Poor gas mileage diagnosis requires the tune up procedure.
First inspect all the ignition parts. Test each injector (80-83 Air Cooled
use 8 volt, don't hook them to 12v unless you kiss each one goodbye first).
Check all electrical connections, scrub the connectors as best you can with
a toothbrush and some Berryman's B12 carb cleaner.
Check the temp sender in the cylinder head for proper resistance.
Set the timing and points.
Check for vacuum leaks everywhere in the engine bay.
Then consider if this fails a clogged Catalytic converter can cause poor
fuel economy too.

Stan Wilder
www.engineceramics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "alan sinclair" <anadem@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 3:43 PM
Subject: 12 mpg ???

> after resuscitating an '81 westie (after a 5-6 year sleep) with new
> long block, we're getting around 12 miles/gallon.  It's an automatic
> but surely it should get better mpg than 12!
>
> what should we expect for mpg with an automatic (which i guess might
> get worse mpg than a stick shift?), and how do we go about tracing the
> problem?  there's no obvious gasoline leak and the engine runs quite
> well with no sign of major over-rich mix.
>
> I *really* appreciate all the advice many list members have given us
> so far ... you're a great lot and very many thanks!
>
> Alan