Hi Matthew

I have a 87 Auto Westy and I am able to get an average of 20 MPG at 55-58
MPH with two bikes in the back and all the gears for vacation. This gas
mileage is based on 2 trips of 4000 miles each.

Some tricks to help better gas mileage:
- Be smooth when you are accelerating.
- Do not drive the Vanagon at more than 60 milles per hour.
- Let say you are doing 20 MPG at 55 MPH, it could be 17 MPG at 65 MPH.
- Do not brake for nothing, try to keep your momentum.
- Every 200 lbs of load add about 1MPG on your gas mileage. ( I read that so
I cannot say if it is true)
- Try to avoid rack on the roof.
- Try to avoid using the A/C unit if possible
- Try to avoid driving with open windows on highway. Try to use air vents.
- Keep your tire at high pressure.
- Do not idle for nothing.
- When engine is warm it should Idle between 800 and 900 RPM.
- Try to avoid the cruise control. Cruise control is very bad when the road
is not flat.
- Tire alignment must be good.

Cold temperature affect a lot the Westy. My gas mileage is around 16 MPG
when the weather is cool ( 40F) and I am doing stop and go traffic.

All these recommandations seem to be boring but will help for a better gas
mileage. I am working on a small computer to be able to monitor most signal
going on the ECU including the O2 sensor.

Germain

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew C. Huntley" <matthew.huntley@STRATHBOGIE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 4:01 PM
Subject: 1986 VanagonGL Auto - Mileage

> Hi trying to work a bit better gas mileage out of my 1986 VanagonGL with
> automatic transmission.
> already replaced plugs, Air filter, Fuel filter. Engine has been gone
> through once or twice by my mechanic. Distributor has been replaced &
> retimed.
> Right now, I am getting a little over 15MPG with mixed Street/Highway
> driving.
> What can I do to get this mileage up higher. I have asked about mileage
> before up here, and gotten indications that my mileage is low.
> What driving habit things would help? Also, is there a way to monitor the
> o2 sensor, or maybe intake vacuum to help keep things as economical as
> possible? what can I do to tell if it is running rich?
>
> Thanks All,
> Matt
>
>
> --
> Any opinions stated here are my own, otherwise someone else would have
> said them.