Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 20:17:37 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: EXPERTISE NEEDED! oil pressure woes con't. part 4
In-Reply-To: <3A840B08.859C014E@fcl-us.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Bob,
Do you have an oil temp gauge on that engine? I'm curious what temps your
running. There are many variables to oil temp and pressure. If an oil cooler
wasn't necessary, why did VW add it to the 2.1's? We know how cheap VW can
be. Same reason GTI's and Diesels get them. I've seen a number of 2.1 run
without the cooler, but it is a small investment for an engine that VW felt
was needed. As for 2.1's having more rod failures, the only difference
between it and the 1.9 is the longer stroke and slightly more load. If the
bearings are failing, then a failure of the oil has to be considered. I have
a number of customers that now have close to or over 200K on 2.1 engines. My
87 Syncro is close to 180K and I've never even pulled the heads. And I have
no intention of overhauling this engine until needed. I've replaced my
factory oil cooler with a front mounted 16 plate Racimex which keeps the oil
temp under 210 most of the time, (185 oil thermostat). My engine still
maintains 45-50 psi at those temps. 15 psi at idle. I also use Mobil 1 15-50
which I believe helps. I change the oil ~7,500 miles. I do find that if I
overfill the engine by as little as 1 cup, the oil can not keep up at 400
rpm and the oil temp will jump up to 250 in less than an hour. Oil pressure
will also start to drop. Draining off the excess will bring all back to
normal, (never use a full 5 quarts at oil change time). Anyway, since his
oil pressure was returning to normal after things cooled down, I don't
believe his engine is shot. Especially if it only had 70K miles. I seem to
remember it being a VW rebuild. I don't know. If it was, then I'm sure the
rods were re-sized, along with the case being align bored, cylinder seats
remachined for flatness/straightness and oversize valve guides, etc. At
least this is what I've found with all the VW remains I've taken apart.
Thanks for listening,
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Robert Donalds
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 10:22 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: EXPERTISE NEEDED! oil pressure woes con't. part 4
Dennis wrote
The 2.1 engine needs the oil cooler! Also, make sure it is not
overfilled.
Running below the full mark is helpful. The problem is a the
combination of
engine speed and load. The longer stroke of the 2.1 is that difference
that
makes it require some form of oil cooling. A shorter oil filter can be
used
to make the factory oil cooler fit with the 1.9 exhaust.
Dennis, Ranger Brian and the list
I have never disagreed with anything Dennis has said but I do today
I have had a 2.1 engine in my 1984 vanagon Bluebell for over three
years
in that time I have never seen the engine get hot or the oil light come
on
I push this van sometimes to 85 mph into the mountains of Vermont fully
loaded
in the summer never a problem. I have also been building 2.1 engines for
use in
the early wbx vans for years and have never had one complaint about the
engines
running hot or oil lights coming on
Lets face it Ranger Brian has the low oil pressure at hot ilde due to
the extra clearance
at the con rod bearings and the engine WILL throw a rod very soon so
stop driving the van
and fix the problem or you will need a core, a new engine and or lots of
cash or credit
It has been my experiance that the crankshaft does not wear
when the rods bearings start to fail. I see this on a daily basis and
have had many engines
come in for the same symtoms when the engine is taken apart the rod
bearings are toast
and the big end of the rods is also out of round
as Dirty Harry once said (are you feeling lucky)
Boston Bob
http://www.bostonengine.com
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