Date:         Wed, 26 Jan 2000 14:41:35 -0800
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: VW Trends and... Ignorance
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 10:10 PM 01/26/2000 +0100, you wrote:
>t obrien wrote:
>
>> Could it be that those clever  Japanese engineers accounted for the
>> corrosive effect of American water in designing their waterboxer? I have
not
>> heard that leaking gaskets and corroded heads have been an issue with the
>> subarus.
>>
>
>Could be a different alloy, that withstands it in a different way? Or
maybe even
>some coating etc. I don't know the Subs at all, so I cant say. Just guessing.
>

Japanese aluminum alloy is like butter compared to German aluminum alloy.
They most certainly are different. Just like Chrysler cast iron is quite
different than GM cast iron. And no less so than the sycro tranny alloy is
different than a standard Type II. Danged engineers the world over got
their own ideas about metalurgy. Which is why specifications are so
important. That's how they tell us what was tested and found to be best for
their maschine. Beware of anyone who says "It doesn't make any difference.
Any old kind will do." It always makes a difference. Sometimes very little
and sometimes ALL the difference. Follow specs. or convice yourself somehow
that you know better than the TEAM of engineers who designed the system.

If wizbang elixers did half what they claim, they would come in the vehicle
from the showroom and be listed as specified in the manuals. Some
enhancements to specifications are easy, like use distilled water with
coolant to reduce free ions. Others are tricky, like 'updating' your tranny
to GL-5 instead of GL-4. This can be short life for some designs re:
rebuild required in short milage. Consider that testamonials are not
empirical data. Two different things altogether.






T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim
San Juan Island, WA