Date:         Sat, 13 Nov 1999 08:54:55 -0500
Reply-To:     jsnyder <jsnyder@SHENTEL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jsnyder <jsnyder@SHENTEL.NET>
Subject:      Interstates and my trip to Virginia (long)
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Wow...I never thought I would provoke so much discussion by my comments about the condition of I-40 through Albuquerque through Memphis! It has been interesting reading however.

I started my journey west of Sacramento and headed down I-5 to Needles. I-5 was a bit boring and I wish I had chosen 99 but maybe next time. Needles to Albuquerque was very nice driving with some very beautiful scenery and fairly nice road. You have already heard about my travel through to Memphis.

From Memphis to Woodstock Virginia, the road along I-40 and then I-81 was almost perfect. Since I had very little clutch left, it was nice to relax and enjoy the scenery especially as I entered Virginia. I could hear John Denver singing in my head as I headed up the Shenandoah Valley. It was so beautiful and one reason I have decided to move here in addition to some very good smallmouth fishing, etc.

I am not sure about all the scientific data, etc. about the trucking industry and roads but I did think that there was something wrong here. At one downgrade, I was passed by over 130 big rigs and only counted 3 passenger vehicles. I was continually passed by at least 3 dozen of the same trucks all the way from southern California through Virginia. 

I know I must have made a few of them mad because I averaged between 50-55 mph the entire distance and the same trucks kept passing me over and over. I especially enjoyed passing many of them up some steep grades in 4th gear! I actually only needed to downshift into 3rd twice the whole trip, not bad for 48 HP! In fact, I have re-evaluated my plans for a turbo diesel and will probably save up for a normally aspirated 1.9 diesel and avoid any heat or maintenance related challenges. I enjoy driving slowly in the Vanagon and enjoying the scenery and will save my fast trips for my Jetta TDI.

BTW, my fuel economy the whole trip was about 29 mpg with 32 on a couple tanks. I learned the hard way that the diesel preferred to cruise at 55-60 instead of 60-65 as my oil consumption was 6 quarts the entire journey much of which ended up on the back of the van. When I dropped down to 55-60, oil consumption was very little. I was pulled over by a state trooper in Arkansas that was very nice and wanted to inform me that he thought my engine was ready to blow. The exhaust was smoking a little on long uphill grades and I had oil all over the back of the van from the oil filler tube cap becoming loose also on the bad roads. It helped to add a couple coats of oil also. I informed the trooper that the engine was indeed a diesel and the oil cap had become loose from these rough roads. He was said he didn't know it was a diesel and wished me well on my journey to VA.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice for my bleeder wrench also. The clutch has been working okay this week and I am going to bleed it just in case again. I know I need a little more pedal because reverse grinds just a little. Otherwise I will be changing the oil and putting a couple good coats of wax on the Vanagon to get ready for the upcoming Winter hear in Virginia. It has never seen temperatures below 30 degrees and I feel bad about that.

Have a good weekend folks!

Jim Snyder

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