Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:03:27 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Rubber...Our best friend...Our worst enemy
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well, rubber does have a lifespan.
I also much say the hoses used on vanagons are just excellent. I know of
MANY original main coolant pipe hoses, for example, that are 20+ years old,
and look fine.
btw......the hoses that wear the most are the ones that get the hottest -
usually ones on top of the engine.
now what about the plastic bits ?
2.1 engines have noticeably more plastic on them that 1.9 waterboxers......
plastic thermostat housing ( 2WD not syncro ) and .......for example
............hat distribution tower hidden behind the firewall on the right
side -
now you talk about a part that can screw you in the middle of nowhere. There
are 5 connections on the thing .....and there's more than one version.
you 'could' substitute for it in Mexico to get home if you just had too, but
just looking at the thing .......it's hard to tell what does what .
those things just disintegrate. They last amazingly well actually .......but
they do like to just fail.
and plastic coolant bottles, let's not forget those, and the aftermarket
ones don't last that well sometimes.
at least with rubber, you expect it to have a lifespan.
plastic does too, but it's not so commonly recognized.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Stevens" <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: Rubber...Our best friend...Our worst enemy
>I don't agree with any of this rationale. I think irresponsible/poor/lazy
> maintenance practices is the culprit.
> Pilot error. Review each of the examples you listed and if they are each
> maintained at reasonable intervals,
> there are no failures, let alone catastrophic failures.
>
> bob
>
> On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM, Richard Koerner
> <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>
>> Volks,
>>
>> I am the original poster on yesterday's thread..."Audible" Idiot Lights.
>> Still plenty of room for discussions and solutions there.
>>
>> But, I've been thinking. What is the main cause of Vanagon catastrophic
>> failures? Rubber.
>>
>> Your alternator/water pump belt is rubber...it snaps, you may be toast.
>> Your coolant lines are mostly rubber...if they rupture...you're in for
>> it.
>> Your fuel injection hoses are all rubber...well, we know what that means.
>> And tires....they blow out, yes they do! All rubber. Anyone want to
>> talk
>> about gaskets?...more rubber. Vacuum hoses in the engine compartment?:
>> rubber, and they can cause infinite frustration and poor performance if
>> leaky, along with that rubber thing to the air filter. Power steering
>> and
>> suspension and wiper blades and shock absorbers...more rubber things to
>> fail.
>>
>> Now, rubber is an excellent engineering material...solves SO many issues.
>> But, at a price...lifetime. The stuff just doesn't last forever.
>>
>> The logical solution: replace. And replace sooner than you think you
>> might need to. Nothing like a roadside breakdown in the middle of
>> nowhere
>> to make you wish you had replaced "that" rubber component. So easy in
>> the
>> garage with access to Van Cafe, Vanagain, BusDepot, GoWesty, FLAPS...and
>> so
>> on (not meaning to exclude anybody here). So EXPENSIVE and trip-ruining
>> to
>> do it on the road. Not to mention major damage to your engine, your
>> vehicle, or even your body!
>>
>> So...I've personally had: leaking fuel injector hoses, broken belts,
>> rear
>> tire blowout...next on the list is rubber coolant hoses; still have MOST
>> of
>> the original there (mechanics have noticed some swollen coolant hoses
>> which
>> were immediately replaced). And head gaskets....ugh...time for a new
>> peppy
>> engine when that one hits.
>>
>> I know I'm "preaching to the choir" on this one.....but still. Rubber is
>> going to be the downfall of these marvelous Vanagon machines.
>>
>> Rich
>> 85 Vanagon Homemade Camper Conversion with 180,000 wonderful miles
>> San Diego
>>
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