I would beg to differ. I've run an NA diesel Westy for... Lemme look at the spreadsheet... 35550 miles and the average fuel consumption over those (back to the spreadsheet) 123 fill-ups has been 27.45 mp (US)g. Were I to add a turbo and increase the engine's volumetric efficiency, I suspect that 29-30 mpg is easily attainable. Maintenance costs? 11 gallons of Rotella T synthetic at $16.40/gal. (3) air filters at about $5.00 ea., (11) oil filters at $5.69 ea, (1) fuel filter at about ten bucks IIRC and a set of used glow plugs and relay off ebay for fifteen bucks delivered. With the exception of mid 2005 through first quarter 2007, diesel fuel has been less expensive by at least 10% than gasoline. Even when it was more expensive, the fuel mileage increase offset the increased fuel cost. Worst case, it was a wash. The qualifier here is that I have replaced the 48 hp 1600 with a 64 hp 1900. A motor that was not available in 1982 when the Westy was manufactured. The current plan is to acquire another diesel Vanagon (I know where it is...) for the conversion pieces and pull the NA from the Westy and install in the seven passenger wasserboxer with the yet once again leaking heads. Acquire a 1.9 TD for the Westy. Install and be set for the next ten or fifteen years. Then I'll KNOW whether a Westy can get 30 mpg or not. I've owned both and the diesel is so much less worrisome and less costly than the opposed gas burner that I've made my choice. As they say, YMMV. In the PNW, the cleanest (and cheapest) alternative for heating my home is electricity. But here, most of our electricity is either hydro or wind. (This is speaking from experience. Heating with gas ran about $350/mo. Electricity is about half that. Current rate ~ $0.08/kWh) Once upon a time, gas was cheaper, but now that the energy corporations have convinced so many folks that natural gas is "cheap" it appears that it's time for some profit taking. And that fourth paragraph is WAY off topic. But I had to gloat. I LOVE living in Oregon. ;o) Jim
On Jun 26, 2007, at 5:47 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote: > The factory bare bones Diesel Vanagons didn't do 30 mpg. Your > Syncro at 28 > is exceptional. However you have to factor in the shorter engine > life and > overall cost per mile. Also factor the increased maintenance costs > for the > typical car owner. The gasoline engine is popular here due to the low > overall costs and with current technology the cleaner choice. It > almost like > should you heat your house with oil or gas? Most folks choose > natural gas if > it is available. > > Dennis |
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