Date:         Thu, 28 Oct 1999 23:08:14 -0500
Reply-To:     Rian Mullins <rian.mullins@MAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rian Mullins <rian.mullins@MAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mileage at altitude - responses/experiences requested
Comments: To: John Rodgers <inua@SCOTT.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

i've definitely noticed increased gas mileage at altitude. maybe because wind
resistance is less.

Rian mullins

John Rodgers wrote:

> Ken, that would be correct.
>
> At altitude that air density becomes less and less in relation to the amount of
> fuel going through the engine, so fuel air mixture goes to the rich side, you
> get incomplete combustion and a loss of power is the consequence. There may be
> some automatic mixture adjustment built into the F/I but it is probably small
> and the limits are reached very quickly if its there at all.
>
> As you may well know, fuel injectiojn systems and some of the big carburetors
> on piston type Aircraft powerplants have auto-mixture controls, and smaller
> aircraft have manual mixture controls that can be operated from the cockpit.
> Never saw an automotive vehicle so equipped.
>
> John Rodgers