Date:         Sun, 23 May 2010 12:14:45 -0700
Reply-To:     Matt Thyer <matt_thyer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Thyer <matt_thyer@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      First 3K on the New Engine
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

It's windy and the air is full of dust and pollen outside today.  Thus I
spent the morning working on getting actuals regarding the performance of
the new engine.  There has been one oil change since the 25th of April when
I brought it home.  I've also used a variety of diesel fuel additives which,
depending on the marketing you read about them, raise Cetane values,
lubricate, and quiet the engine and exhaust.  On cold mornings the engine
smokes momentarily and will sound a little rough for about 20 seconds before
things warm up.  Other than that it's working very well.  I've been
following Scott's recommendation to drive it gently and this means getting
off the Interstate when and where possible.  Winding state highways are
slower and, you'd know this if you drove them, a lot more fun than their
multi-lane cousins in the valley next door.

<http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4632365951_6e59611a0b_o.png>

Although it is a running average you'll also notice that the price of fuel
is trending up (Average PPG) over the last month or so.  Average MPG has
some room for improvement but I'm guessing that it will over time as the new
engine breaks in and as the driver becomes more synchronized with the
vehicle.

In other news I have in my possession a pair of Rocky Mountain Westy lock
boxes to install under the front seats and a pair of DOKA truck mirrors to
replace the old flappy ears on Zeno today.  Also, I talked to the folks at
POR 15 after preparing the cabin for some anti-rust sealing work only to
discover that I couldn't open the can.  There is a plan in place to transfer
the contents from that can to a new can (maybe even today) and they've
recorded a discount should I want to buy anything new from them in the
future.  Really nice people who know how to take care of their customers was
the sense I came away with after this discussion.

Matt Thyer
http://zenoswagen.wordpress.com/
http://zenoswagen.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/first-3k-on-the-new-engine/