Date:         Wed, 13 Mar 2002 08:48:45 -0800
Reply-To:     pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Loss of power at altitude
In-Reply-To:  <0GST0055YV1Y0H@mta3.snfc21.pbi.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi Brent,

Turns out the ECU and the airflow metering system actually does a little
altitude compensation automatically.  But not enough to defeat the basic
thermodynamics.  At 8K ASL, you will have significant power loss even though
the ECU/Lamda/O2 sensor system is providing the correct fuel mixture.  Now
if I had a better ecu I wouldn't huff and puff when I ski Huevos Grande at
Mammoth.

But of course if you start with more "torque" you still have quite a bit
left even at a 30% decrease.  Lets say you have 180 lbs-ft available and you
drop that by 30% or 54 lbs-ft.  You still have 126 lbs-ft left to power you
up up and away.  Still more than the standard WBX.

But of course there is a price.

pensioner (12MPG)