The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gas Mileage-216 AD

What kind of gas mileage should I expect with a 216 1/2 ton, stock setup. Carb has been rebuilt, plugs, points are new and set properly as is timing. I'm getting about 12MPG. Truck starts and runs fine but tailpipe is black so I suspect I'm running rich. Truck also consumes quite a bit of oil, no smoke, so I suspect it's coming out (leaking) but only when the truck is running, good suspect would be the main rear seal but I need to investigate further. Thanks,

I don't know what you should get, but now I'm groaning because of what I'm going to get....(groan) ...and my 64 gets 12...gotta love a 50 year old engine....

you should be getting much better than 12 from a 216 , these are easy to get upwards of 20mpg from with simple fine tuning.

Last trip I did to Blenheim (310kms)I sat on a steady 55mph with the deck full to level and averaged 22mpg. (Imperial)

Check the float level , and the timing can be enhanced a little with a couple of degrees more advance (depending on the grade fuel you choose to use).

Oh yeah ,, keep the revs down ,, ,, I do 55 'cause I have a 3.9:1 diff from a '55 and the wee 216 loves it.

I got about 18-19 mpg (US gallons) with my 216 in my '50 before I changed it to my 261. Now I only get about 15-16, but that should get better when I put in the 3.07 rearend.

Check that the power valve in the carb isn't stuck open. It does tend to carbon up and hang open. Alternately make sure you have the phenolic spacer underneath with the slot to allow vaccum to the passage in the base of the carb. It can't just sit on the flange or it doesn't get any vacuum signal.