Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:05:42 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What is it with the US? (Real van content)
In-Reply-To: <F8C7BC03-B50D-427B-978D-49CAEDC8BECD@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Yep, Mileage can and does vary. Still not 30 mpg and also not in a Syncro.
Are your mileage figures corrected for the odometer error? How about
speedometer error? How fast do you generally travel? I had an 84 7
passenger that I would see 21-22 on long trips.
Rarely did I see a NA 1.6 in a Vanagon make it too 100K without some major
engine repair. I did many Rabbit engine repairs also. Head gaskets,
cracked heads and broken or stuck rings were the usual problems.
No doubt the TDI is a vastly improved Diesel engine with the drivability
to make it enjoyable.
For your heating comparison. Is that $0.08/kwh the total with taxes and
delivery charges? Here on Long Island the total cost for home electricity
is between $0.19 and $0.22/kwh. Since electric heat is pretty much 100%
efficient, your cost of $0.08/kwh is equal to ~$2.35/therm or 100,000
btu's. This is based on a conversion of 1kwh=3,410 Btu/hr. On my last gas
bill, the delivered cost of gas was $1.76/therm. This included the taxes
and delivery charges. So your cost for electric heat is 2.35/therm /
1.76/therm or 33% more. Now, obviously your boiler or furnace will not be
100% efficient but modern gas equipment should get you near 85% or more.
Especially with the newer furnaces that even use outside air for
combustion. Some of these get near 92%. Anyway, you can see that you may
not be saving what you think you are. Now imagine paying 2.5 times more
for the electric as we do here. For an additional comparison, Diesel or
number 2 heating oil is 138,000 BTU/gallon. Gasoline is 125,000.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Arnott
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What is it with the US? (Real van content)
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
