I understand about the reduced ground clearance but was commenting on the quest for improved fuel economy and would not accept the tradeoff either.� Driving slower is likely the easiest/cheapest way to the greatest gain, as has already been suggested.

Stephen

--- On Tue, 9/29/09, mcneely4@cox.net <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:

From: mcneely4@cox.net <mcneely4@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
To: "Stephen Grisanti" <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM, mcneely4@COX.NET
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 10:12 PM

Well, the lower part, and the belly pan, are part of the trend.� But the low vehicles can't be taken on back roads.� I know that too well.� Dave

On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 7:01 PM, Stephen Grisanti wrote:

> " I do wonder about the heavy oil we are recommended to use (15W50 or 20W50)
> increasing fuel demand. "
> 
> As I understand multigrade oils, they work at low temps like the lighter (lower of the two numbers) grade and at high temps like the heavier grade, thereby providing uniform performance over a wide operating temperature range. 
> As for improved economy, lower with skinny tires and full belly pan may be the way to go.  You first.
> 
> Stephen
> 
> --- On Tue, 9/29/09, Dave Mcneely� wrote:
> 
> From: Dave Mcneely Subject: Re: Cleaning up your Vanagon
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 7:12 PM
> 
> Al, you make important points.  One quibble.  Is the Zetec cleaner?
> I've heard that it cannot pass California emissions test.  Waterboxers
> properly maintained pass, don't they?  Or am I completely off on this
> one?  Where I live, the politicians and citizenry are insufficiently
> enlightened to require emissions tests.  Oklahomans generally think
> pollution is a good thing, it smells like money (27% of the state's
> economy is directly due to the oil industry).
> 
> I do try to keep my vanagon up to snuff, properly tuned and so on.  I do
> wonder about the heavy oil we are recommended to use (15W50 or 20W50)
> increasing fuel demand.  Or is that a myth, too?
> 
> Dave Mc
> 
> 
> On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Al Knoll wrote:
> 
>> With all the talk over bad polluters, and the half truth that some not
>> all
>> of our beloved road divas are among them, perhaps we need to consider
>> making
>> our vanagons better citizens.
>> 
>> As a start, to reduce total pollutants measured in pollutants per
>> mile, just
>> drive it fewer miles.  This is the simplest solution.
>> 
>> Keep it tuned, and aligned, and the tires (o no Mr. Bill) inflated so
>> you
>> maximize your miles per gallon thus minimizing your pollutants per
>> mile.
>> 
>> Change the oil often.  Change the air filter often.  Change the fuel
>> filter
>> often.  Might help, can't hurt.
>> 
>> Drive 55, proven to enhance MPG, after all it is a touring car, so
>> tour.
>> 
>> Road rage is what happens when you have a 130mph 50K$ 15MPG
>> 'investment' and
>> you spend most of your time with your teeth clenched surrounded by
>> your
>> fellow man on the superslab at 20MPH stop and go.
>> 
>> More expensive options include upgrading gearing, tires and wheels and
>> brakes, and the pollution device, the legendary wasserp*sser engine,
>> with
>> its 1980s engine management technology.
>> 
>> What if you could improve your fuel economy by 30%?  You get 24mpg
>> instead
>> of 18mpg or so.  A motor with a modern engine management system emits
>> far
>> less pollutants on a bad day than the WP does on it's best day.  If
>> your
>> fool consumption drops by 30% so does the pollutants per mile.  er ah
>> 'fuel
>> consumption' it should be.
>> 
>> The options are out there.  Zetec, Subaru and others to be sure.  All
>> a
>> cleaner solution than you can ever have with the WP.  Not inexpensive
>> and
>> you'll never get all the expense back but it will make you feel better
>> and
>> run cleaner.  AND your impact on the state of global affairs didn't
>> involve
>> making a new car with all the inherent unspoken environmental impact
>> that
>> that entails.
>> 
>> You could move to NYC and ride public transit or walk and just pass
>> the diva
>> on to some appreciative soul who promises not to sacrifice her in her
>> dotage
>> as a 'clunker' to a future 'discount'  on  a brand new fluffmobile in
>> which
>> you cannot sleep.
>> 
>> What else does the group.wisdom think would improve our sorry lot?
>> 
>> Pensionerd.