Date:         Wed, 27 Aug 1997 13:03:57 -0700
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         TBill <tbill@STARTEXT.NET>
Subject:      2200 mi TRIP REPORT

TBill wrote:
>
> > > Hello Vanagon mail listees!  Nice to have the system up again!
> > > Came back to a crashed computer.  Week later that is up, but the list is down!  Then the list is up, but my mail server is down!  Then I was dropped from the list! Begining to think someone doesn't want me to post this.  The email is still hit and miss...
> >
> > > > Set off for CA from Ft.Worth on 11 July, but only made it as far as El
> > > > Paso.  Not the Westy's fault tho...
> > > >
> > > > As you may recall, the Beast ('83.5 water cooled Westy) was running rich and defying all my efforts to discover the cause.  I knew the O2 sensor was bad, but the
> > > > replacement didn't help.
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, it was running OK as I left Ft. Worth.  Milage at lst fill up
> > > > was  17.5 mpg, not too bad considering there was a lot of city driving
> > > > on that tank, and I was bucking a stiff head wind.
> > > > Next tank was 18.1, would have been worse, but I found a truck to
> > > > follow.
> > > >
> > > > Next tank was only 17.7, but now I was in west Texas, and couldn't find
> > > > a truck to follow.
> > > >
> All in all, it should have done better.  Auto transmission, but still.
> Consistent with it running rich.
>
> > > > The wind died down.  But suddenly I noticed I was having trouble holding
> > > > 60 mph going up a slight hill.  Pulled over and found carbon in the tail
> > > > pipe.  Well, you know the drill by now:  cut the O2 wire.  Problem
> > > > solved.  Also, advanced the timing a bit.  Felt it wasn't advancing all
> > > > the way at high speed.  Made me wish I had an old manuel advance on the
> > > > column.
> > > >
> > > > That got me to El Paso where I stumbled into some consulting work.
> > > > Seems everyone wants to partake fully of the bull market, but is nervous
> > > > about the coming (eventually) decline.  Wanted me to work out some
> > > > strategies, hedging, and estimate the effectiveness and cost.  Well,
> > > > that keep me busy for a couple of weeks, but it paid well, and I could
> > > > use the work.
> > > >
> > > > Drove the Beast about 40 mi per day, averaged 18 mpg.  It started
> > > > pulling to the right.  Been down that road before.  Tire tread
> > > > separation, no doubt.  But the right front tire was almost new (I know,
> > > > that doesn't mean anything).  But it looked fine (doesn't mean anything
> > > > either, can have separation that doesn't show, but does cause rolling
> > > > resistance and heat).  By the time I left El Paso, there was a solid
> > > > vibration.  Checked the left front and there it was.  Puzzled me as to
> > > > why a bad left tire would cause it to pull to the right!?  Didn't look
> > > > serious yet, so kept on driving.
> > > >
> > > > Lost all the propane.  I had replace the regulator last summer, and
> > > > noticed a small leak at the connection I couldn't get out.  Must have
> > > > developed into a big leak.  Anyone know a handy fix?
> > > >
> > > > El Paso is not a bad place to go to excape the summer heat. (How's that,
> > > > you say?)  Sure, it goes up to 100 F every day, but it is dry, and the
> > > > altitude is over 3700 ft.  Makes a big difference.  Can handle it easy.
> > > > Also, it cools off rapidly as soon as the sun goes down, no ac needed.
> > > > As opposed to Ft. Worth, where you hurry from AC to AC, and leave it on
> > > > all night.
> > > >
> > > > Drove up to the mountain town of Riodosa, NM, summer playground of rich
> > > > Texans.  A bit of a challenge for the underpowered brick.  Just open it
> > > > up, leave it there, and hope for the best.  A little disconcerting to be
> > > > passed by semis...
> > > >
> > > > Was not looking forward to the return drive to Ft.Worth, but it had been
> > > > about a month since I left...  The return is on 2 lane country roads
> > > > until the last leg into Ft. Worth.  At first got 18+ mpg, but dropped to
> > > > 16.1 as a nasty headwind developed.
> > > >
> > > > Now the tire was getting really bad, and I was hanging on to the wheel
> > > > to keep it straight, wondering if a hard left turn was still possible.
> > > > When I got to the freeway I decided enought was enough, and put the
> > > > spare on.
> > > >
> > > > Front came thu, mpg went over 18 for the last leg.
> > > >
> > > > Overall, not a bad trip for the Beast.  At 140k miles, it's a hobbly
> > > > keeping everything going.  Sometimes I think I would sell it if offered
> > > > the right price.  But I'd probably be looking for another a year later.
> > > > This one has no rust, no leaks, burnt l qt oil in 2000 mi, AC blows
> > > > cold.  I guy could do worse.
> > > >
> > > >   Got a new tire for $15 with allowance, dropped it off at the mechanics
> > > > to find out why it is running rich.  He adjusts the air mass meter with
> > > > an allen wrench (WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS TELL ME ABOUT THAT?).  After I had
> > > > the thing off and was trying to open it up!  Then he adjusts the timing,
> > > > says distributer is not advancing all the way.  I figured that.
> > > >
> > > > Charged me $115!  Wanted to charge $215 but I screamed.  Said he had 4.5
> > > > hrs in it.  I couldn't figure out how.
> > > >
> > > > Well, it's running good now, altho a new distributor is probably in the
> > > > works...
> > > >
> > > > TBill
> > > >
> > > > ***Warning: Dates in the calender are closer than they appear****
>
>