Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:05:23 -0900
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Now that the mileage survey is done . . .
In-Reply-To: <473A20D7.2060704@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Time to trade it in for a Westy Syncro. I can usually get at least 18(hwy) out of ours(stock 2.1L, 185R14 tires, and 3rd & 4th gear swapped to higher ratio's) and that is with a heavy foot on the pedal, 70 - 75 crusing speed(except for going up hills of course), two adults, two kids, and camping gear, bikes, plus lots of mountain driving(this is Alaska where the mountains are interrupted by flat land not the other way around).:>)
How fresh/strong is your engine, ie compression readings? How heavy are you on the gas pedal? Are your brakes dragging? Parking brake stuck slightly on? Tire pressure? Converter partially plugged? Potato in the exhaust pipe? Is the transmission slipping too much? How are your readings from an I/M test? Faulty signals getting to the computer? Forget to put the poptop down?:>) Wheel bearings too tight? Have it tuned while on a Dyno? I know that you have been working on this problem for a while and have probably checked all of these and more. NPR had a story yesterday on how the Japanese Bullet Trains noses are shaped like the beak of a King Fisher as they discovered that this reduced the noise and saved 15% on fuel. Do this and you will be a little closer, and have quite the conversation piece too. lol
Good luck with your search for fuel economy, keep us informed as to your findings. As for me I am currently endeavoring to improve upon the heating system for the passenger compartment. Last Winter our average daily temperature was about `9F and VW was not smart enough to allow Vanagon operators to shut off outside air and use Recirculated cabin air for the heater. Made my all white Syncro look and feel like an icebox, the kids rode to school with a blanket over them. Taking some ideas from another list member whom is converting from air cooled to water boxer I have blocked off the outside air intake and made a recirc. air path from the side dash vents. As soon as I finish adding sound deadener and insulation to the front of the van I will put the dash back together and see how it works. I expect that it can't possibly be worse than the stock arrangement and hopefully will improve upon it.
Mark in AK where heat and not fuel economy is the issue right now
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 10:20 am
Subject: Now that the mileage survey is done . . .
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> . . . I can be pretty confident that Mellow Yellow is a serious
> contender in The Worst Mileage Ever Derby.
>
> In the online survey at http://vanagonwiki.net/index.php/Mileage
> we see
> that typical mileage for 1.9l auto transmission Westys ranges from
> 16mpgto 20mpg.
>
> My city mpg = 11. My highway mpg = 15.
>
> If anyone has any suggestions for thing that I haven't already checked
> (see http://camping.elliott.googlepages.com/poormileage ) then I'd
> loveto hear them.
>
> BTW, I just reconfirmed my odo's accuracy yesterday with a GPS
> when we
> hauled the grandkids to Legoland, Carlsbad (USA). I was pretty
> sure it
> was accurate but I am now questioning all my assumptions because there
> appears to be nothing wrong with the vehicle, yet it drinks gas at an
> alarming rate. It's driving me slowly mad. There has to be a reason.
>
> --
> 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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