Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:04:57 -0400
Reply-To: Kevin Gilbert <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kevin Gilbert <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET>
Subject: Re: My poor MPG, O2 sensor seems okay
In-Reply-To: <46E5DD73.8050505@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Rock,
FWIW, I just got home from a 900-mile ride through the mountains of
Virginia and North Carolina, and averaged just shy of 22 mpg. I drive
an '84 westy, same size tires as yours.
I inflate my tires just a hair past tire recommendation, to keep them
hard for best mileage. I have new O2 sensor. But most importantly, I
drive under the speed limit on the highway. I figure when people see
a VW camper, they expect it to be slow. I try to avoid opening the
throttle any more than necessary to maintain 60 mph. All the
mechanical issues aside, driving a VW for gas mileage is different
than driving anything else. You have to be willing to go slow and
watch the scenery - and traffic - go by.
Kevin
On Sep 10, 2007, at 8:12 PM, Michael Elliott wrote:
> Hi Todd, 185R14. Here are the data volunteered to me from when I
> initiated
> this subject, like, last month I think (use a fixed-width font to
> avoid
> this looking like a total mess). I'm the Rocky Squirrel sample.
>
> Year Model Engine Trans Owner mpg Comments
>
> 82 Westy 1.8 manual Alistair Bell 24.4 185R14, summer
> 84 Westy 1.9 auto Rocky Squirrel 15.5 185R14
> highway, sea level
> 85 Westy 1.9 auto Thomas LaPointe 17 best
> 85 Westy 1.9 auto TC 19 average
> 84 Vanagon 1.9 auto Mike Collum 19
> 84 Westy 1.9 auto David Etter 21.5 Ave. (2
> engines)
> 84 Westy 1.9 manual Tom Buese 17 4500ft
> elevation
> 84 Westy 1.9 manual Jack R. 18 185R14, 650ft
> elevation
> 84 n/a 1.9 manual stuart jeff 20 stock 14''
> wheels
> 83 Westy 1.9 manual Wesley Pegden 20 19.5/22 mpg
> 85 Westy 1.9 manual Mike Collum 20.5
> 84 GL 1.9 manual Jake de Villiers 24.5
> 83.5 Westy 1.9 n/a David Kao 22 average
> 88 Westy 2.1 5-speed Todd Last 16.5 205/70 R14
> tires
> 87 Westy 2.1 manual Stephen Grisanti 17 EPA
> sticker: 17/18 city/hwy
> 86 GL 2.1 manual Joel Walker 19 EPA
> sticker: 16/18 city/hwy
> 87 Camper 2.1 manual TJ Hannick 19 A/C on,
> seal level, 225/70R14
> 86 Westy 2.1 manual Jake de Villiers 20.5
> n/a Carat n/a manual Angus Gordon 22 average
> 87 Synchro Westy mike 15 8.5X27 14
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 9/10/2007 4:18 PM Todd Last wrote:
>
>> What tires are you running? (Specifically what diameter are they?)
>>
>> Todd
>> '88 Westy
>> -------------- Original message ----------------------
>> From: "Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
>>> As I've posted previously, my 84 1.9L auto only gets about 15.5 MPG
>>> while others have reported somewhat higher mileage. Even after
>>> filtering
>>> out those who seem to be quite optimistic, and paying especial
>>> attention
>>> to those who deny not keeping careful records, Mellow Yellow still
>>> trails the pack. It gives us great sadness.
>>>
>>> It has been proposed that my poor numbers might be due to a funky O2
>>> sensor, or crummy compression. I'll get to the compression
>>> tomorrow or
>>> the next day, but right now I have hooked up my handy-dandy
>>> voltmeter to
>>> the sensor and with the engine warmed up, it is outputting
>>> between .36
>>> volt and .66 volt, ranging around about .55 volt. This seems kinda
>>> normal, from what I read.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>> KG6RCR
>>
>
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