Date:         Mon, 17 Aug 1998 17:45:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Subject:      driving speed vs. engine life
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

A question to all:

In this age of 75mph speed limits does anyone beat the heck out of their
van the way I do when doing highway driving?  I cruise at about 70-73
mph which puts me on the outer edge of the tach "solid green zone" (4
speed, is auto. about the same?).  Honestly, the motor sounds very
comfortable there once you get used to the scream (I put on a real neat
"turbo tube muffler" which I think lets it breathe better) but I am
still always amazed that after 6 hours or so the engine is still intact
especially considering it's got to be floored to keep speed up hills.  I
have 114,000 miles (owned the van since 65,000) and it still runs great,
burns no oil, gets 20 mpg at that speed etc.  Is this likely to reduce
engine life, running so close to red line for so long?  Is this how the
Cherman's intended the Wasserboxer to run given the autobahnen that the
vehicle was designed for?  Any thrown rods, smashed valves etc. out
there?  What kind of engine life (mileage) can I expect out of this
great ole '85 Vanagon?
Mark

--
Mark Gajewski                    |  mgajewski@manvillerubber.com
Manville Rubber Products, Inc.   |  Phone: 908-526-9111
1009 Kennedy Blvd.               |    Fax: 908-526-7123
Manville, NJ  08835