Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:33:41 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: A Great Trip, and Engine Noise Question
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Hi all.
Had a great 4K+ km trip. Bus ran great. Saw lots more stuff courtesy
of Bernie and Phil. Highlights include Challis Hot Springs, Catherine
Creek and Kleinschmidt road (dirt, steep, single track with pull outs)
pic http://tinyurl.com/25t8ud7 led by the fearless leader Dr. Phil Z
himself! pic: http://tinyurl.com/23y9gyu
Over all, I gave my Westy a bit more of a work out than normal. So...
My engine developed a *slight* dull clacking noise at/near block or pan.
Possible causes/symptoms:
- Saw residue of a *very* slight loss of coolant from vent of
expansion tank. (cap appeared to have allowed excess pressure to
escape) Coolant gauge stayed slightly higher than normal but light did
not come on. pic http://tinyurl.com/2fu66dm Normally needle at LED.
Noticed coolant spill after the Klienschmidt portion. Regardless,
engine ran hotter than normal for a period of time.
- Though not hard, I hit my engine carrier upon leaving camp near end
of trip. Carrier still properly aligned and oil pan not dented.
- running 10/30 oil. Ambient temps hovered between 88-92F or so during the day
- hunts for idle when restarted in high ambient temps. Settles soon.
But engine has done this since "day one" of conversion.
At idle, sound was intermittent: "putt putt putt putt putt, clack,
putt putt" etc., But at times, sounded like it happened on each
cylinder at idle. It didn't seem to get worse. On last leg of trip on
I5 trek in cooler ambient temps, didn't hear it at various pit stops,
and when home in the driveway.
This is a Jetta ABA engine in my '81 Westy. Engine now has about 75K
miles. Coolant pump has low miles (15K miles or so) so I suspect it's
fine. I do not know if it has a windage tray or oil squirters. Runs
fine other than hunt at hunt for idle.
Since the noise sometimes seemed to happen on each cylinder (at idle)
would this be something to do with crank end play? No visual movement
at pulley on crank. Or....
Is this a tell tale sound of a failing con rod bearing?
Please forgive such basic questions. I've had very little time inside an engine.
Still. A great trip was had! Saw more than usual, and even attempted
some "bass" guitar along with Matt Snook et al. They were more than
forgiving of my lack of skill and poor posture. (courtesy of Gary
Marrs) pic: http://tinyurl.com/375jgok
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
