Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:54:52 -0700
Reply-To: Shawn Wright <shawngwright@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Shawn Wright <shawngwright@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: White Westy convoy, I-4 gasser advice
In-Reply-To: <4E4AA3F9.8040007@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Michael,
I agree on the reliability issue. I've been driving VW diesels since the
early 80s, and have put many trouble free miles on them. But priorities
change over the years, and now that we're driving less than 30k kms annually
between two vehicles (only 5-8k on the van), reliability and fuel economy
are not as significant. The other big priority that has changed is family -
our kids will be on their own in a few years, so I'd like to enjoy the time
we have with them instead of in the garage. The reality is that if I'd not
gone cheap on the 1.6TD 5 years ago (total spent was under $700, mostly on a
h/g, rings, and head rebuild), and done a full rebuild, or got a 1.9 block,
the engine would probably last as long as we needed it to. If I determine my
leak sources are not from the h/g, I might squeak another year from this
engine. If I need to pull the head, I'd sooner swap the whole engine. I
don't know much about the ABA, and gas FI systems do scare me a bit, but I
have time to learn more and decide if I want to venture into the gasser
world or not...
Thanks for the feedback.
Shawn
'88 Westy 1.6TD
'04 Jetta TDI
On Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 10:08 AM, Michael Snow <slowmachine82@gmail.com>wrote:
> 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
>
--
Shawn Wright
shawngwright@gmail.com
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