fuel mileage. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wfopete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 5:49pm
Originally posted by windyhill windyhill wrote:

40's technology, having it hold up and stay running even on crappy fuel was more important then fuel mileage. 


Can you be more specific?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lee MN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 5:56pm
How fast do you drive ? That is the key. If I run my 2A at 45 mph in overdrive here in MN, it will run 21-22 mph all day long, I’ve done it many times, if I push it to 55 mph it drops to 15 or less. If you push the rpm out of the torque range your mileage will suffer on any engine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oldtime Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 6:18pm
Right. The L-134 max torque output comes in at 2000 rpm.
Any crankshaft velocity past that is inefficient.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 64CJ5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 6:46pm
I was thinking that the 5.38 gears do not make for high fuel millage.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wfopete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 7:08pm
Originally posted by 64CJ5 64CJ5 wrote:

I was thinking that the 5.38 gears do not make for high fuel millage.

I agree, but with the low power the L134 generally struggles to pull higher (lower numerically) gearing.  I have not done the math but I'll bet a lot of A2 owners out there were surprised as how gutless their A2's became after mounting taller tires. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 7:15pm
Originally posted by windyhill windyhill wrote:

40's technology, having it hold up and stay running even on crappy fuel was more important then fuel mileage. 
 

  Actually, the pre-war Willys-Overland vehicles were sold as economy cars. Of course, they were no doubt more aerodynamic than a billboard, and higher geared than our jeeps. They surely got better fuel mileage than other manufacturers’ vehicles, which were poor anyway by today’s standards. 
  I’ve never noticed any of my jeeps getting poor mileage. I’ve never recorded miles and calculated mileage. As long as I don’t use a lot more than the guy next to me, I don’t really care. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ron D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 7:38pm
Willys Overland Motors Research Department gas mileage chart for the CJ2A here: http://www.nulltime.com/jeep/techtips/speeds/index.html

The average price of a gallon of gas in 1950 was 18 cents. That's $2.05 today.


Edited by Ron D - 25 Oct. 2021 at 7:41pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 8:05pm
Originally posted by otto otto wrote:

I quantify my mileage in smiles per mile. Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Siskiwit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 8:33pm
It’s a flathead. Air has a hard time getting to the cylinder
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldpappy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 8:38pm
What is an "A2" ???


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 8:44pm
Originally posted by Oldpappy Oldpappy wrote:

What is an "A2" ???


 
C'mon Pap! It's a 2A in reverse gear! No wonder the fuel mileage sucks..
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jpet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 9:16pm
Originally posted by wfopete wfopete wrote:

.....For some reason the 134 just doesn't produce good MPGs, at least not in a CJ.  I've seen folks try different carburetors, ignitions and engine mods but it seems that 10-12 MPGs is the norm with a few touching 15-18MPG.

I could not disagree more

Originally posted by Lee MN Lee MN wrote:

How fast do you drive ? That is the key. If I run my 2A at 45 mph in overdrive here in MN, it will run 21-22 mph all day long, I’ve done it many times, ....
Right on man. That is my experience.

I drove my 2A as a daily driver for 3 years averaging 10k miles a year. Before installing OD I got 18 mpg @ 38 mph. After overdrive 21 mpg @ 45 mph.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wfopete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 9:47pm
Originally posted by muley muley wrote:

Originally posted by Oldpappy Oldpappy wrote:

What is an "A2" ???


 
C'mon Pap! It's a 2A in reverse gear! No wonder the fuel mileage sucks..

Ha, ha! tough crowd.  One typo and I lost 10 MPG!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 9:55pm
Originally posted by wfopete wfopete wrote:

Originally posted by muley muley wrote:

Originally posted by Oldpappy Oldpappy wrote:

What is an "A2" ???


 
C'mon Pap! It's a 2A in reverse gear! No wonder the fuel mileage sucks..

Ha, ha! tough crowd.  One typo and I lost 10 MPG!
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rus Curtis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Oct. 2021 at 10:10pm
Originally posted by Ron D Ron D wrote:

Willys Overland Motors Research Department gas mileage chart for the CJ2A here: http://www.nulltime.com/jeep/techtips/speeds/index.html

The average price of a gallon of gas in 1950 was 18 cents. That's $2.05 today.

Ron,
Interesting charts!  It would be fun to try and match some of those mpg readings at various speeds.

I think an mpg test at 20mph would need to be on a quite back road........
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