[Vwdiesel] Throw away all those gears

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  There's also the issue of 3 to 4 thousand more squirts/minute in 3rd than 
5th.  (1/cylinder, every other revolution, with 1500 to 2000 rpm difference 
between 3rd and 5th gear.)  Even gassers respond to a little more throttle 
in a higher gear over nearly no throttle in a lower one.  In a 40mpg car it 
made at least 10mpg difference in the readings on my 914.
  I liked the idea of a 6th gear too, until I found that most if not all of 
the 
6 speed kits/trannies for the early VW's simply were close ratio.  6th was 
the same as 5th before.  Just room for one more in between.  No .65:1 gear 
set for 6th.  :(
     Loren


In a message dated 8/1/2004 5:00:53 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
val at swamps.roc.ny.us writes:

> >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.
>