68 Jeepster: V6 getting only getting 8 mpg

[GorGon 12488]

im certainly no expert on cars. my dad bought me a 68' jeepster commando for my first car. it should be getting at least 15 mpg if not more, but just the other day i got 47 miles on 6 gallons and was appauled . Any ideas on what i could do to get better mileage would be greatly appreciated. i have been told it might be the timing is off, but i think thats only a part of it

[stangfreak7]

well how long has it been since the jeep has been serviced???? i am talking about fuel filters, air filters, spark plugs/wires, distrubutor, vaccum hoses, pvc valves, etc. not sure how the v-6 was set up in those, but i would start there. the more work it has to do to pull air/fuel in the less mileage you are going to see.

[neon_rt]

I would guess that most of the problem is in the leaky old carburetor.
As part of you "tune-up" I would suggest converting to electronic ignition and getting a new (not rebuilt) carburetor for it. You will have to spend some money to save some money here. So if you don't put a lot of miles on it, do the cheap stuff and drive it as it is.

[GorGon 12488]

thanks for the advice-
this is my first car (a 500 dollar present from my father). ordered the ignition and it needed that anyway. that and i think i will try to figure out how to convert it to a dry air filter bc those apparently improve mileage over the oilbath.

[neon_rt]

LOL
Oil bath, I haven't seen one in years, it should be easy to convert.
You can probably go junk yard hopping a find something that will fit it cheap.