Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:04:47 -0230
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
In-Reply-To:  <9f4608e90909291544r49b4e0b6qd020dd04d71888f8@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Another strategy - full time in your vanagon.  It won't improve your gas
mileage, but will eliminate all the emissions from the home you now live in
when not in your van.

That's how I eased my guilty conscience about gasoline consumption when I
was on the road!  ;-)



Joy


On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 8:14 PM, Al Knoll <anasasi@gmail.com> 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.
>