One Response to “85 Vanagon- Gas Milage”

1. admin says:

   November 30, 2009 at 2:57 am

   In <4ab1t4$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, nlebron…@aol.com (NLebron300) writes:
   

   >I am planning to drive from New York to Florida in two weeks and I wanted
   >to know if there is a way to improve gas mileage on my 7 passenger.  Right
   >know it gives me anywhere from 20-25 MPGs.

   >Nate the Great

   Nate:

   Sounds like you gas mileage is equal to or better than average for an 85.  I’m on  my 3 Vanagon [82, 84, and now 90] and have never gotten better than about 23 mpg.

   I think the biggest obstacle to good mpg for Vanagons [i.e. large boxes on wheels] in general is air drag.  Anything you can do to reduce air drag would help–but there is not much that can be done except lower the car.

   Several of the later model Vanagons [including my 90] have the lower suspension and lower profile tires which drops the car a few inches [doesn't scrape the roof on the garage door any more!] and I would guess lowers the drag measureably.

   My best mph on trips with all my Vanagons has been at high elevation [lower air density] in the Sierras [5000 to 10000 ft].

   Other than that, I don’t think there is much more to do except make sure the engine is tuned properly, and that the brakes are not dragging, and keep the tire pressures up.

   Oh, yes–keep the car under 80 mile per hour!  The mpg drops off drastically over that!

   Good luck.

   Jack.

   89 GTI 16v
   90 Vanagon GL
   [+87 Buick!]