Date:         Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:37:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1.9L exhaust system comments
Comments: To: andrewbell@QWEST.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Over revving the engine too many times.
The result of long term abuse or neglect.

Stan Wilder
83 Air Cooled Westy
-----------------------------------------
Here is my question about this: I have seen dozens of broken VW cases
where
the rod/piston, whatever fails and explodes through the side of the
block.
Why? What failed? Did the crankshaft flex? Did an oil galley fail and a
part
seized? Did something get too hot? What could prevent this in hindsight?

AB
On Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:06:56 -0500 Andrew Bell <andrewbell@QWEST.NET>
writes:
> SpaceKommander wrote:
>
> > Anyway. What's this talk of inferior and weak & flexy crankshafts?
> Due to
> > many reasons - flow restrictions and ECU cutoff - the engine won't
> rev past
> > 5,500 RPM anyway - and I've never heard watercooled VW engines
> having a
> > common failure of throwing a rod or breaking a crankshaft or
> wearing out
> > the main bearings due to "crankshaft flex." I think the lower end
> is almost
> > bulletproof. I have over 200,000 miles on my 1.9L and usually rev
> it up
> > near 5,000 RPM before each shift - and the previous owner did same
> and
> > cruised the highways of Kansas for hours at 4,500 RPM. Kansas
> isn't a small
> > state. 4 hours each weekend at 4,500 RPM should rule out any
> "crank flex"
> > problems. OK, if you are some yahoo with Dellorto 42 IDAs and open
> headers
> > trying to turn 7,500 RPM then maybe you have a valid point.
> >
> > Comments? Boston Bob? Ken? How many wasserleakers are replaced due
> to
> > broken cranks or connecting rods? I'm sure there are some, just
> don't think
> > it's the primary reason for engine replacement. I think if VW had
> done a
> > proper job with the heads (sleeved steel inserts in an alloy
> block) the
> > engines would routinely turn a quarter of a million miles with no
> problems.
>
> Here is my question about this: I have seen dozens of broken VW
> cases where
> the rod/piston, whatever fails and explodes through the side of the
> block.
> Why? What failed? Did the crankshaft flex? Did an oil galley fail
> and a part
> seized? Did something get too hot? What could prevent this in
> hindsight?
>
> AB
>

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