Date:         Sun, 27 Aug 2000 14:28:40 PDT
Reply-To:     Mark Dorm <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Dorm <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
Subject:      Re: Better Mileage Anyone? (without going ala Lilley)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

>VW ran the WBX engine hotter to help the Vanagons pass
>emissions by KEEPING the engine at the UPPER temp extreme to burn off
>unburned fuel to pass emissions and that led to a host of other >
>problems.

I've heard this before - and was told a 78 loaf would be a better choice
than a 79 loaf for this reason - and that this was also an area of concern
for the early air cooled vanagons.... that the smog requirements were just
too much for the engines....

>The ECU chip also keeps the engine at the upper heat extreme by >running
>the engine almost lean.

Well this was a question I had a while back - would the Australian ECU chip
cause you to fail California emmisions??? - ....so would you need to switch
it out with the original chip before smog inspections???

Has no one on the list put this chip in yet??? Its been around and available
for a while....


>VW designed the engine to be strong and last by over
>building the engines strength and then limiting to power. By the limiting
>the power, the engines efficiency is also limited, this raises emissions,
>so
>heat is need to reduce the emissions.

Emission standards were raised progressively over the years by legislative
and administrative action - so auto manufacturerers like VW had to run their
engines hotter to comply.... I think this is also why compression on newer
vehicles is higher... but I forget is exactly.

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