Here's my update for April 2011: I filled up the caravan one time. That's it.
I rarely drive long distances now because the US Dollar is getting weaker every week. It cost me $51.35 to buy 13.771 gallons of gasoline (89 octane, 10% ethanol). Too bad we don't have silver in our currency anymore; 1 quarter from 1964 (90% silver, 10% copper) can buy 2 gallons of gasoline! 25 cents for 2 gallons of gas, can you imagine that? Damn you, paper currency, that has no intrinsic value and can easily be debased!
April 18:
264.2 miles / 13.771 gallons = 19.2 mpg
Caravan odometer = 176,408 miles
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Signs of Spring
It looks like spring is making it's way through the state. The temperature has been in the high 40s, snow has been melting, rivers are flowing high, and you can hear birds chirping in the morning. Another way to tell if spring has arrived is to see if a bird has crapped on your car yet. If you are like me, then spring has sprung.
Caravan odometer = 176,126 miles
Caravan odometer = 176,126 miles
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Tire, Gas
One of the tires (rear-passenger side) had a psi in the low 20's, so with that fixed (37-40 psi range), I noticed a slight improvement in gas mileage. In addition to the increased air pressure, I don't recall the weather being as harsh since the last time I filled up the van with gasoline.
March 4:
209.5 miles / 12.688 gallons = 16.5 mpg
Caravan odometer = 176,084 miles
March 4:
209.5 miles / 12.688 gallons = 16.5 mpg
Caravan odometer = 176,084 miles
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Engine Block Heater
On Monday, I brought the caravan into the mechanic's shop and had him install an engine block heater. Why did I put a block heater on a soon-to-be eighteen year old van? It wasn't very expensive, and it's very cold outside. I have it plugged into a timer, so it's scheduled to start about two hours before I leave for work.
Caravan odometer = 175,900 miles
Caravan odometer = 175,900 miles
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Gas
Not very good numbers so far this winter.
179.6 miles / 11.381 gallons = 15.78 mpg
I take a lot of short trips, but 15.8 mpg? What the bleep is this about? Maybe I lost a bit of gas when the fuel pump and hoses (line and injector) were replaced. I don't know. Time to check the tire pressure again.
Caravan odometer = 175,873 miles
179.6 miles / 11.381 gallons = 15.78 mpg
I take a lot of short trips, but 15.8 mpg? What the bleep is this about? Maybe I lost a bit of gas when the fuel pump and hoses (line and injector) were replaced. I don't know. Time to check the tire pressure again.
Caravan odometer = 175,873 miles
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Fuel Pump
On Monday night after work, the caravan would not start. It was somewhat cold that night at 2°F, but not cold enough to be considered excusable behavior. Surely, it wasn't a bad battery (new - 2007.06.01) or starter (rebuilt - 2007.06.13). I went inside for a few minutes and then tried it again. Same thing. So I hitched a ride from a local and went home for the night.
The next day at work I tried starting the caravan again. Boo! Luckily for me, my mechanic's shop is less than half a mile, downhill, from where I collect my employment checks. With the transmission in neutral, Vern (one of the 2 mechanics) pushed the van with his truck that has a wooden push bumper on the front to get the van through the intersection. It was all downhill past the intersection, thanks gravity.
The reason the van wasn't starting was because it was not getting any fuel. The fuel pump needed to be replaced forthwith. Along with the new fuel pump unit, I needed one foot of fuel injector hose, one foot of fuel line hose, and five hose clamps.
The other mechanic (I don't recall his name) said I will likely need to replace the serpentine belt sometime this year. I believe the last time it was replaced was 2006.01.09, when the transmission was rebuilt (158,589 miles).
Caravan odometer = 175,707 miles
The next day at work I tried starting the caravan again. Boo! Luckily for me, my mechanic's shop is less than half a mile, downhill, from where I collect my employment checks. With the transmission in neutral, Vern (one of the 2 mechanics) pushed the van with his truck that has a wooden push bumper on the front to get the van through the intersection. It was all downhill past the intersection, thanks gravity.
The reason the van wasn't starting was because it was not getting any fuel. The fuel pump needed to be replaced forthwith. Along with the new fuel pump unit, I needed one foot of fuel injector hose, one foot of fuel line hose, and five hose clamps.
The other mechanic (I don't recall his name) said I will likely need to replace the serpentine belt sometime this year. I believe the last time it was replaced was 2006.01.09, when the transmission was rebuilt (158,589 miles).
Caravan odometer = 175,707 miles
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Update for late November, December
The last 45 days have been unpleasant, weather-wise. There was a night of freezing rain, which annihilated my gas mileage. The ice was too thick for my scraper, so it took about 20 minutes to defrost. It was still raining when the ice melted, and I ended up having the caravan run for 30-35 minutes while driving only 2 miles.
Due to various reasons (cold weather, limited income, high gas prices), the caravan only takes short trips, which doesn't allow the engine to warm up for efficient mileage. The South Dakota winters make for cold starts. I have been thinking about installing an engine block heater to rectify this problem.
December 30:
194.3 miles / 12.14 gallons = 16 mpg.
Due to various reasons (cold weather, limited income, high gas prices), the caravan only takes short trips, which doesn't allow the engine to warm up for efficient mileage. The South Dakota winters make for cold starts. I have been thinking about installing an engine block heater to rectify this problem.
December 30:
194.3 miles / 12.14 gallons = 16 mpg.
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