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Date:         Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:05:39 -0700
Reply-To:     "Chris S." <mrpolak@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Chris S." <mrpolak@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: My poor MPG, O2 sensor seems okay
In-Reply-To:  <113E3952-8651-4750-8DF9-D5BACE93D12B@myactv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1


When cruising at 75 mph I get 16 mpg in my '84 Westfalia.  My '85 got 17mpg at that speed, but it was a Wolfsburg camper with no sink or fridge.   Chugging about at 60 mph and ~45mph around the mountains I get 20 mpg.


Kevin Gilbert <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET> wrote: 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"
>>> 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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