Date:         Tue, 24 Feb 1998 22:37:41 +0000
Reply-To:     Kenyon Fairey <kfairey@OIT.UMASS.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Kenyon Fairey <kfairey@OIT.UMASS.EDU>
Organization: UMass - Amherst
Subject:      Re: High Altitude
Comments: To: vanagon@zuni.likeminds.com
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Although this is a "late" response to the 'high altitude' thread of last
week, I did want to make a few comments on the topic.

1) In our '91 Westy when we traveled west during the summer of '96 we
found that we got GREAT gas mileage at the Denver (mile high) and
further west altitudes. An increase of at least 2-3 mpg.

2) We continued to buy 'regular' gas that was rated 86-85 octane (don't
yell at me - the engine ran fine and we watched carefully) and had no
apparent loss of power or loss of mph.

3) We only say a real loss of power climbing to the Eisenhower tunnel
(in the truck lane) due to it's constant steep grade. Even
'Going-to-the-Sun' road in Glacier NP was not bad.

But then our Westy did have only 16,000 mi on it when we left home and
24,000 at the end of the trip! Early engine miles are more powerful
miles! My Toyota Tercel SR5 4x4 Wagon, at 95,000 miles runs fine at 75
mph on the highway -- but really does no climb hills like it used to as
a young spry thing!

Kenyon Fairey
'91 White Westy - Greta II
'91 Silver Westu - Greta (past)
'80 'Brown' Westy - Freida Roam (past)

http://www.oit.umass.edu/kfwesties/