Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:44:12 -0700
Reply-To:     Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Cleaning up your Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

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.