Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 13:19:20 -0500
Reply-To: Bill Wedenoja <billwedenoja@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Wedenoja <billwedenoja@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Low compression, 88 Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
To the very helpful vanagon list,
I need some advice, please. Sorry for the long post, but I think every
detail is relevant.
I am the third owner of an 88 Westy which is in very good shape. I use it
principally for long summer trips. I purchased it 3 years ago from a
friend, who'd had it about 3 years too. I've put 34,000 miles on it and it
now has 154,000 total. The engine has never been rebuilt, aside from one
head replaced at 80,000 and the other at 89,000. It has run good for me,
and for the PO too. Until now.
In August 2001, I noticed drops of coolant around the heads. The leak got
worse fast, with a pool under the van regularly by late Fall and having to
add coolant every time I drove it. In early spring 2002 I took it in to my
regular mechanic. He did a compresssion test and found it was
135-140-80-135. Said there was a bad valve. He suggested replacing the
heads as well as the valve. I got rebuilt (AVP) heads from the BD which the
mechanic installed (along with new valve screws, pushrod tubes, water pump,
and coolant hoses). Compression checked out even. I then drove it on a
3000 mile summer trip and everything was fine.
In Fall I drove it 2000 miles to Seattle. Had some vanagon syndrome along
the way that went away with a new AFM. I also knew that the engine wasn't
running as smooth as it should so I had another compression test, which was
130-115-135-145, with a 64% leak "past the intake valve, which may not be
seated well," according to the shop. I drove home, about 3000 miles, with
the engine running a bit rough.
Recently, my regular mechanic did another compression test and said one
cylinder was now down to 80 psi. He blew some air in and said the problem
wasn't with the valves but with rings or pistons. He said he could replace
them, but couldn't tell what the condition "further down" is, so maybe I'd
only get another year or two out of the engine. His recommendation was to
buy a "new" (rebuilt or remanufactured) engine, which he'd install for about
$500.
I took it to the VW dealer for a second opinion. The service manager told
me up front there was no way they would replace rings or pistons as they
couldn't guarantee it, but would replace the engine for $4256 plus tax.
Their compression test was 125-90-125-130 and the leak down test was
20%-86%-25%-16%. The service manager said it could be a bent valve, a
broken ring, or worn cylinder walls. The mechanic there said I should just
drive it till it dies. I don't think that's good advice, if I use it mainly
for long trips. Commuting would be another matter.
So my question is, should I replace the rings and pistons or replace the
engine? I'm willing to pay for a new engine, but only if it will give me
good service. It seems like a lot of people have had a lot of problems with
rebuilts (some of course stemming from inadequate installation).
The options I've seen so far are:
AVP--$1776 plus installation
Boston--$2300 plus installation
GoWesty--$2495 plus installation
VW--$4256 plus tax (about $255) installed
BTW, the mechanic I see is very fair, honest, and cheap and probably knows
more about vanagons than anyone else in town, although there aren't many so
he doesn't see more than one a month. He is a German immigrant and used to
specialize in rebuilding air cooled VW and other German engines although the
shop now does mainly old domestics.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
88 Westy
88 Saab
Springfield, MO
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