Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:05:50 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
In-Reply-To: <CADeXwhKypXs4FUmfzvkyAHL_LCTnn1TzDoSJQyYgNLW7-u6noA@mail.gmail.com>
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You wouldn't notice any change due to fuel composition or lower temperature If the engine was at full power output. Palo Alto does not have low temps anyway, you are just trying to keep up with all the speeders ;-) (IIRC, radar use by the state patrol is prohibited in CA?). It's time to do a check on the engine condition. At a minimum, do a proper compression test and an oil analysis (www.blackstone-labs.com).
The oil analysis will show bearing and cylinder/ring wear elements, plus any coolant, silicon, etc. in the oil. If the compression is low (should be 145 psi or so, each cylinder within 10%) then you can also do a leak-down test. Mine is 90-150-100-130. Oil squirt didn't bring them up, so it's leaky valves in three cylinders. But, it still keeps plugging along, and I'm not putting any (more) money into this engine, that's going into my Subaru conversion fund. If you are interested, I can send you my oil report, as well as one from my son's '87 which is in fine condition.
Usually the WBX gives plenty of warning before it blows (like losing power or buzzing from low oil pressure), and this info will give you a good idea of the engine's condition. At 195k it's undoubtedly tired, but can probably go a lot farther.
And do start that new engine fund--in a few years you might just have enough!
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Michael Hart
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 1:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
Over the past ~3 weeks I've noticed a slight drop in power & mpg for my Westy (what power you may ask?). Specifically it feels like i'm fighting a headwind on the freeway at 50 - 60 mph.
Searching for answers and hoping it is not a real engine problem (this 2WD Westy has 195k on the original engine), I followed a hunch on gasoline formulations & found the following;
- the winter gasoline formulation for California has an average of 1.7% lower energy content (vs. summer) - due to added butane
- the changeover date is Oct 31st (most stations switch over a little
earlier)
- other factors that affect fuel economy include air temperature (the daytime temperatures have dropped significantly over the past two weeks
here)
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/pdfs/2876.pdf
Having read all this I am less worried that the engine is on it's last legs (I still have no really good excuse to spend large $$ on a new engine...)
--
Mike Hart
Palo Alto, CA (SF Bay Area)
1987 2WD White Westfalia GL 'T3Westy'
