Date:         Wed, 03 Apr 1996 22:57:24 -0600
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         dbax@mindspring.com (Donald Baxter)
Subject:      Re: WOW!  Miracle MPG improvement


>my '87 Westy finally broke the 20 mpg barrier!
>
>previous to my recent head work, i've approached 20 mpg but never 
>actually hit it.  19.8 was the highest i've seen, and that was on a 
>*long* trip.  the last two tankfuls, which are the first two since 
>the engine work, have seen  20.3 and 21.2 mpg on open road trips of over 
>200 miles each.
>
>ever diligent to explain unexplainable phenomenon, i *think* the 
>difference is attributable to:
>	1.  a new thermostat that replaced one that obviously ran cooler
>	2.  decarbonizing and lapping-in of the intake valves
>or maybe
>	3.  Joel sneaking over to my house at night and adding a bit of gas 
>to my tank.
>
I just got a new engine, and my gas mileage is still in the 16.5 to 17.5 mpg
range.  I got new valves and a new thermostat in the deal.

This truly is a miracle.

Perhaps the Coen Bros. can make a sequel to "Fargo" called "Vanagon of the
Cities."

Donald Baxter
_________________________________________________________
Donald Baxter  Atlanta, Georgia
404.874-3292 (home)  <dbax@mindspring.com>  
404.447.6831 (work)  <dab1@jhk.com>

_________________________________________________________
"But alas, I do not rule the world and that, I am afraid, is the story of my
life--always a godmother, never a God." --Fran Lebowitz