Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor
- StokerDon
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
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- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
- StokerDon
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- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Yup, about one heartbeat was all it took! Just waiting for the new owner to take it to it's new happy home.
Yesterday we took the Crown Vic on it's first coal stoker adventure. We loaded up the massive trunk with tools and dollies to move an Axeman Anderson 130. We do have a couple small issues with the car.
1) Gas mileage - It's getting a very consistent 17 miles per gallon. This car has an EPA estimate of 19 city and 24 highway. My commute is county roads, about 50 MPH with little to no stop and go. I would think we should be closer to the 24 MPG mark.
2) Gas tank filling - Can't fill the tank at full speed. This is probably the Evap system being partly block with something. Pretty easy fix, we will worry about it if it gets worse.
-Don
- Rob R.
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Don, have you checked the spark plugs? They are usually pretty well shot by 75,000 miles.
The gas vent issue is common - usually due to cob webs or something in the vent tube.
The gas vent issue is common - usually due to cob webs or something in the vent tube.
- warminmn
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My Vic gets 24-26 hiway all spring-fall and drops to 20 in the winter. It is not an ex-police car, just a regular car with that 2.78??? rear axle. Cop versions should get 20 on the hiway but I'd be surprised if any of them get 24. Mine fills slowly also but i never gave it a second thought. The trunks are great.
I was loading the trunk once at a sale putting a pile of old sawmill blades and junk in the trunk and a friend was there watching me load. When I got done he said I could get more in my trunk than he could in his whole car, lol Thats pretty much true.
I was loading the trunk once at a sale putting a pile of old sawmill blades and junk in the trunk and a friend was there watching me load. When I got done he said I could get more in my trunk than he could in his whole car, lol Thats pretty much true.
- Rob R.
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I got 23-24 with my Grand Marquis with the 2.73 rear axle. My P71 rarely got above 20.warminmn wrote: ↑Sun. Sep. 05, 2021 2:42 pmMy Vic gets 24-26 hiway all spring-fall and drops to 20 in the winter. It is not an ex-police car, just a regular car with that 2.78??? rear axle. Cop versions should get 20 on the hiway but I'd be surprised if any of them get 24. Mine fills slowly also but i never gave it a second thought. The trunks are great.
I was loading the trunk once at a sale putting a pile of old sawmill blades and junk in the trunk and a friend was there watching me load. When I got done he said I could get more in my trunk than he could in his whole car, lol Thats pretty much true.
- Rob R.
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- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
Hey Don - you probably already know about this site, but if not you should check out crownvic.net
Lots of good info on there, including your gas filling issue: https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.ph ... Post862776
Lots of good info on there, including your gas filling issue: https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.ph ... Post862776
- Hambden Bob
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Rob R. For Da' Win! Hat's Off For That Link! And You All thought all we hammer out was Coal Info here!
- StokerDon
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- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Thanks Rob. I figured it is something partly blocking the Evap system. Could be cob webs or the canister may have started to spill it's guts. I should get a set of new spark plugs and have a good look at the old ones.Rob R. wrote: ↑Sun. Sep. 05, 2021 3:02 pmHey Don - you probably already know about this site, but if not you should check out crownvic.net
Lots of good info on there, including your gas filling issue: https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.ph ... Post862776
Yah, with the 2.73 rear gear you will get better mileage than this one with the 3.27 gears. I guess this is another one of those Ford things. As far as newer cars go I'm used to VW's. With them you get more miles per gallon than the EPA estimates, not less.
I guess I'll be buying more gas.
Thanks guys!
-Don
- warminmn
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- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Ive never felt powerless with my axle. It will still burn rubber. But I bet yours would burn longer. There might be a sweet spot between the 2 gear ratios to up your mileage and not lose much power. 3.0 or in that area.
- Rob R.
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It is tough to pay for a gear swap with fuel savings. I suspect Dons car just needs a tune up. Usually when the cops get rid of them they are in need of spark plugs, oxygen sensors, etc.
We had a 2004 Crown Vic with 3.55 gears at the farm. That thing would lay 20' of posi marks from a dead stop. Never checked the mileage.
- warminmn
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- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Stop telling me how much better the PI ones are or I might have to buy one But I really want one of those electric ones instead that Barney says are the best
- HandFire
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Told YaStokerDon wrote: ↑Sun. Sep. 05, 2021 12:09 pmYup, about one heartbeat was all it took! Just waiting for the new owner to take it to it's new happy home.
1) Gas mileage - It's getting a very consistent 17 miles per gallon. This car has an EPA estimate of 19 city and 24 highway. My commute is county roads, about 50 MPH with little to no stop and go. I would think we should be closer to the 24 MPG mark.
Funny thing about mileage on Fords I've driven the last 20 years is they don't get their best mileage unless your going over 65 mph nonstop. Another thing you could check would be wheel temps with an IR gun after a longer drive. If you find high temps in one or more it could be a brake hose starting to fail causing it to swell and drag the brake.
- StokerDon
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- Posts: 7486
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
All you guys talking about burning rubber makes me wonder if my car is down on power for some reason. The only way this one will even spin the tires is if you force it with the brakes. Just flooring it from a dead stop, wheels strait and the traction control OFF, it does nothing but go. Not even a chirp.
I'll put new plugs in it but I doubt that it will make it a tire burner. Maybe it will?
-Don