Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2013 12:13:59 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE/Running Cold?
In-Reply-To: <CAH3v19+jMC7WitS+9WhJU63PVQPmqKRB1Y0J7JFSHC4dscq9+A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I know it's not Friday but how about doing some real honest to goodness
trouble shooting? Seriously! It is easy enough to test the O2 sensor to
determine if you are getting proper mixture control. Also, if the engine
temperature is falling at highway speed you may be going into open loop
control or even worse warm up enrichment. In addition the lower temp also
means less efficiency and increased oil viscosity. Four screws, change the
t-stat. Keep in mind that extended warm up time, idling, additional
headlight and heater fan use all affect fuel economy. Automatics and Syncros
take a real hit for winter operation.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Craig Cowan
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 3:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE/Running Cold?
Well, i've gotten a step closer to solving the running issues, i believe.
Yesterday i found the temp gauge will still dive above 60mph, and it was
warmer (25*F or so?), but i think the issue is bigger than just a
faulty/weird thermostat. I think my 8mpg running is in part coming from
terrible grounds.
When I first built this bus, for whatever reason I seem to have forgot to
deal with the grounds?
My chronically slow starting condition suddenly made since, and i dove into
the engine bay to find the braided cable snapped off in my hand, and all the
ring terminals looked like crap.
I cleaned up some of the ring terminals and replaced the ends of a few
others. I put a 4 gauge grounding cable from the engine to the body and from
the starter motor's lower bolt to the body.
My starting is still screwed up, but seems improved.
I can't wait to see how this effected fuel economy. I imagine the entire
fuel injection system was reading poorly if the grounds weren't sound.
Hopefully my messing with wires didn't awaken any new beasts.....
We shall see.
-Craig
On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 11:52 AM, Stuart MacMillan
<stuartmacm@gmail.com>wrote:
> I've had a surprising number of aftermarket thermostats not work
> properly over the years. Quality control is non-existent on some of these
parts.
> Your high speed temp drop points to the T stat not cycling or opening
> too far at speed, which is pumping the coolant through the valve at higher
> pressure and perhaps holding it fully open. T stats are constantly
> adjusting, or should be, to keep the engine temp constant.
>
> Change it to what Dennis recommends.
>
> Stuart
> '85 Westy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Craig Cowan
> Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 12:00 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE/Running Cold?
>
> Hmm.... It is an aftermarket thermostat but stock temp and speced for
> the Vanagon. It was stamped Germany and the club installed it, getting
> the seal of approval by several members.
> It also did operate as expected, and it works fine up to 60mph.
> Odd....
>
> -craig
>
> On Jan 24, 2013, at 2:18 PM, David Milo <dellaone@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> > From a post on 12/12/12 from Dennis Haynes: What are you referring
> > to as high temperature? The stock Thermostat rating is 87C, (188F).
> > That is plenty and should be used all year. From experience, the
> > most consistent acting and best response are the ones from the dealer.
> > (???). Of the features of the part the top control disc has a rubber
> > gasket to ensure no leak by when it is closed. Next choice would be
> > the Wahler, (German). I have had some Mehle that fit but they may be
> coming from unknown sources.
> > If you do go to a parts store, almost all will sell you the wrong
> > stat. The lower disc will be the wrong diameter. If the listing
> > includes some Audi or other vehicles it is wrong.
> > The confusion comes from the practice that T-stats get listed for
> > vehicles based on just a few specifications. Usually the top housing
> > diameter is the key. Vlave types, bypasses, bleeds, lengths and
> > other
> features get lost.
> > This is a real problem even in American vehicles, trucks, RV's that
> > need stats with more flow and thus use a different design such as
> > umbrella instead of disc. The wrong stat may jam partly open and/or
> > not open far enough for proper cooling.
> >
> > Dave Milo
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 2:10 PM, David Milo <dellaone@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Aftermarket thermostat? Could be malfunctioning. I have read many
> >> times from Dennis Haynes that most aftermarket thermostats do not
> >> fit or operate properly. Extreme conditions could exacerbate that.
> >>
> >> Dave Milo
> >>
> >> On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I am reluctant to reply to this Craig but is it possible, even at
> >>> 15deg, that it's just because it's cold?
> >>>
> >>> Gertie runs the temp gauge dead on center - consistantly, until
> >>> this week
> >>> -
> >>> it's been very cold here this week ranging from about 2deg to 15
> >>> or so - the needle is running at about 1/4 - 1/3 and cabin heat is
> >>> there but not as it was. Again, I could be talking out my backside
> >>> but it sort of made sense to me - thinking about trying the
> >>> cardboard trick myself just to see if it helps.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Thanks,
> >>>
> >>> Jeff
> >>> '85 GL (Gertie)
> >>> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
> >>
> >>
>
>
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