Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:18:38 -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
Oh, I do use the oil. I just wonder about fuel economy with it.
High fuel economy vehicles like Toyota Prius are partially buttoned up
below, but not complete. They are also very low.
What constitutes "skinny" tires? Mine are 195R14C. That is slightly
wider than stock (185). Many list members recommend wider tires on
bigger wheels.
Dave Mc
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 7:37 PM, Karl Wolz wrote:
> Engine ain't changed all that much since Ferdinand designed it with
> lots of
> tolerance. The thick oil is needed to protect the engine when hot,
> efficient or not.
>
> Belly pan wouldn't do much for handling at higher speeds, either, I'd
> imagine. Just a guess on that one, though.
> High pressure skinny tires are great for fuel economy. My van already
> has
> those; yours should, too.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Stephen Grisanti
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 5:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
>
> " 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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