Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:12:11 -0400
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no
Well, the lower part, and the belly pan, are part of the trend. But the
low vehicles can't be taken on back roads. I know that too well. Dave
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 7:01 PM, Stephen Grisanti wrote:
> " I do wonder about the heavy oil we are recommended to use (15W50 or
> 20W50)
> increasing fuel demand. "
>
> As I understand multigrade oils, they work at low temps like the
> lighter (lower of the two numbers) grade and at high temps like the
> heavier grade, thereby providing uniform performance over a wide
> operating temperature range.
> As for improved economy, lower with skinny tires and full belly pan
> may be the way to go. You first.
>
> Stephen
>
> --- On Tue, 9/29/09, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>
> From: Dave Mcneely Subject: Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 7:12 PM
>
> Al, you make important points. One quibble. Is the Zetec cleaner?
> I've heard that it cannot pass California emissions test. Waterboxers
> properly maintained pass, don't they? Or am I completely off on this
> one? Where I live, the politicians and citizenry are insufficiently
> enlightened to require emissions tests. Oklahomans generally think
> pollution is a good thing, it smells like money (27% of the state's
> economy is directly due to the oil industry).
>
> I do try to keep my vanagon up to snuff, properly tuned and so on. I
> do
> wonder about the heavy oil we are recommended to use (15W50 or 20W50)
> increasing fuel demand. Or is that a myth, too?
>
> Dave Mc
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Al Knoll wrote:
>
>> With all the talk over bad polluters, and the half truth that some
>> not
>> all
>> of our beloved road divas are among them, perhaps we need to consider
>> making
>> our vanagons better citizens.
>>
>> As a start, to reduce total pollutants measured in pollutants per
>> mile, just
>> drive it fewer miles. This is the simplest solution.
>>
>> Keep it tuned, and aligned, and the tires (o no Mr. Bill) inflated so
>> you
>> maximize your miles per gallon thus minimizing your pollutants per
>> mile.
>>
>> Change the oil often. Change the air filter often. Change the fuel
>> filter
>> often. Might help, can't hurt.
>>
>> Drive 55, proven to enhance MPG, after all it is a touring car, so
>> tour.
>>
>> Road rage is what happens when you have a 130mph 50K$ 15MPG
>> 'investment' and
>> you spend most of your time with your teeth clenched surrounded by
>> your
>> fellow man on the superslab at 20MPH stop and go.
>>
>> More expensive options include upgrading gearing, tires and wheels
>> and
>> brakes, and the pollution device, the legendary wasserp*sser engine,
>> with
>> its 1980s engine management technology.
>>
>> What if you could improve your fuel economy by 30%? You get 24mpg
>> instead
>> of 18mpg or so. A motor with a modern engine management system emits
>> far
>> less pollutants on a bad day than the WP does on it's best day. If
>> your
>> fool consumption drops by 30% so does the pollutants per mile. er ah
>> 'fuel
>> consumption' it should be.
>>
>> The options are out there. Zetec, Subaru and others to be sure. All
>> a
>> cleaner solution than you can ever have with the WP. Not inexpensive
>> and
>> you'll never get all the expense back but it will make you feel
>> better
>> and
>> run cleaner. AND your impact on the state of global affairs didn't
>> involve
>> making a new car with all the inherent unspoken environmental impact
>> that
>> that entails.
>>
>> You could move to NYC and ride public transit or walk and just pass
>> the diva
>> on to some appreciative soul who promises not to sacrifice her in her
>> dotage
>> as a 'clunker' to a future 'discount' on a brand new fluffmobile in
>> which
>> you cannot sleep.
>>
>> What else does the group.wisdom think would improve our sorry lot?
>>
>> Pensionerd.
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