Date:         Wed, 16 Aug 2000 15:39:58 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@home.com>
Subject:      How to throw a rod
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Either ignore or be ignorant of your oil pressure!

I proved this to myself last Sunday when the used 2.1 engine I installed
in May sent rod shrapnel through the case.  I knew it had low oil
pressure, and during my last trip, 1500 miles from Fargo to Seattle, it
had been dropping from 15 psi to 10 psi over the three day trip (at idle
the pressure was near zero), and when it dropped to 8 psi while driving
at 65 mph (only 65 miles from home) it let go.  Ironically, when I
noticed the 2 psi drop I thought to myself, "well, there's not much left
in this engine" and that is exactly when it blew!  If I had not been on
the road I would have pulled the engine before things got this bad.

So, here is my advice to all of you 2.1 engine owners:  Put an oil gauge
on and monitor trends in your oil pressure, and rebuild the engine
between 125,000 and 150,000 regardless, or you might not have a core to
rebuild!

This engine had 130,000 on it when I installed it, and an oil analysis
showed no evidence of bearing wear.  It ran very strongly, and made no
knocking noises, at least none that were detectable when the vehicle was
not moving.  It went only another 8000 miles.

The consensus seems to be that this engine is hard on rods, and when you
lose a rod bearing sudden catastrophic death is imminent.

(Note:  The 1.9 I replaced with this engine had over 200,000 on it and
was running fine except for smoking on cold starts.  The extra power
produced by the 2.1 shortens the life of the engine IMHO.  Can't get
something for nothing!)

So, the wise will do as I say, and not as I 'done' !!!
--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia
'65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)

Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT