Date: Sun, 27 May 2001 14:08:34 -0600
Reply-To: Gary Lee <gary2a@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gary Lee <gary2a@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Re: Air Intake Project
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
----- Original Message -----
Subject: Re: Air Intake Project
> Gary--
>
> You have the Air Flow Meter pinned WFO, when it's on gasoline?
> Hmmmmm-----
> Interesting.
No, of course not. I only tried that while on propane. Propane does not
need the AFM. Gasoline of course does.
> So therefore, you are by-passing the computer when it is on gas.
> The computer thinks that the AFM is wide open all the time?
> More interesting------
> I have a hard time understanding how in the hell, the thing would even
> run at low speeds without blubbering, due to an over rich signal coming
> from the AFM, to the computer.
> I just can't see it functioning like that.
> And you can't realize any different fuel economy whether it's on propane
> or gas?
No, when on propane it uses about 15% more fuel. Also proportionately more
air than with gasoline because propane can run 16:1 or higher.
I do not notice any difference in propane fuel consumption when the AFM is
blocked open, or is in the normal state with the spring loaded door in
place. I guess maybe I cannot extend that observation to gasoline though.
> Propane delivers less MPG than dino fuel, so I would think that there
> would be a significant difference.
> And let me reiterate, the shortest distance between two points is a
> straight unobstructed line, and you start adding flappers, elbows, and
> butterflies, the path become choked, regardless how you look at it.
Agreed. But with the vanagon, it's not worth it.
Get the head to flow better first.
> So in theory, I ain't buying it.
> I believe that there is a way to cause the Vanagn to get more air, but I
> think it would be labor intensive, and monetarily cost prohibitive, for
> the small increase in overall performance gained.
Agreed.
I guess I did not explain what I was doing very well. Trying to write to
fast.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but this is what I think:
Other than at WOT, the throttle butterfly is partially closed. So you are
only asking the air intake system to deliver a small percentage of what it
was designed to deliver. Even if it is undersized, the intake system
should be good enough for 90% of all your driving. Who drives around at
WOT -- at redline -- in a vanagon?
Gary