After sending the last comment regarding fuel mileage I realized my Syncro was doing 23 mph and burning no fuel at all! Talk about efficient!

Angus

On Jan 11, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Angus Gordon <birdworks@gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> I believe the increase in mileage can be attributed to decreased aerodynamic drag due to the thinner air, for any given speed (ground speed so to speak).
> 
> Angus
> 
> Angus Gordon
> Bainbridge Island WA
> 
> On Jan 11, 2012, at 9:53 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 6:22 PM, Larry Plotkin <zeplotkin@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Finn wrote:
>>> 
>>> Klip, klip ...
>>> ... I moved from NJ to Taos, NM ... At 7000 feet here in Taos, I believe
>>> that the hp loss is around 21% ... Is there anyone listening that is at a
>>> similar altitude... I
>>> would have no problem getting to say 75 mph at sea level in the 87...
>>> 
>>> Well, I have no tech help for you but ... I ran my 87 Wolfy hardtop 4sp
>>> (stock everything except 27x8.5 14 tires) in the northwest near sea level
>>> for 11 years and then moved to the AZ mountains where I've been for nine
>>> years, at 7000 feet.  I changed nothing, adjusted nothing, and noticed no
>>> change in performance.  75 is easy as ever.  Coming up here from the desert
>>> ain't fun, a crawl in 3rd gear often, but climbing near 6000 feet in two
>>> hours, that just goes with the vehicle.  So I guess I'd be looking for
>>> something to fix, not an inherent limitation of elevation.
>>> 
>>> (And I guess I'd have to add that Taos must be way better than anything in
>>> NJ, at any speed.)
>>> lp
>>> 
>>  There is a significant loss in power from any internal combustion engine
>> as altitude increases..  Someone will probably know the numbers exactly but
>> I'd guess about 20% power loss at 7000' above sea level as compared to sea
>> level on a normally aspirated motor is about right.   Forced induction
>> motors are less affected by elevation gains, and of course, engines with
>> carbs...they are more affected than fuel injected motors.
>> 
>> 
>>  Combustion in the motor is very dependent on oxygen and simply,  there
>> is less oxygen as you gain elevation...A turbo or supercharged motor can
>> adjust and pack in more combustable mix...maintaining better power as you
>> gain altitude.   A fuel injected motor can adjust it's mixture to
>> compensate for less oxygen, keeping the air fuel ratio correct as you
>> climb up...but it must just diminish the amount of fuel to compensate for
>> the diminished oxygen in the atmosphere.  A carbed motor loses power two
>> ways in that there is less air to burn stuff AND since it doesn't adjust to
>> this...the air fuel ratio gets 'out of spec' and it runs rich, further
>> losing power that way.
>> 
>> If you doubt this...check it with a watch or something next time you go
>> from ocean to mountains...do a simple 0>75mph timed run both places and you
>> will certainly find it takes significantly longer at elevation to reach
>> your target speed.
>> 
>> On a side note:   I have noticed a significant increase in miles per
>> gallon at higher elevations in my inline Jetta gas motored vanagon....I get
>> around 23mpg as my normal fuel consumption overall, but when I venture into
>> the high mountains I have seen fuel economy jump to(max) 26 miles per
>> gallon on several occasions...  Wonder what causes that, exactly?
>> 
>> Don Hanson