6 m.p.g. Minis

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 5

6 m.p.g. Minis

Reducing the use of a car's choke to the minimum can bring surprisingly large savings of fuel, overseas car manufacturers report. The technical director of the Austin-Morris division . of British Leyland said recently that driving a Mini with the choke full out can reduce the car’s fuel consumption to as little as six miles a gallon. Even with the choke only partly out, a Mini may return fuel consumption figures of only 15 m.p.g., he said. A 2-litre car with the choke full out returns about 4 m.p.h. Automatic chokes which need adjustment, and stay in operation too long, also cause heavy fuel consumption. Car-makers say that many motorists use too much choke, and leave the choke out too long. In many cars, the choke can be pushed in as soon as the engine has been started. and in warm weather many will start without the choke.

Drivers should experiment to see how little choke they can use, the companies say. In winter, use of the choke can be reduced and fuel consumption improved by blanking off part of the

radiator, preferably with a radiator blind. Failing that, part of the radiator can be screened with aluminium foil, although experiments are needed to show hotv much can be blanked off without overheating.