--- Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote: > Test case, 1987 Syncro Westy, NY to Florida road > trip. > > Last year, traveled an indicated 3,216 miles, round > trip including some > touring. Average mileage was 17.4 miles per gallon. > Tires were Goodyear > Wrangler Aquatreads, 215/70-14, (~26" diameter). > Speedometer/odometer > error still over reading by ~ 3% when compared to > the GPS. Corrected > mileage traveled was 3119, 16.82 MPG. Engine is the > original, turned > 200k during trip home. > > This year, same van, same engine, tires are now > 215/65-16, (~27.25" > diameter), Goodyear Wrangler HP. Engine mileage now > at 215K. Traveled an > indicated 2812 miles averaging 16.08 MPG. > According to GPS Speedometer/odometer now reading > ~2% lower than actual. > Corrected distance, 2868 miles averaging 16.41 MPG. > > It should be noted that speed made a huge difference > in mileage, local > touring along route 1 last year yielded 21.17 mpg > on one tank. Worst > tank mileage was 14.53 (indicated). Engine appears > to work harder taking > hills or head winds. Mileage was probably affected > by actual higher > speeds being traveled due to speedometer correction. > > Moral! Don't count on tire or gear changes to > improve fuel economy. The > biggest improvement will come from driving slower > and doing something > with the lack of aerodynamics. > > Dennis I remember someone was going to build a fiberglass shell to go over the bottom of the van, covering up all the dips and pockets. A little extreme but since our vans ride so high up (especially 85'-older) its prolly not such a bad idea...besides lowering the van 3". What else can one do?-the vans shaped like a brick. 84' Westy w/Tiico __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools |
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