Fuel Mileage - e30 w/ M30 - Racing

[porschelou]

We have put a M30 in our e30. We are running the Miller War Chip (tuned by Brody) and their MAF. The car is fully gutted - with rollcage. We added the "i" gas tank dual pumps (low pressure / high pressure setup) (16.5gal).

This weekend we were road racing at Carolina Motor Park for 14hrs (full course). The car was consuming right at 14 - 14.5 gals every 1 1/2 hrs. We set the second fastest lap and placed 7th out of 96 cars so it was being pushed pretty hard.

Doesn't this sound way too high for fuel consumption? We really need to be able to get 2hrs from the tank. If we go down to 1 gallon left it starts to starve in the corners.

Ideas? Normal?

I have found a long range tank I could install the trunk to add 4 more gallons.. but not sure how tech inspection would go..

[evandael]

i haven't a clue about the consumption rate, but you could try adding a surge tank in between the transfer and high pressure pumps to really take advantage of the dual-pump setup and that last gallon.



alsoooo... pics and/or videos please!

[VinniE30]

Were there other e thirties with different engine configurations that day to compare to?

[kronus]

We've done a similar swap to our lemons car, and I find that our faster drivers go through 12 gallons in an hour and a half if they're pushing it as hard as possible. Generally, 12 gallons in 2:15-2:30 is what we get, with an e tank and dual pumps. Motor is a stock B35, stock chip, stock AFM, so your consumption sounds more or less in line with the more agressive tune of the WAR chip/MAF combo.

Our stint time is impractically short and we get fuel starvation on long rights after about 9 gallons down, so we're currently upgrading to a Fuel Safe 25gal cell (with a -1gal reducer block), swirl pot and in-tank pump.

Are you racing with Lemons? Chump? I'm surprised they let you have the WAR/MAF combo. They will definitely not be ok with the OEM extended range tank, the fuel system is definitely one of the things the tech guys look hardest at, especially since an e30 burned up at the last Thunderhill race due to vapors in the stock tank they left in place after upgrading to a cell.

[VinniE30]

Oh and please tell us more about your M30 setup and how is performs at the track

[kronus]

here's some fuel consumption info for endurance racers of all sorts, a bunch of e30s in there: http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/vi...c.php?id=16336

[MattAvino]

oh and please tell us more about your m30 setup and how is performs at the track

+1

[jlevie]

This weekend we were road racing at Carolina Motor Park for 14hrs (full course). The car was consuming right at 14 - 14.5 gals every 1 1/2 hrs. We set the second fastest lap and placed 7th out of 96 cars so it was being pushed pretty hard.

That is pretty darned good for a an M30 engine. My Spec E30 (with the stock M20 burns right at a pound a minute, which would be 13.5gal in an hour and a half. You'd need another 5 gallons of gas to go two hours.

[MikeDE]

Are you allowed to use a larger tank?? The 2/4dr tanks are what, 55l?? The touring tank is 63L, an extra 2.5 or so gallons.

[nando]

early tanks are 55l, late tanks are 63. it's not a matter of how many doors it has or if it's a touring/sedan. although the 318is still had a 55l tank.

there is a factory expansion tank available. I don't know the details though.

[djjerme]

I am not sure what the rules in Lemon's is, but Chump you can't go more then +/- 2 gallons over the stock tank. And word on the street is they are going to be cracking down on that more next year (along with the new swap rules.)

[evandael]

^ this news saddens me.


OT and sorry about it, but to me, Chump and LeMons are fascinating because they allow relative free reign and ingenuity across the field. pretty soon it'll be like SCCA, people racing to the rules.

[Massive Lee]

Get a late model 65 litre tank and add a 1 gallon (4 litre) surge tank in the trunk. You'll be able to run the tank dry. That's 69 litre total.

[miki]

my e30m30 gets just about same crapy gas milage and it's at 2284 lbs empty but I run it with 4.10 rear end ...... and for the guys that are asking how it performs it's actually not that bad at all ..... forget all that nose heavy crap that you hear from people

[Wanganstyle]

I am not sure what the rules in Lemon's is, but Chump you can't go more then +/- 2 gallons over the stock tank. And word on the street is they are going to be cracking down on that more next year (along with the new swap rules.)

22 gal cell on lemons car. can run about 4 hours before its dry; stock m20 engine though