Kim do you have an active EGR system on the SVXs in your vans? Where
does the 240HP for the SVXs come from, measured or guess?

Jim Akiba

On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 3:44 PM, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
> My most recent vehicle purchase is not a Vanagon. But a Jaguar X-Type
> (small 4 wheel drive sedan). I got it as I wanted a winter vehicle
> OTHER than my Vanagons, and I wanted something that got (relatively)
> good fuel economy.
>
> So it is interesting (to me) to compare engine/transmission and fuel
> economy between it and my "normal" Vanagons.
>
> Vehicle   Jaguar X-type    Vanagon Syncro     Vanagon Syncro Camper
> Engine        3.0 V6           3.3 H6             3.3 H6
> weight        3428 lbs        3650 lbs           4000 lbs
> HP             231             240                240
> MPG          18-30mpg         16-17 mpg          15-17 mpg
> L              n/a             6.03               6.03
> 1st           3.42             3.78               3.78
> 2nd           2.14             2.06               2.06
> 3rd           1.45             1.23               1.08
> 4th           1.03             0.86               0.70
> 5th           0.77              n/a                n/a
> Final Drive   3.80             5.43               5.43
> Tire size   225/45R17       225/70R15          215/75R16
>
> MPG figure is real world experience GPS corrected for tire size
> differences.
>
> Tire size on the vanagon doesn't seem to make any difference towards
> fuel economy (from using 205/65R15 tires or 215/75R16)
>
> On the Jag, the gearing is oriented towards sporty. If I don't shift
> extremely early the mpg figure drops dramatically. Early shifting is
> around 2800 rpm (at most). On the Vanagons, I find that if I shift at
> less than 4000 rpms, the engine tends to accelerate VERY slowly (On
> the Westy, the big jump between 2nd and 3rd really means I wind up 2nd
> pretty decently.)
>
> In reviewing all the specs, it occurs to me that while the
> aerodynamics make some difference as to the fuel economy, especially
> above 50 mph, it is possible that the final drive ratio is the big
> difference.
>
> I'll have to do a lot more experimenting with driving habits in my
> passenger syncro to see if I can't make a significant impact on my
> fuel economy.
>