Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 13:43:15 -0500
Reply-To: joel walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: joel walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: How far can you go on a tank of gas?
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>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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