Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:47:53 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE/Running Cold?
In-Reply-To: <CAH3v19KTU7syYEx3DGr0F=i5XEe59XLTusiZUBr6VhB4UuHf9A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
---- Craig Cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Hello Gang!
> My '90 GL (Automatic) is giving me troubles. Some may recall this van had
> sat for a few years before I came to own it, and I have turned it around to
> a reliable daily driver. Anyway.... It's time to throw more work into it.
>
> I had previously had a problem with the temp gauge never rising above 1/3
> on the gauge and it wouldn't make good heat. Of course I had a bad dash
> blower, so wasn't all that sure on the heat.
> Gas mileage was always bad. 14mpg max.
> Well last weekend I finally replaced the thermostat and things were looking
> good! The temp gauge would now read right in the middle, and with the new
> dash blower as well, i now had heat!
> But surprisingly, the gas mileage suffered still.
> Yesterday I filled up and found I had gotten 10.5mpg on that tank.
>
> Today I did some highway driving. This bus runs like a champ! Seriously
> good power, however I now see that the temp gauge will drop all the way to
> the bottom if I cruise at anything above 60mph. Anything below 50mph will
> maintain the temp gauge right in the middle, where it should be.
> I've never seen this happen. Any ideas?
>
> I believe this weird temperature problem could account in part for my
> terrible gas mileage. I recognize that I shouldn't quite be expecting
> 20mpg, but 17 would be a reasonable thing to find from an auto bus in my
> experience. There are a few even in my area that do get 20mpg, easily.
You did not say where you are driving. Could the inability of the vehicle to maintain temperature on your test drive be related to exceptionally cold weather? You imply that you have not driven at highway speeds since doing the work until that drive. If it is just the cold wind taking the heat away faster than the engine generates it, try a sheet of plastic or cardboard in front of the radiator. If that helps, then there is probably nothing wrong with the engine, it is just cold out. I hate to say this when it is cold, but you might turn the heater fan down, too.
But if you are not in an exceptionally cold location, then ................... .
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> -Craig
> '90GL
> '87 SUNROOF SYNCRO WESTY ZETEC
> '85 Barn
--
David McNeely
| 
