As far as I'm concerned, the Vanagon owner's manual ain't worth spit when it
comes to how many gallons are left in the tank when the needle approaches
the "red" area.  Every Vanagon I've owned has had 4 gallons left in the tank
when this happens, including my current ride.  I've posted several times to
the list on this subject over the past few years that the fuel gauge and/or
sender is the most unreliable and inaccurate of any of VW's fuel measurement
devices, compared to their other models.

I run a BRAND NEW Gauge (Actually Clock/Coolant/Fuel Pod - a NOS one I found
awhile back), BRAND NEW Voltage Stabilizer and a BRAND NEW Sender on my 84,
and it's still inaccurate and unreliable, reading much like Mike Collum's
Vanagon.  I don't trust it, so I still use the odometer to determine when to
re-fuel..
--
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
**********************************
On 10/22/06, G. Jannini <george_joann@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> Greg,
>
> >>The red area on a VW gauge indicates you are on your last 4
> gallons.  It's been that way ever since the first gauges were added to
> beetles and buses in the 60's. <<
>
>   Not so, according to my '89 owner's manual.  It states that there are
> 2.6 U.S. gallons left when the needle reaches the red area.
>
>     George/ATL
>     '89 WesTiico, "Wernher"
>     '67 Kombi, "Puddles"