Date:         Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:06:23 -0400
Reply-To:     pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 25 MPG Wasserboxer!
Comments: To: Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net>
In-Reply-To:  <485FC4E1.9060009@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Morals:
Boston Bob builds great engines, and
Drive SLOW!!

Since I can't afford to act on the first piece of advice, I go heavy on the
second.

Wes


On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 11:44 AM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I put a Boston Bob 2.1 engine into my '85 Westy and, after the initial
> break-in, drove it to Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina (I'm in
> Virginia now).
>
> Anyway, because the engine was still fairly new, I kept the highway
> speed down to a max of 51 (under 3,000 RPM) and didn't run the air
> conditioner.  I avoided any fast starts and didn't lug the engine and by
> doing so, I "Averaged" 24.92 miles per gallon (confirmed by GPS) from
> Thomaston, Maine to Abingdon, Virginia which was just over 1,000 miles
> with the route I took.  The inside of the van was pretty well loaded, too.
>
> For those interested in the configuration (I'll make a full
> report on that after I get back to Maine), I'm using the entire 2.1
> intake system (snorkel and all) with stock 1.9 wiring.  The 2.1 AFM
> works great with with the digijet harness.  On the trip down, I used the
> stock 1.9 ECU with a 1.9 distributor set to TDC.  The tires are 185 14
> C2 Hakkapeliittas with 40 lbs in the fronts and 50 in the rears.  The O2
> sensor was disconnected.
>
> I haven't accurately checked the gas mileage since getting here as I've
> been using the air conditioner, changed to the 2.1 "Digijet" ECU
> (performance ECU) and have been doing a lot of mixed driving ... mostly
> in town driving.  It appears that I'm only getting about 18 mpg under
> such circumstances.
>
> Where I'm staying, I don't have an internet connection so communication
> with you guys will be spotty at best.  We'll be attending the West River
> Westies event in Vermont on the way home and won't be back in Houlton,
> Maine until mid July.
>
> Mike
> '85 Westy 2.1
>