Date:         Tue, 9 Sep 2003 17:34:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject:      Re: better gas mileage
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Nobody drives a vanagon for the fuel economy, there are many larger vehicles using newer technology that will get equal or better mileage. The problem is not that the 2.1 is gutless, it is just not the most appropriate choice for 4000lbs of van. The 2.1 does a fair job of getting all of that mass moving thanks to the low gear ratio's in the transmission and differentials, but those same ratio's limit its fuel economy. I am turning almost 4,000rpm at 70mph, not exactly the most efficient rpm, but the only way to get somewhere the same day you started. A larger more powerful engine and/or higher gear ratios will provide better performance and fuel economy at the same time. This has been proven by those that have swapped their 2.1's for Jetta, Subaru, etc., engines. Our vans are heavy because they are built well, this is why after 16 years and many miles our 87 Westy Syncro is still solid and the doors close tight. Having the shape of a barn on wheels does not help either, but t
here is not much that we can do about that. If you want gas mileage buy a Honda Insight, I have spoken with the owners of several of them and they report the ability to get over 90mpg if they stay at the posted limit on the highway. Unfortunately you will have no room for your Dometic refrigerator, sink, stove, etc.. As for our van, we will find out what its fuel mileage is after I repair the odometer.

Mark



with a manual Westy but I wonder you can get more than that. Infortunately
> this van is not burning gas as a compact car.

Forget compact car, it is'nt burning gas at full size van standards
either.  My 98 Ford E-150 gets 20 mpg on the highway with a 4.2L V-6 and
6000 lbs vehicle weight, compare that to my 4,000 lb, 2.1L Vanagon which
gets 16 mpg on the highway with a 2.1L gutless engine.  The 2.1L
Wasserboxer is not only gutless and unreliable, its expensive to operate,
inefficent, and bad for the environment.  The old Honda comercial where
the new hybrid pulls upto the old aircooled bus with all the save the
environment stickers on it comes to mind here.  Whoever says they drive a
vanagon cause its smaller and better on gas should get their facts
straight.


>
> Germain
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joseph Fortino" <fortinoj@SPEAKEASY.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 11:18 AM
> Subject: better gas mileage
>
>
> > hello all,
> >
> > seems i'm getting about 30+ mpg, does this sound right after replacing the
> ECU and some other tune-up parts i'm getting way better mileage.
> >
> > trip meter read 198 miles
> > took 11 gal at station
> > 16 gal tank right did the math and came up with 35mpg
> >
> > * is my math wrong * ;)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Joe
>