Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:25:45 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: FW: 90 Carat Auto TDI Conversion: MPG ect.
In-Reply-To: <434C0450.1090605@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I understand there are other virtues people have
for wanting Diesel -Biodiesel, and how many
people are afraid they'll get rear-ended or have
such a far commute they can't afford to go 55 or
60.
Yet it looks like people can afford the higher
fuel costs.
The car ads on TV still are about cubic inches.
If they can afford the car they can afford the
gas.
We drive a vehicle of yesteryear and it is
underpowered. But for it's size, shape and
weight, it does pretty good. A friend's Ford van
only gets 12-13 mpg.
I think the five -speed WBX trans for the Vanagon
can improve fuel economy . It has a 4.57 final
drive- that with the .82 fifth is going to lower
the rpms a few hundred and will up the mpg.
Quality German in Montclair, California sold me w
rebuilt one . They have cores also that are
guaranteed good ring and pinion.
It's a funny shift pattern and I am getting used
to it 10 months later after using a 4 -speed
manual for 10 years.
It takes a while to get used to, but I think it's
worth it.
Getting good fuel economy is mostly about your
driviong habits and the condition of your engine.
Being tuned up and avoiding hard braking, hard
acceleration and high speed can improve gas
mileage.
I would try this first before going to a Diesel
engine.
Or get another economy car. Use the Vanagon for
outings.
It's still got to be cheaper than the motor homes
I see on the road.
Robert
1982 Westfalia
--- Marc Sayer <marcsayer@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> Robert Keezer wrote:
>
> >Bringing back 55 or 60 is going to save a lot
> of
> >fuel.
> >Especially for the non-aerodynamic vehicles
> with
> >large displacement engines , and there are a
> lot
> >of those.
> >
> >
>
> This lesson was hammered home for me a few
> years ago. We were visiting
> in-laws in the Idaho panhandle area for
> Thanksgiving. When we headed
> home a snowstorm was kicking up its heels. We
> were driving our 93 E150
> high top van conversion with the 351, the 4 spd
> OD automatic, and the
> electronic lockup torque converter. We normally
> run about 65-70 mph and
> get about 12 mpg on that return trip. In the
> snow storm we could only
> safely do about 35 mph. I did the mileage
> calculations when we got home,
> we had gotten over 18 mpg! That van has never
> ever seen higher than mid
> to low 13s except that one time, but then I
> never drive it slowly
> either. Despite its more aerodynamic body
> style, the high top makes it a
> huge wind brake on wheels, just like the VW.
> Intellectually you know the
> concept, but it is pretty stunning when you
> actually see the direct
> results of slowing down. Of course 35 mph is
> not going to be an
> acceptable highway speed, not even in a high
> top diesel westy :-) but
> the experience put a very real number to the
> concept for us.
>
> As for the speed kills thing, this I have a
> harder time with. Bad
> driving kills, speed magnifies that. I feel
> much safer going 140 on the
> track than I do going 40 in town. Your average
> driver has no clue how to
> control a car at speed, but we give em 2 ton
> vehicle and a license, and
> let em out on the freeways. That combination
> kills for sure. Our current
> system is basically a form of natural
> selection. I am always surprised
> by how few people are killed out there.
>
> --
> Marc Sayer
> Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT
> member #062956)
> Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue
> Association
> Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane
> Rescue Inc.
> Springfield, OR USA
>
> My Homepage - http://gracieland.org
>
> Deaf Dane Rescue Homepage -
> http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database:
> 267.11.10/120 - Release Date: 10/5/05
>
__________________________________
Yahoo! Music Unlimited
Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.
http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/
