Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 15:31:18 -0400
Reply-To: Jay L Snyder <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jay L Snyder <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
Subject: Re: 87 Vanagon problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
My 1.9l lived on only 15 psi oil pressure at 60 mph for its last 3000
miles. I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Boston Bob engine. Best
thing I ever did for this van. You are looking at about $3000 if you
replace the clutch, hoses, water pump, thermostat, belts, etc., even if you
install it yourself. I highly recommend an oil pressure gauge for any VW
engine. The buzzer system you have is known to give false alarms. A good
quality guage is money well spent.
Jay
"A. Widoff" <rompu@mhcable.com> on 06/19/2002 03:06:18 PM
To: Jay L Snyder/AE/DuPont@DuPont
cc:
Subject: Re: 87 Vanagon problem
On 6/19/02 12:30 PM, "Jay L Snyder" <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM> wrote:
> I had a similar problem with my '85 before I put in my new engine. Low
oil
> pressure caused the lifters to collapse after driving 20 or 30 minutes at
> highway speeds. It started when I added some CD-2 oil additve to help
> alleviate the lifter noise I was getting from time to time. I didn't
> figure it out right away, but after going through the usual checks of the
> FI system, fuel system, ignition, a simple oil change eliminated the
> problem. The noise you heard was your lifters giving out. I could just
> barely get home. It would never stop running, but it had no power. The
> catalytic converter was red hot. Sounded like hell. The next day, it
> would run fine. As long as the lifters were happy, the engine was happy.
> Your engine may be reaching the end of its life.
Wow. Is this a foregone conclusion? Is there any way for me to find out?
Should I suspend my plans to have the body worked on?
If my engine does give out, would anyone care to give me a quick run down
on
my options (and expenses) from there? I love this thing.
Thanks to Jay, John, Kim, and now a Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel for
the quick responses. I'm getting that oil changed as I type.
Tony
> Change to 20-50 oil, a
> good filter and install a pressure gauge. The 2.1s are more likely to
> throw a rod than the 1.9s. A gauge will tell you how good the bottom
end
> of your engine is.
>
> Jay
>