Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2012 20:23:32 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: So my stepson asks . . .
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEu+BaNj1=O12_uJwQidp4zv6njbnkDv29Qnas9d64Ab2XQ@mail.gmail.com>
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No not dreaming, didn't suggest 200K miles was common or the average, and
based upon how Jack qualified his question, I qualified my guesstimate.
Actually I would have done so regardless of that. :)
If the accounts in the page I linked to are honest and accurate, why
wouldn't Jacks 1.9 make it that far?
Comparing the air cooled engine to the WBX is likely apples to oranges.
Tencentlifes comment in the thread speaks of the air cooled. He has this to
say of the 1.9:
I would not consider 150k on a 1.9 to be very much. They very often go to a
quarter-mil with decent maintenance, especially when run with an autotrans."
I know he knows WAY more about this stuff than I do and has had WAY more
hands on hours than I have. And, Jacks Westy has an automatic transmission.
;)
Wasn't suggesting new heads at 200K miles. Suggested "during that time".
"that time" meaning anywhere from 96K - 200K miles.
My impression is that Jack has owned his Westy for some time. IF so, he
would likely know the engines history. Combine that with input from other
1.9 WBX users and he may be able to determine if his engines a safe bet.
If a new owner or someone who had no idea of a given Vanagons history asked
the same question, I very likely would not have thrown "200K" in as my
mileage guesstimate.
I will say this about $ cost of owning a WBX. It's likely more costly (say
than your I4 or my I4 swap) to get a WBX "right" as opposed to an I4. But
if a given WBX has been well maintained, and runs well, depending on what
parts are needed, I don't see the higher parts cost as a poor investment.
Like if my 2.1 idled properly, didn't surge, had even and higher
compression, I'd put more money into it. But that's another topic. But as
per your comment, I can do almost all my own work so the difference in
parts cost in some cases would not a big deal.
The more I learn of the WBX and Vanagons in general, the more I realize
that some get some shoddy work done to them be it by the owner or a shop.
Combine that with odometer issues etc. and the WBX becomes more of a
gamble. No doubt about that. But. Jack likely knows if his Westies miles
are original and likely knows the history of the engine.
Neil.
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 7:30 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
"Might see new heads....." at 200k miles? Neil, you dreaming?....maybe a
> few Vanagons with stock motors "might"...but from all the reading and
> related information I could get before I decided I wanted to avoid the WBX
> -powered Vanagon experience ( I had my share of Air Cooled vans apart for
> repairs and rebuilds all over the west during my formative years)...It
> seems like that kind of motor life is not common...
>
> I know I'll draw fire from Vanagon Purists, and I should just keep
> quiet...but besides people posting things like.."Well, MY vanagon went 275K
> miles without a problem...." when this kind of thread comes up...you see
> way way more posts like..."I am going on my third motor now, last one went
> 30k...." or "Yah, my WBX lasted great, I only had to do the headgaskets at
> 20k miles and then the motor blew....but that was MY fault....."
> .....
> The WBX, it sounds neat, runs smooth, gives a relaxed and low rpm power
> delivery....but you must admit it is pretty expensive to keep one
> right...or so it seems from my research.
> There is a reason why Subaru Vans, Bostig vans, Audi Vans, Jetta vans,
> etc etc are so wide-spread....The WBX motor is not as dependable as any of
> the ones mentioned above...by quite some margin....
>
......
> So "How long does a Vangaon motor last"" might be difficult to answer
> without a real survey...but I bet they don't "average" 200k miles before
> having to be opened up and get major repairs.... What's a head job cost on
> a Vanagon stock motor? Unless you do the work and are good at it, I think
> it's not cheap....especially if your bill involves a breakdown and towing
> from somewhere to somewhere where there is a decent Vanagon mechanic.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 6:52 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=261106&highlight=milage
>>
>> I'm sure there's a better thread on that forum. Like a poll of some kind.
>>
>> Maybe 200K miles if it's taken care of? But then it *might* see new heads
>>
>> during that time or at least a reseal job.
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>>
>>
>
--
Neil n
65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
