Date:         Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:37:19 -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:      Re: Gas Mileage Improvements?
Comments: To: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTik5163hn1eXbjrq9iYrSeWI2xgN8jWi17yUNQFc@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

1) Take a look at the hypermiling techniques http://www.hypermiling.com/
2) Track your mileage religiously (it often lets you know something is going
wrong while you can still do something about it) and it will tell you when
you're breaking the bank to seconds on trips
3) Check your tire pressure every other tank and when ambient temperature
changes.  Harder tires reduce rolling resistance, but extend stopping
distances.
4) Most important of all, SLOW DOWN!  Seriously, regardless of your
vehicle's inherent aerodynamic characteristics the faster you go the harder
your engine must work to get you through all that air.  We all drive a
vehicle with the aerodynamic characteristics of a brick on wheels.  Your
vehicles engine has to work against three forces to move you anywhere;
rolling resistance, its own momentum, and wind resistance.  Of these the
greatest is wind resistance.  Slowing down reduces the resistance you must
overcome logarithmically; the time lost at a slower pace is linear.


Matt Thyer
matt_thyer@hotmail.com

Help me support Washington trails!



-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Michael Sullivan
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 2:58 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Gas Mileage Improvements?

I have a 91 GL Auto with approx 188K miles.  I tracked a recent tank from
empty to empty again.  I put in 14.4 gallons and got 218 miles out of it.
This equates to only 15.14 mpg.  A/C was off majority of time. This sucks
worse than I thought.  These are a mix of highway and city miles.  Can I get
some suggestions on improving this, please?
 Michael in San Antonio
P.S. No engine conversion suggestions, please.  Thanks in advance.
91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
73 Beetle