Date:         Thu, 9 Dec 2004 08:49:12 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: 55 to 65 mpg in a diesel vanagon?
Comments: To: Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BDDDBD6D.61496%gnarlodious@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

This summer my wife and I went on a 3000 mile trip in our diesel Westy.
I carefully tracked the fuel consumption at EVERY fuel stop. There was
as much as an 8 mpg swing between the best and worst tank fulls. Should
I ignore the lows and brag only about the highest? I'd consider that to
be wrong. Should I use only the first 2000 miles where we drove more
slowly on country roads? Fine, as long as I say that is what I am doing.
On the interstate at 65 mph into a strong steady headwinds I saw 20 mpg.
Driving in a more lazy fashion on back roads at 50-55 I saw 28 mpg. At
various points in each case the numbers must have been much higher and
much lower but I can only average it over the distance between fill ups.

Anyone can contrive conditions under which their fuel mileage will be
very good. If I coast down the Grapevine Pass for 10 miles I can claim
100 mpg in any vehicle. Of course when I turn around at the bottom and
drive back up I may get only 10 mpg. So 10 miles down, 0 gallons, 10
miles up 1 gallon, 20 miles total, 1 gallon = 20 mpg.

It is deceptive to claim the highest mileage you ever see as your true
mileage. Tell us what average MPG you see over 1000 continuous miles at
typical  speeds or at least disclose what conditions existed when you
got the absurdly high figures. You were asked 9 months ago to explain
your 39 mpg claim. Now 9 months later you say you were finally able to
verify 39 mpg on a recent trip. What MPG did you get during the missing
9 month period?


Mark
82 Westy 1.9TD, DK tranny

Gnarlodious wrote:

>Entity Paul & Becky Oliver spoke thus:
>
>
>
>>I saw a vanagon on ebay that the owner claims gets 55 to 65 mpg. It has a
>>diesel engine? Is this possible?
>>
>>
>No.
>I get 39 MPG and they call me a liar. If  got 65 MPG I wouldn't even mention
>it.
>
>-- Gnarlie
>
>
>