Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 21:36:48 -0700
Reply-To: Jere Hawn <jghawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jere Hawn <jghawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: New head replacement, bad gas mileage...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I would first look for gas leaks between the pump and the engine then I
would do a compression check. Then the usual cap, rotor, etc...
I too recently replace both heads (yes it took months) but I have better
mileage. I'm up to over 20 mpg (90, 2.1, GL/Carat-a-version.) Check the
plugs for excessive burn or gunk on them. Also try running an injector
cleaner through them for a tank or two. If you are smelling gas then it is
either a fuel line leak or incomplete burn, which reminds me that my last
battle with this (low mileage) ended up to be plug wires that were arching
through. I heard it one day when I had my son open up the hatch and I heard
the familiar clicking...
Good luck and keep up posted on the final fix
Jere
90 GL/Carat-a-version
PS it will be a full blown Carat here in a few weeks, only the emblem will
be missing.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Leo Lee
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 8:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: New head replacement, bad gas mileage...
It took me over a month to finish replacing the new heads. No major problem,
just broke a head stud and I have to replace both lower center studs. I have
also replace a new set of hydraulic lifters. Everything went well, I
readjust the valve half turn further IN after the stop. The engine run well
after that. Coolant temperature was right over the first 150 miles test
drive, gas mileage appeared to be fine, and power/speed on the highway was
no problem. Then this past weekend, I made the second long distance drive on
a camping trip, I drove a total of about 210 miles. I then noticed an
obvious lack of power, even on a very mild uphill. I also notice the gas
level going down a lot faster than it used to be. The gas mileage was about
15-16 mpg. The vanagon start well, idling fine and smooth. I smell a little
gas when start cold for a short ride but did not find any trace of gas leak.
I notice a little engine vibration but I thought this vanagon engine was
always like that. I check the O2 senser, I replaced that about 6,000 miles
ago, connection and everything looks fine. I remember I detached the exhause
pipe behind the catalytic converter to remove the pipes from the cylinder
heads, I found no gasket in between the joint in front of the converter, and
I locked it back the same way it was, no new gasket. But now I found that
the joint between the pipe and the converter indeed need a gasket for the
1991 model. Would that cause a mixture problem in the fuel injection system
if an exhaust leak occur at this point? Also, I was replacing the tail pipe,
all three rusted bolts broke and I have to drill holes through the remaining
bolts, while involved some occassional hammering at the end of the muffler.
Would that be reason to cause the old muffler loosen some debris and
partially block the mufflers or catalytic convertor? Other then these, I
think I did a pretty good job in putting the fuel injector system, flow
meter and other things back to where they were, and the air filter is new.
I wellcome any suggestion to this problem. Leo 1991 multivan 120,000miles
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