Climb every mountain, ...

[mrdonut12]

Juergen,
I'm now an expert in this, after driving to Las Vegas and going
through Bullhead City, where you have 6 and 7% grades for 25 miles
down, then the same going back up out of the canyon. ;o)
I've decided it's better to take it easy on my engine,
transmission and differential. Just because it can do it, doesn't
mean I should do it to it...
I simply start downshifting until I find a gear that I can
comfortably pull the hill at about 3/4 throttle and wait it out. I
lose a little speed, but the engine doesn't use nearly as much oil and
it seems more comfortable at that rate.
Last year on the same trip, I drove an average around 60mph and
got 5.5 mpg. This year, I drove 55 and got 8.0 mpg for the whole
trip, which was about 3,000 miles total to Vegas and back.
I'm not saying I never floor it, but if I'm pulling a steep
grade, I just take it easier on the accelerator.
I've got 170k on my little 3208na (non-turbo) and the oil stayed
clear for the first 600 miles. That's a healthy engine. I want to
keep it that way.
I wouldn't be afraid to tackle any hill in a Bird, even mine, I'd
just find a gear that worked, even if it was low gear. I'd get there
eventually. :o)

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, john duke
wrote:
>
> To all BB guys
> I have a question about climbing in a Blu-Bird. I have my WLSP 36
now for 10 years and I keep looking at mountain grades more and more.
My last BIG endevour was the Calif. Tehachapi pass from Bakersfield
on up to where the windmills are. I pushed the coach as hard as I
could and saw Pyro reach 1050 at times and boost 15+. Water and Oil
temps were never over 190F Tranny was also in limits(95C). I passed
almost every truck on that climb.(Towing my jeep wrangler). Yet I
keep watching the grades and reading about them if they are listed.
> Going into Yosemite from the west, I would not take my BB up those
grades, yet I saw all kinds of busses and motorhomes going right in
there. WHAT is the limit that a Blue-Bird can do?? Am I too timid or
over cautious in generalor is a 10% grade too much? I would love to
hear of some of your experiences.
> Thanks
> Juergen in PA
> 1991 WLSP36
>
>
>
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