Author |
Message |
AndyBees Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2325 Location: Southeast Kentucky
|
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 8:54 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
djkeev wrote: |
I am PARANOID about running out of gas....
IMHO
Whatever engineer designed these vehicles that get such "poor" fuel mileage with such a small fuel tank had his head stuck somewhere where the Sun don't shine!
Dave |
Yeah, but we wouldn't be enjoying this conversation if the Vanagon was perfect.
Of all the long road trips we've taken in our Vanagons (Key West, Nova Scotia, Alaska, out west, etc.), I've never carried extra fuel. But, as you can see in my other post, we did almost run out one time in the middle of no where (Liard Highway)... _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12114 Location: Port Manteau
|
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 9:19 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
Has anyone noticed that the fuel tank supplied in the Oettinger WBX 6 kits appears to be longer? It would be cool to get ahold of those stampings and reproduce newer copies. I assume they were mounted up aft of the normal position, since I don't think a longer unit would fit in the factory space. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Team WorldTour Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 2426 Location: Der Vaterland
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 4:27 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
I pay very close attention to fuel usage and the odometer.
When I fill up, I know where my odo stands and the gauge.
A little mental math between how much fuel the tank took ( I always fill the tank to the same level, every time), and what the odometer reads.
Mathematically, my 1,9TD Syncro will do 700km per tank.
That is, if I run it DRY (NOT a good thing in a Diesel!).
When I'm doing my daily drive routine, I will top up between 450-500km ( 3/8ths and 1/4 tank).
Syncro tank holds 72 liters.
I think the most I have had to fill was 65 liters.
2wd tanks hold 62 liters.... _________________ 1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22639 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:32 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
Terry Kay wrote: |
I don't know why you would really push your luck trying to squeeze the last mile out of a tank of gas.
I just pull a low fuel economy number outa the back of my head, and try and load up between 180-200 miles.
No, I don't care much for running out of gas, running the fuel pump dry.
Not healthy for the pump, not healthy for me on the hoofmobile, and I don't carry gas in the van, or bottled propane.
200 miles is OK with me to stop for gas doing mostly in town driving.
Highway driving is a different story, you could probably squeeze 240 miles a tank load.
Whatever trips your trigger. |
It's a stupid man trick. There is no rhyme nor reason to drive the tank to empty, it's flirting with danger that's attractive. On modern cars, it does kill the fuel pump, so it's a lousy habit. The low fuel lights on our other fleet cars are called the "stupid man light" by my house of 7 women...none of them ever see it. No one brings a car home less than 1/8 in summer, 1/4 in winter without stopping and filling up, or Dad tops up with a can at home. _________________ .ssS! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
CanStan Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2005 Posts: 1037 Location: Calgary, AB
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:31 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
I usually drive until the needle hits the red line, then I fill up and do the math to tell me exactly how much gas is left in the tank at that point. If It takes 13 gallons, I know I have 3 gallons in reserve. Then there's no reason to run it dry just to see. It makes it pretty easy, and it's nice to know since I've never had 2 cars that had the gauge calibrated exactly the same.
I did drive a lonely stretch of highway in Nevada where I was passing towns every 15-20 mins. Of course as soon as I decided I would go just one more town to fill up, I hit a long stretch with nothing. The needle was buried at the absolute bottom of the gauge when I finally found a gas station. Although I didn't run out, I must have been on fumes because it took slightly over the 16 gallons the tank is supposed to hold. I would assume this is because the capacity is based on the tank itself, and doesn't include the length of fill hose between the tank and cap? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9797 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:02 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
CanStan wrote: |
I usually drive until the needle hits the red line... |
Enjoy it for now - someday you will be my age and your prostate will tell you how often to stop. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cmayna Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014 Posts: 1147 Location: SF Bay area, CA
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:25 am Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
Or when you hear a voice coming from the passenger's seat "Honey, whenever we see the next gas station please......"
I guess I should start studying more carefully how many miles I get at each fillup, to determine when I've consumed say 14 gallons. _________________ '90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
my gauge reads fine on the low end, but only goes up to about the 3/4 mark -- no matter how full the tank is
- that makes me wonder about the voltage regulator output, tho the temp. gauge seems fine _________________ .... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
SlowLane Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1044 Location: Livermore, CA
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
Has anyone noticed that the fuel tank supplied in the Oettinger WBX 6 kits appears to be longer? It would be cool to get ahold of those stampings and reproduce newer copies. I assume they were mounted up aft of the normal position, since I don't think a longer unit would fit in the factory space. |
Van-Cafe used to carry the larger (85L) South African tank, but it doesn't appear on their web-site any more. From what I recall, it wasn't a bolt-in replacement: a cross-member had to be cut out and the tank retaining straps needed to be lengthened.
Displaying my Syncro ignorance here, but would it be possible to add a Syncro gas tank to a 2WD as a supplementary fuel tank? _________________ Present:
'81 Westfalia: 2L, manual. Originally Canadian, now Californiated
Back in the day:
'72 Super Beetle
'69 Camper Van - Corvair powered
'71 Window Van - Transferred Corvair from '69
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine." - Internet RFC 1925
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." - Sir Terry Pratchett |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12114 Location: Port Manteau
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: When do I run out of fuel? |
|
|
SlowLane wrote: |
Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
Has anyone noticed that the fuel tank supplied in the Oettinger WBX 6 kits appears to be longer? It would be cool to get a hold of those stampings and reproduce newer copies. I assume they were mounted up aft of the normal position, since I don't think a longer unit would fit in the factory space. |
Van-Cafe used to carry the larger (85L) South African tank, but it doesn't appear on their web-site any more. From what I recall, it wasn't a bolt-in replacement: a cross-member had to be cut out and the tank retaining straps needed to be lengthened.
Displaying my Syncro ignorance here, but would it be possible to add a Syncro gas tank to a 2WD as a supplementary fuel tank? |
It makes sense that the crossmember would need to be cut and re-welded, since the tanks are meant to fit tightly in between two of them. A Syncro tank would work as an auxiliary but the trans mount/engine height might need to be lowered in order to avoid any starter/tank interference. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|