Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:35:11 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Subject: Re: Diesel Fuel vs Gasoline
In-Reply-To: <426C14B4.2080102@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Well, there are several reasons why Diesel is better than Gasoline - at
least for the Vanagon...
I got my 2.1L 112hp 10.5:1cr "DJ" wasserboxer equipped Syncro Westfalia back
on the road this weekend. This is the most powerful gasoline engine next to
the Oettenger 6 that was offered for the Vanagon. I will still take a 1.9L
90hp TDI any day of the week. Why? Four reasons - more power & torque,
better economy, simpler to repair and dollars per upgraded power.
Power and torque.
The 90hp TDI has more torque and more horsepower than the 112hp wasserboxer.
Now you are all saying 112 is greater than 90 so that crazy Canuck is wrong,
but to the contrary - the TDI has more horse power at the lower ranges (idle
to 3500rpm) than the DJ engine and even higher in the RPM range if you
compare it to the MV engine that was sold in North America. The wasserboxer
make more horsepower above 3500 RPM which for the most part we don't drive
at those speeds as this is the neighbourhood where the green runs out on our
tachs! The TDI outright as more torque at all RPMs. The MV has around
120ft.lbs at 3200RPM which is respectable and the TDI has around 150ft.lbs
at 1900 RPM which is impressive - at every RPM range on the TDI right up to
red line there is significantly more torque. Horse power is what sells
vehicles, but you drive them with torque. I can drive from Quesnel to
Vancouver entirely in 4th gear - can't be done with a wasserboxer.
Economy.
My 2.1L takes about 13L to 14L per 100km - my TDI takes about 9L to 10L per
100km. Here Diesel is $0.919 per liter and Premium gasoline (required for
the DJ and the clean running of a MV) is $1.099 per liter. To drive 100km
in my DJ is about $15.50. To drive 100km in my TDI is about $9.50. More
than 33% farther per dollar. In the US I am noticing that Diesel is about
he same price as Premium for some reason - Premium is very refined and
Diesel is a few step above crude oil... strange... anyhow you still get more
distance per dollar. And let's not even get started with how inexpensive
running straight veggie oil is! Sorry... can't beat the petroleum companies
with the gasoline engines.
Repair.
Let's face it, there are more TDIs on the road than wasserboxers. And that
means more shops that can fix TDIs should something go wrong. A lot of VW
dealerships will turn away our troublesome wasserboxers as there is no place
to plug the diagnostic computer into it and the technicians haven't a clue.
The TDI engine on the other had is common knowledge to a lot of shops and
there are lots of parts out there for them - safety in numbers! How often
do you hear of TDIs with low oil pressure or leaking head gaskets?
Dollars per upgraded power.
I'll admit, my TDI is not stock, I have added some larger injector nozzles
from the I5 150hp TDI (0.216mm holes up from 0.184mm) - this modification
cost about 250 bucks and most shops and back yard guys familiar with Diesels
can install the larger nozzles in about 2h. This alone will get you from
90hp to about 130hp and from 150ft.lbs torque to almost 250ft.lbs. Add a
some custom software to the mix and you are at 150hp and almost 300ft.lbs of
toque - the later solution at another $300 to the bill - so call it $600
gets to a *significant* power increase and the fuel economy stays the same
or even slightly better assuming you can keep your foot out of it. Even
driving HARD like I do makes it a lot cheaper than the wassboxer per
distance covered and a LOT more fun too! Dump $600 into your wasserboxer
and what will you get... not a 50% increase in power!
Yes, I am biased towards Diesels, but, I feel I have lots of good support
for the bias.
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of John Rodgers
Sent: April 24, 2005 2:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Diesel Fuel vs Gasoline
Can anyone tell me why one would w3ant to got to the trouble and expense
of installing a diesel in their van vs staying with a goline engine????
Gasoline here in my are can be bouth at $2.08.9/gal. , while diesel
costs $2.25.9/gal.
Sure doesn't look like much incentive for going diesel.
Thanks,
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chelsea, AL
