Vanagon EuroVan
Previous (more recent) messageNext (less recent) messagePrevious (more recent) in topicNext (less recent) in topicPrevious (more recent) by same authorNext (less recent) by same authorPrevious page (May 2007, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 21 May 2007 15:50:34 -0400
Reply-To:     Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: How far can you go on a tank of gas?
Comments: To: PB <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <699b6e3f0705211221y2bd1f87tba3dd7f6615f2060@mail.gmail.com >
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I go about 230-240 before I have to refuel. At 70 mph cruise, that makes it about 3 hrs between fuel stops...just the right time for my co-pilot's bladder endurance to reach its maximum. Could that be a built in safety feature designed into the Vanagon??

Perhaps with a larger fuel tank and some of those NASA "diapers" cruising range could be extended....

:-)

Ric

At 03:21 PM 5/21/2007, PB wrote: >It's not that I'm trying to push my luck. I'd just like to know the "true" >meaning of the red area, and also what I can expect to be a reasonable range >on a tank. Each time I've gotten a "new" used car, I've allowed myself to >run out of gas just to find out. I'm getting older now, and besides, when I >did that, the internet and message boards weren't what they are today! >Thanks again. >Patti >**************************** >On 5/21/07, joel walker <jwalker17@earthlink.net> wrote: >> >> >I know this has a lot of variables, but in a 90 automatic, or >> >similar, >> > non-freeway driving, the only "extra" would be running the stereo >> > while >> > driving (No AC, fridge, heat, driver only, no passengers, no heavy >> > load, >> > etc,) about how far should you be able to go on a full tank of gas? >> > How far >> > into the red do you have to be to run out of gas? Does a 90 Westy >> > automatic >> > have fuel injection, making it a bad thing to run out of gas? >> >>sadly, it all depends on your driving habits (jabbing the gas pedal or >>smooooothly easing it down) and the traffic (having to >>stop/go/stop/go) and the traffic lights (stop/go) and so forth. >> >>however, on a long trip, where you only stop to get more gas, i have >>made it 266 miles before i chickened out and filled up. that fillup >>took only 13.4 gallons ... so i COULD have made it farther, likely >>another 35-40 miles. so i MIGHT have been able to go 300 miles, but i >>would REALLY have been sweating, i think. ;) that was in a 91 carat >>non-camper automatic bus. and i usually try to fill up as soon as it >>gets below 1/4 tank, but that time i kinda pushed it and it was >>getting close to the red mark when i found a gas station. on that bus, >>when the needle hits the red, you've got only right at two gallons >>left and you'd better hope something is close. >> >>so i'd figure 19 mpg, conservative (likely to be slightly >>higher,depending on the wind and terrain), and that gives you a >>maximum-miles-before-choking-on-fumes distance of 304 miles. the >>conservative factor would likely get you another 15 miles or so, but >>to me that's pushing it too far. :( >>well, i don't like doing that ... did it once in a 4-speed 86 vanagon >>non-camper through Kansas ... did you know that there aren't that many >>gas stations on the interstates in Kansas!!??? i do NOW! :( ... and >>when i coasted into the gas station, i put 16.1 gallons in on the pump >>dial!!! (the tank ain't supposed to hold but 15.9 gallons!). i was >>REALLY sweating on that one. but i was still "young" and did many >>stupid things back then. ;) >> >>anyway, let's assume that we are intelligent folks ... and when the >>gas needle gets to 1/4 on the dial, we start seriously looking for a >>gas station ... that's 12 gallons (roughly) gone, at 19mpg, and is >>228-230 miles or there abouts. at 60mph, that's four hours ... time >>for a break. :) even at 70mph, that's a little over three hours. time >>for a break. :) >> >>the question is: >>do you really want to push it another 30 minutes and 35 miles? >>is it worth the risk? >> >>my answer, fraught with hard-won wisdom of the ages, is no ... fill up >>now and be safe for the next three to four hours. >> >>but i'm still young enough to do stupid things every now and then. ;) >> >>good luck! >>unca joel


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.