[Vwdiesel] fuel use

[sandy cameron]

On 1/8/2013 12:23 PM, Brian and Ruth Decker wrote:
> HI Folks;
>
>                  Does anyone have any Idea how much fuel per hour a 1.6
> diesel would use at a continuous idle?
 From experience, but not doing the math, I would think 18 to 24 hours.

Of course (from the land of log cabins and 2 story snowbanks) you will 
also have the following on board.

1. An empty soup can and some candles. Matches. learn how to use them as 
a space heater
2. Blanket or 2.
3. Food, and esp, drink.
4. LED flashlight.
5. Suitable clothing, boots, mitts, touque. (Bush pilot's motto, always 
wear the boots you would want to walk home in)
6. Oh yes! 5 gallons of fuel in the trunk in an approved container with 
spout, Better, 2 x 3gal. containers, easier to handle.
      or more if you are traveling light. 1gal ready-to-use antifreeze.
7. A shovel.

Goes without saying, good snow tires, and if govt requires them, carry 
tire chains, or they may not let you attempt the passes.
If parked for a long while, pull out the cold start for faster idle 
(post-1986) or arrange something on the accelerator to get a fast idle.
You will get more heat, and it will keep the battery charged, especially 
if you plan to leave the headlights on.
You probably would not have to, but keep an eye on the temp gauge, to 
avoid overheating the engine, just turn up the heater (Ha!)
Print the above and put in your glove compartment.

My milk crate in the trunk of the A2, 12 months of the year, has a small 
12v air compressor, tire plugs and the tools to install them, a hatchet, 
a cheap hunting knife, booster cables, spare fuel filter, (primed and 
capped) A standard swivel power bar with 17mm socket (wheel wrench) 
quart of oil, 2 qts antifreeze, pliers, bits of wire, 10ft plastic 
tubing, fuel line size.
And finally, a concession to my age, a 12v power jack and a board to set 
it on!

The merit of the 10 feet of plastic tubing, the under-body fuel line 
system on an old A2 is fraught with peril. so many places where it can 
suck air. You can quickly rig an independent fuel system by putting one 
of your emergency containers on the passenger side floor, (assuming it's 
intact)  running the lines to the filter under the hood, (supply AND 
return) out the window and under the hood at the back right corner. This 
will take you 200 miles on a fill-up. There is a rubber bung up behind 
the heater box that will let you into the engine room directly if you 
should desire to make the fix more permanent. In Goldie's (my former 87) 
final summer, she ran on an outboard motor tank in the pass. side floor, 
and to her final rusting place after the fuel tank had detached and been 
left behind some time back.

Sandy