[Vwdiesel] Throw away all those gears

[Val Christian]

> Here's a thought...
> As the diesel is quite efficient (in the vehicle world) in converting fuel and at a steady state  mid range speed with gentle air resistance will run lean; what  stops the fuel economy  being the same whether we are travelling in 3rd gear with 'extra' leanness due to the reduced strain and going at the same speed in 5th with a slightly less 'lean' mixture..Its the same work done etc...

	In third gear you're spinning the engine faster, and the friction 
	losses are considerably greater.  In 5th, the rotational speed is
	less, and the total friction losses are less. That's the biggest
	economy issue.  Torque, fuel burn, etc. are engine specific.  The
	friction losses are universal.

	I've often wanted a 6th gear on the Rabbits, because at 75 MPH,
	the engine is screaming, yet on a level interstate not much 
	power (18hp) is needed to maintain speed against a zero wind.
	So cutting the engine back to 2500 or even 3000 RPM would help
	fuel economy, lower the noise, but require a down shift at any 
	light grade, wet pavement or increase in wind.  Kind of an 
	interstate overdrive.

	Unfortunately, most drivers want lots of torque all the time,
	and are unwilling to drive for economy.

> 'H'  my point with the canola feed was would the slightly less energy be compensated for [especially in an aged and somewhat slack pump piston] and give more power and hence better mileage?

	Hagar's point was that the canola fuel has less energy per gallon.
	How it's injected doesn't change that.  The energy content of the
	fuel is the limiting factor. 

	Val