Date:         Sat, 19 Oct 2002 17:15:34 -0400
Reply-To:     al jordans <aljordans@ATTBI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         al jordans <aljordans@ATTBI.COM>
Subject:      FW: Increasing horsepower - Long -Boring
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.SUN.3.96.1021019145205.17001E-100000@grex.cyberspace.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Arrgghh! Time to defend the turbos......

Maintenance is the key.... synthetic blend/synthetic oil (and filter)
changed at 3-5k mile intervals; allowing turbo to spin down and cool by
idle-ing a minute or more after hard running.

I've had four different turbo vehicles in the last 35+ years:
'65 Corvair 180 Turbo ==> ran like a dream till body rot and
                         accident dead-lined it at approx 125kmi.
'83 Saab 900 Turbo ==> except for cracked head at ~110kmi ("they all do
                      that") trouble-free till traded in at 210kmi for a
'87 Saab 900 Turbo ==> 255kmi with no problems except body rot and
                      accessory failures not worth fixing, donated to
                      Salvation Army and replaced by
'91 Saab 9000 Turbo ==> currently in my stable with 155kmi and only tranny
                       pilot bearings and prophylactic clutch and pressure
                       plate while in there for tranny repairs.

Thus I think turbocharging is as close to getting something for nothing as
you can get and I have not had  problem one with turbos in 600kmi.  I also
drive aggressively as described in today's parlance.

aljordans
'87 Syncro=>"Big Blue Twinkie"
'88 Wolfsburg Subagon =>"Blue Vanaroo"
'91 Saab 9000 T=>"Red Rocket"
'93 Mustang 5.0L=>"Blue Beast"

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From: David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Reply-To: David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 14:53:34 -0400
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Increasing horsepower - Long -Boring

On Sat, 19 Oct 2002, Stan Wilder wrote:

> A supercharged, Turbo charged, blown gasoline engine is a transient thing
> ............... they don't last that long in automobiles.
> This possibly has something to do with the idiots that abuse them.

I think this is the key.   I know some 80s vintage turbocharged gas cars
that are still running, but they're invariably owned by mechanics or very
careful drivers.

I've also seen a lot of classified ads along the lines of,
"1991 Saab 900 Turbo, 140,000 miles, bad turbo.  $400 OBO."

            _ _
David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
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