Date:         Wed, 26 Apr 2006 10:41:12 -0700
Reply-To:     monte merrick <montemerrick@SPEAKEASY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         monte merrick <montemerrick@SPEAKEASY.NET>
Subject:      Re: More Energy Saving (driving)
Comments: To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <77281B9B-54C8-4E78-B553-03578450C22B@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

well first of all let me confess that the main reason i drive a manual,
whether its a work truck or an old bug or a ten speed bike from 1975 is
so i can pretend in my juvenile mind that i am zipping through the
dunlop tire at le mans in my ford gt40 - so if it turns out to be fuel
efficient to have a rich fantasy life, i'm all for it -

when you say coast, you mean coming down the mountain in gear but with
foot lifted from accelerator, downshifting for curves rather than
braking so that engine rpm stay road speed high (rather than idle) if
so - sounds fun




On Apr 26, 2006, at 10:23 AM, Kim Brennan wrote:

At least with the waterboxer (and possibly other engines),  if you
are coasting, the engine managment goes pretty lean and you use very
little fuel.

Best gas mileage I ever got with my stock 2.1 Syncro Camper  was in
Colorado. In the morning we start east and headed up to Monarch Pass
(on US Route 50). I don't recall how far it was to the top. Not far
(50-75 miles or so). On the east side, it was leave it in gear and go
down the mountain. When I finally stopped for gas on the plains
(after about 320 miles total on the tank)  I end up getting around 20
mpg (and I sloshed some on the ground to be sure.)