Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 05:53:30 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: tired 1.9l question
In-Reply-To: <BAY105-DAV4336E2EED1E59FD0E6189A5EA0@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The leak down test should have shown where the leak in cylinder #1 was.
Lifters are not the problem. I suspect that the intake valve on #1 is
leaking. Leaking intakes pose all sorts of problems. In addition to
reducing power of the 1 cylinder, it also is a vacuum leak, mixing
combustion gasses and messing up the other cylinders.
Assuming the lifters are correctly adjusted, it is possible that one or
two are bad. Noisy lifters can also be a sign of oil pressure problems.
If the lifters get quiet after startup and then et noisy again after the
engine gets hot, then low oil pressure is the most likely problem. Have
the oil pressure tested, both cold and hot, after a highway drive.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jeff Palmer
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 1:45 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: tired 1.9l question
Hello,
I've got an 85 Westfalia with 275k km (165k miles) on the original 1.9l
engine. I've taken really good care of the van to this point and it
hasn't
let me down. I replaced the right side head (VW dealer replaced it)
shortly
after I purchased the van in 1993, and two years ago I replaced the left
side with a new AMC.
I took it to my favourite mechanic (who actually seems to enjoy working
on
it) to get a once-over on the van before summer driving season starts.
I've
been saving up for a new motor, thinking it would come at some point.
So I
took it in, and mentioned that it seems to have low power. Tony (the
mechanic) did a compression and leakdown test and found:
Cylinder 4: Compression 115, leakdown 40%
3: 155, 30%
2: 145, 50%
1: 135, 30%.
He didn't feel that this would cause low power or was a major concern
(yet).
He thought it may be lifter issues or fuel injector trouble. After
going
through the archives I found at least one really knowledgeable guy who
made
reference to the same thing, so I hope Tony is on the right track.
Before you start thinking Tony is nuts, I could be relaying the info
incorrectly. I am obviously not a mechanic, but I'm learning lots being
on
the list.
A side note: the lifters have always been noisy despite the proper
filter
and 20-50 Quaker State. Two years ago I had an oil change while on a
holiday at a VW dealer in West Vancouver ($$$!) and 1500 miles later I
had
really noisy lifters and no power. Turned out I also had no oil too. I
had
checked it, but I thought I was misreading it because it seemed low.
Guess
I wasn't misreading it. The VW dealer topped up the oil and told me to
watch for a catastrophic oil leak. There wasn't one and still isn't.
Maybe
something wasn't tightened properly. Anyway.
Does Tony sound like he's on the right track? Do fuel injectors fail
often
and can they be repaired or just replaced? Should I be spending money
on
this tired engine or is it time to cut my losses and get a new one. Any
and
all advice appreciated.
Thanks again
Jeff
85 Westfalia GL auto
