Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 07:03:50 -0700
Reply-To: Pat Callaghan <patcal@QWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Pat Callaghan <patcal@QWEST.NET>
Subject: Re: Fuel consumption
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I get about 15.6MPG with my aircooled 82 westy. I drive it almost every
day. I have never gotten better then 16.2MPG. I have been through this van
trying to get more MPG. This is my first Vanagon. I have owned 6 or 7 bays
which all got about 17MPG. I would be surprised to find cruise is worse for
the mileage. Most cars, the cruise keeps the speed steady better then the
driver can. Who knows.
Pat Callaghan
82 Westy
Portland, OR.
www.users.qwest.net/~patcal
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Ryan" <vwvanagain@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 6:46 AM
Subject: Fuel consumption
> I made an interesting observation and would like to
> hear views/opinions from list members.
>
> Having moved from a very fuel efficient Golf to the
> Vangaon I was horrified to see that my first full tank
> of gas net me approx. 160 miles. I drove like this
> for a few weeks until I got some time to give the van
> a service. Changed the oil, rotor, rotor cap, plugs,
> air filter and the van was much happier. Quicker pick
> up and running much smoother. Fuel consumption got
> better but not by much so I assumed I just had to live
> with it. Until......
>
> Then last weekend I went camping. I filled the tank
> and with three people and camping equipment we set
> off. It was not a long drive but all one lane
> highways up and downs hills. After about 65 miles we
> arrived at the campsite. I drove the van twice more
> over over the next two days, short runs and returned
> home on the Sunday evening. I was not paying to much
> attention to the fuel gauge, just looking to make sure
> I had enough to get us back. When we got home and
> everyone departed for their respected abodes I went
> out to grab some food. It was then that I noticed
> that I had just over half a tank left and had racked
> up 156 miles.
>
> This didn't compute. How could driving to work 64
> miles a day (round trip) on a three lane Interstate,
> not going more than 65 mph, cost me a full tank of gas
> every three days and driving the same distance with
> more people and weight in the van cost me half that?
> After a lot of thinking and some testing this week I
> found out why. When I drive to work on the highway I
> use cruise control. I set it at 65 mph and cruise to
> work. I have not used cruise control all week (I used
> my bike three days this week) and I have now racked up
> 260 miles on that same tank of gas from last weekend
> and I should get to 300.
>
> After coming to this conclusion I remembered that a
> few weeks back I gave my girlfriend my van to go to
> work in while her Cabriolet was in the garage. There
> was less than a quarter of a tank left so I asked her
> to put some in it. Well, she didn't. I got home from
> work I asked her how did she like driving it, etc, etc
> and how much gas did she put in it. She said she was
> running late and didn't have time to put any in. I
> was baffled how she drove the 50 mile round trip
> without running dry.
> I guess the answer is, if you want better fuel
> consumption don't use cruise control.
>
> Has anyone else found this to be true or is it a well
> known fact that I have never heard of (being that this
> is the first car I have owned that has CC)
>
> Gary
> 91 Vanagon
> 74 Bus
> 93 Cabriolet
>
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