Date:         Fri, 23 May 2008 19:47:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Increasing fuel economy/decreasing con$umption
Comments: To: joel walker <uncajoel@bellsouth.net>
In-Reply-To:  <004d01c8bd04$167c8fc0$0101a8c0@gp207joel>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Jeff has a great gear ratio chart on the Technical page of his website,
www.vanagonparts.com



On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 11:37 AM, joel walker <uncajoel@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

> I've always thought that the "sweet spot" in a vanagon is around 55
>> mph. The handling, fuel consumption, road and wind noise, and just
>> over all quality of the driving experience are much better at the
>> lower speed in a vanagon, IMHO.
>>
>
> i've always suspected that vw designed all their cars for 100kmph and
> 500km range ... and then put the properly sized gas tank to meet those
> requirements.
> or in our language, 62-63 mpg and 300 miles (at that speed; without
> hills; without traffic; etc).
>
> the beetles were that way (to me); the squarebacks, the rabbits and
> the buses. not sure about the eurovans ... never drove one long enough
> to check it out.
>
> now, the thing about 55mph is the rpm ... it's right at the max torque
> rpm of the watercooled 2.1 liter engine. not true on the aircooled or
> the 1.9 liter watercooled or the diesel.
>
> aircooled - max torque 101 ft-lb @ 3000 rpm
> diesel       - max torque  97 ft-lb  @ 2000 rpm
> 1.9 liter   - max torque 105 ft-lb @ 2600 rpm
> 2.1 liter   - max torque 117 ft-lb @ 3200 rpm.
>
> so, for the 2.1 liter 4-speed non-syncro (ACW) transmission,
> 3200 rpm is right at 55mph. so 63 mph would give you a tad of
> momentum, but no more torque.
>
> and for the 3-speed automatic,
> 3200 rpms is also right at 55mph (55.6 calculated).
> and 63mph is 200 rpm above that. same thing.
>
> anybody got the gear ratios for the aircooled 4-speed and the
> diesel 4-speed?? i need the gear ratios and the final drive ratio.
> :)
>
> unca joel
>



--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27