Date:         Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:53:30 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: mpg display (was Re: Was: Electric Vanagon? Now really useful
              tips..
Comments: To: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <47B8F678.5050209@cs.uchicago.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

A simple vacuum gauge will give you that, which is what some analogue
'mileage' gauges are.

You could also get an after market system I'm sure.   I bet a search would
get you dozens.
'trip mileage calculator'......or something close to that.
might be part of an aftermarket cruise control system too.


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Wesley Pegden
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: mpg display (was Re: Was: Electric Vanagon? Now really useful
tips..

Something they mention that I've wondered about, is whether it would be
feasible to install some sort of mpg display in a vanagon, that would
monitor fuel usage and compare with speed.  I know the times I've driven
cars with a mpg indicator, my mileage improved greatly as a got used to
what the most efficient way of driving the car was.  I'm sure I'd get
better mileage in the van with direct feedback.

-Wes

Ken Lewis wrote:
> Here is a site with some gas saving tips:
> http://forum.ecomodder.com/showthread.php?t=44
>
> Section 4; item #8 caught my eye. ;"Take off the alternator belt".
>   Instead of something that drastic I was thinkng of adding a circuit
> loop
> to disable/enable the alternator on my daily driver . Some sites claim
> 5 to
> 10% fuel savings.
> Spit-balling:
> The alternator would only be loaded during:
> 1> braking
> 2>battery voltage below 11(?) volts
> 3>button on shifter activation for downshifting
> 4>?
>
> Otherwise the ignition system would run on the spare battery . Solar
> panels
> could charge it during the day between commutes. All parts I have laying
> around the garage. Hmmmm....
>
> Ken Lewis
> http://neksiwel.20m.com/
>