Last month I wrote about how difficult Mellow Yellow was to start after
spending two days in gale-force rains while camping at elevation. I was
concerned that all my futzing around with timing and other stuff trying
to sort out my poor mileage might have made my engine stubborn about
starting in cold or at elevation, or both.

Well, this morning the engine started just fine despite having spent the
night at the same elevation and in even colder weather. I can't say for
sure why the engine didn't catch last month, but the theory that a
couple days of horizontal rain blasting directly against the engine
compartment air ventilation inlet on the driver's side and thus wetting
the electrical bits on that side of the engine seems a likely cause for
the problem.

I was worried this morning when it came time to start 'er up, but other
than a little more than usual hesitation for the first couple turns* she
started just fine.

===========
* Probably need thinner oil for below-freezing conditions. I'll see what
the manual says. I expect that my January and February trips will be
just as cold.

NOTES:

1. The little Olympian 3100a catalytic heater is sufficient for camping
where highs are in the low 50s (F) and lows in the low 20s. For me, at
any rate. Mrs Squirrel is far too smart to venture out on these trips.

2. Catalytic heaters don't generate carbon monoxide though they do
consume oxygen and create carbon dioxide. "Crack your window," is the
advice given if you plan to run one of these things for long. But humans
and other critters also burn O2 and make CO2. I wonder how a spouse
compares with a little 1600/2800 btu heater in this regard? Any chemists
in the audience?

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR