Date:         Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:35:26 -0700
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Diesel Powered Vanagons
In-Reply-To:  <000101c5bf20$2e169de0$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Yes, the injection pump does add more load to the bearings I suppose. But I've still
not heard of any cam bearing failures on VW I4 engines, and we've had more than a
dozen in our immediate family since '81, gas and diesel. If the cam bearings need
shells at a full rebuild, say after 300k (easily acheivable life of a gas or diesel), how is
this any different than replacing cam bearings, etc on any other engine? I'm not
saying early failure doesn't happen, just that I've not heard of it being a problem
before. I agree that a stock DV is a slow beast, which is why I put a TD in my '88. But
I drove my stock '82 all spring and summer, and aside from the passes in BC interior,
it is quite adequate. So as you say, for those who drive slow, and aren't in a hilly
area, it might be just fine. And I still like the WBX - I enjoyed driving my 2.1 for 8
years but the electronics (the only thing which gave me grief) was something I could
do without. I just like diesels better. :-)

On 21 Sep 2005 at 22:48, Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net> wrote:

> I4 engines do have the cam bearing problems. They are compounded in the
> diesel though because the cam belt gets tensioned to drive the oil pump.
> My point was that the only way I would get a Diesel Vanagon was if I was
> planning to upgrade it or drive very slow. The Waterboxer in my
> experience holds up and works much better except for fuel economy.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Shawn Wright
> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 11:23 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Diesel Powered Vanagons
>
> They smell much better running on bio-d or veggie oil! :-)
> I've never had a problem with worn cam bearing saddles with the three
> 1.6s we've
> had in the family, and all went to well over 300k (not in Vanagons of
> course). One of
> them, a 1.6TD is now rebuilt and in my Westy, with original head, and
> the clearances
> were fine. I think this problem may be related to lack of regular oil &
> filter changes. I
> understand they can be machined to accept bearing shells if they wear
> out also.
> Aren't the gas I4 cam bearings the same? I haven't heard this being a
> problem with
> them.
>
> On 21 Sep 2005 at 6:27, Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:
>
> > The 1.9 is much better than the 1.6. It is still a bit of a dirty
> smelly
> > beast and every 100K will be an accomplishment. Another problem with
> > these is the cam bearing saddles in the head wearing out. There are no
> > bearings, just the cam against the aluminum.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jim Arnott [mailto:jrasite@eoni.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:24 PM
> > To: Dennis Haynes
> > Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Diesel Powered Vanagons
> >
> > On Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at 07:14 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> >
> > > Unless you are looking to modify it with say 1.9 TDI or otherwise
> > > tinker, I'd steer clear. They are grossly under powered, no AC or
> > power
> > > steering. The like to crack heads, blow head gaskets, and destroy
> > > rings.
> > >
> > >
> > > Dennis
> >
> > Or a 1.9 NA or TD.  About a $3k fix, but then it's fixed.
> >
> > I've had mine for three years and unless something really interesting
> > comes along, it's my 'forever van.'
> >
> > Sleeps my bride and I quite comfortably, Has enough room to change
> > one's mind in and gets (one year average) 26.94 mpg. If things get
> > REALLY bad, we could live in it.
> >
> > Mine hasn't cracked its head, though it has blown a head gasket after
> > sticking a thermostat on a 105 deg. F day. Took all of $50 and four
> > hours to fix it. I consider the lack of power steering and AC to be a
> > benefit. Two less things to fail. (It's a flippin' VW, not a Lexus.)
> > I've not seen destroyed rings either.
> >
> > As far as being 'grossly underpowered"; I suppose that it's all a
> > matter of perspective.  Having left SoCal behind 10 years ago, I no
> > longer feel the urgent need to run at 80-95 mph on an eight lane
> > superslab.  Living in rural Oregon lends itself well to the power
> > characteristics of the 1.9 NA (naturally aspirated,. Read,
> > unturbocharged) motor.  I can drive the 300 miles to Portland and
> > average 60 mph.  Filling up at the other end for less than $30 makes
> > the extra 40 minutes it takes me to get there seem rather trivial.
> > Besides, 60-65 is plenty fast to drive through the Columbia Gorge.
> >
> > If I wanted to increase the speed to 65-75 it's a simple matter to
> > turbo the NA motor.  But for me, the NA is fine.  I ain't in that big
> > of hurry. And besides, in the three years that I've owned The Orphan,
> > I've watch its value go from about $3k to about $7.5k. If you want a
> > diesel, you better get it soon.
> >
> > Like I said. I may well be my forever van.
> >
> > (If you're interested in learning more, there are a few VW diesel
> lists
> > about.  Mark Drillock and I admin the diesel-vanagon list on
> > Yahoogroups.  There you'll find those that have seen the light.)
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > "We need a revolution."
> > "Keep saying that and we'll need a lawyer, assuming they let us have
> > one."
> >
> > Jan Steinman <www.Bytesmiths.com>
> >
>
> Shawn Wright
> http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
> '85 Jetta D
> '88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
>  (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
> '82 Diesel Westy
>
>
>

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy