Date:         Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:35:44 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: My poor MPG, O2 sensor seems okay
Comments: To: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <46E5C978.7020107@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Keep in mind that the Vanagon was designed as a utility vehicle first,
built on a truck chassis. It was built in a period when 55 mph was the
norm. And, true to form, my stock 88 GL 2.1L with manual tranny, will
get 21 mpg if I peg it at 55 mph and don't dog the engine.Any thing
faster than that  and mileage drops precipitously. Headwinds and
tailwinds have a significant effect as well. After all, the things
aren't the epitome of aerodynamic efficiency.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott wrote:
> 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
>
>