Date:         Thu, 8 Jun 2000 10:33:06 -0600
Reply-To:     Gary <glee@ULTRALINK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary <glee@ULTRALINK.COM>
Subject:      re. natural gas, propane
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

I have been planning on converting my 87 syncro westy to duel fuel
(propane/gas) for a few months now.  I have all the parts and I know how to
do it.
The biggest problem is finding a tank of the correct size.  8 " diameter X
50" long to fit under the van next to the driveshaft.  I do have a couple of
tanks that will fit under the rear seat.  I don't want to do it that way,
but on the other hand I don't want to spend $500 on a new custom tank.

Safety is not a concern, people who are worried about that probably have
never owned a propane vehicle.  With the 9:1 MV engine I would expect a 10%
reduction in power output.  You also use about 15% more fuel per kilometer.
In the end, cost per kilometer should be about 35 % less per kilometer in
Canada, all across Canada.  Similar economy to diesel but more power, no
smoke, easy starting.

Having a duel/fuel vehicle extends the range of the vehicle considerably and
you have a second complete fuel system should the digifant fail.
In western Canada it seems there are more places to buy propane than diesel.
Propane also burns cleaner than the digifant.  IMHO, natural gas is not
practical for automotive use in Canada, to hard to get and the tanks are
much heavier and almost impossible to find.

I used to have diesel jettas, I now have a propane/gasoline jetta and find
it superior in all ways to diesel.  Cheaper to run also

Gary Lee