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Date:         Mon, 6 May 2002 20:44:52 -0400
Reply-To:     Data Services <dataservices@ATTBI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Data Services <dataservices@ATTBI.COM>
Subject:      Re: trip report with engine woes and choices  Go the Tiico
Comments: To: Dart 330 <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Go the Tiico. I did, and there have been a few irritating things I and my mechanic have had to work out. From posts to the list I understand there are a few things I need to do or will have to do as well. It is a high performance hybrid, after all, (read high speed european racing bus, compared to the WBX). I just got back from a 2500 mi trip to Myrtle Beach and EveryBus 2002 (what a great time!!! 150+ transporters!! I was camped next to the non-veggy Chili winner and I like Chili!!!), and I was doing 80 MPH, when warrented and not always, with a half ton of gear (no need to travel small in a Camper) with no noticable engine strain or overrevving. The added "legs" both high and low one gets with the higher torque and horsepower VW engine is great. No more following someone at 39MPH and being too high for 3rd and too low for 4th. And the security of a new engine and no head gaskets to replace is a real good feeling. I probably put $8000.00 into head gaskets and new heads (they can only be flycut a few times) over the 10 yrs and 180,000 mi my last camper went (it lives on as the kids "club" now, and my emergency spare).

Dave B 83 Tiico Camper 83 WBX Camper 59 S04 Camper (mostly) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dart 330" <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 11:24 AM Subject: trip report with engine woes and choices

> Well it has been over a month since I posted to the list, and I finally have > time to discuss my problems. > > First off, I drove to Panama City, Florida from Columbia, Missouri the last > week of March which which is a 16 hour drive. The van did great except the > fuel filter started to clog in Alabama, luckily I brought a spare. Every > time we stopped I checked under the van for leaks, topped off the oil and > coolant if necessary. I had a rather high coolant consumption which I > thought was due to air in the system. After a few days down there I go to > gas up and I look underneath to see blue coolant dripping. This bothers me > since I still need to drive 16 hours home. I find the leak is coming from > the rear bottom corner of the right head gasket. I go to the local VW shop > and they said that 9 times out of 10 the gasket isn't going to blow, just > get continually worse. I go and put a big bottle of stop leak in and hope > for the best. On the trip back it appears the stop leak worked, no coolant > drips and no change in the tank level. We made it home just fine, what a > great trip. Then I go camping this weekend and when I went out Monday > morning there is a big blue puddle in the drive. > > I have been debating on what choices I have with this Vanagon. I am still > paying off the loan for it, it is the coolest car I have ever owned, and I > love to go camping. I see myself having this van for the rest of my life. > After being on this list for over a year it seems that ever waterboxer leaks > from the heads eventually. Is it true that no matter what, eventually ever > single one will leak sometime down the road? If this is the case, then there > is no hope owning a car for most of your life with an engine problem that > cannot be fixed. If this is the case I see no other alternative then to get > a Tiico. For now I will just do the head till I have the van paid off, but > when it starts leaking again I feel I have no other choice then to go for > the inline-4. I love the boxer engine, if there is a way to make it work I > would love to hear it. > > All comments and suggestions are welcome, I need input on deciding my vans > future. > > Thanks, > Nathan > 85 Westy > 60 SO-23 > 86 Cabriolet > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.


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