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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


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