Date:         Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:08:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Snow <slowmachine82@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: White Westy convoy, I-4 gasser advice
In-Reply-To:  <047701cc5b7e$0e95ffa0$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 8/15/11 3:03 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> I suggest the I-4 route to smooth power and basic reliability ( not to
> mention being less polluting than 80's era diesel engines are ).
>
There are good reasons to convert a diesel van to gas, but I would argue
strongly that basic reliability is not one of them.  I would also argue
that the increased MPG (mine averages about 28 MPH) of a diesel engine
in good running condition compensates some (and maybe fully) for the
allegedly cleaner gasoline engine.

In my driveway, running and driveable:
'82 Westy with AAZ 1.9TD
'86 Syncro with 2.1 WBX
'87 Syncro with TiiCo inline four
'88 Wolfsburg with 2.1 WBX

The diesel is by far the most reliable, and not simply because it is a
newer version of the 1.6D/TD.  An awful lot, maybe even the vast
majority, of reliability problems are electrical in origin, not
mechanical.  No fuel-injected gasoline engine can come anywhere near the
diesel for electrical simplicity.  The 1.6D/TD and 1.9D/TD engines
require, at most, a single 12v connection (battery to fuel-cutoff
solenoid on the injection pump) in order to run.  Even that can be
eliminated by replacing the solenoid with a plug.  Once started, the
diesel engine can be driven indefinitely in this condition.  The
instrument cluster, ignition switch, and lighting systems can all be
completely non-functional, or even missing from the van, and the van
will still drive.  A short jumper wire from a good battery to operate
the glow plugs at start-up would be helpful, but even this can be
bypassed by pushing, towing, or coasting downhill to start the engine.

If I were choosing, I would rebuild the 1.6TD or replace it with a new
1.6 or 1.9 IDI TD engine.

Mike