Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 20:17:09 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Low compression,
more test results-busaid inying used vans! Traveling far from
home!
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds76EBA532FBA261B80BC35A0AD0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I had 230k on my original 1984 1.9 when I decided to put in a used 2.1 that
blew up in 6000 miles. The original engine ran fine but was weak and I was
tired of it. Bad idea, and I wish I had that core now. The heads were
re-done at 60k by the dealer under a partial warranty (VW bought new heads)
and that was it.
I switched to Dexcool coolant when it became available, ran Red Line 20w-50
for the last 50k, used MMO and CD2 detergent additives periodically when the
lifters got noisy, but that was before the era of high detergent top tier
gas, which I run now. The engine had no crud build up anywhere when I broke
it down, unlike my current 1.9 that had a quarter inch of crud inside the
valve covers.
I don't think I'll mess with another 2.1 for 8 extra hp after my previous
experiences with them though.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 12:49 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results-bus
I have a few customers that have gone over 200K on water boxers. It is
possible. Maintenance, monitoring, and driving right is the key.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: neil n [mailto:musomuso@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 1:08 PM
To: Dennis Haynes
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results-busaid inying used vans!
So the WBX isn't that much, or at all, different than most engines.
Good piece of mind to know.
I'd rather see some use from this engine. Clearly I have lots more to learn
about it, but at the very least what I've done has improved it.
I have no idea who did what work to it, but for sure a head was replaced.
(says AMC on it. Thanks Scott for that tip). Hopefully they did that job and
other work correctly.
Of course driving any engine with a bad noise or similar is not my MO, but
if I had to do so, chances are i could limp it at least to a main road for
AAA help.
An oil pressure gauge install is imminent.
For a person in my position however, (as with Stuart too?) the gamble is
being too far away from home if something dire happened to the engine. At
that point, my best hope would be a used engine install to get me home so I
could start my engine swap work.
Neil.
On Sun, Sep 9, 2012 at 8:15 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> You would be surprised at the engines noises I have heard over the
> years in vehicles driven to me. Often as the noises begin even with
> oil pressure lights flickering many folks are either ignorant or in
denial.
>
> Engines really exist in two varieties, healthy or not! Failures rarely
> occur without cause or warning. On most engines valve wear, seating,
> guides and cylinder head sealing are the weak links that often require
> attention. Many engines with coolant carrying intake manifolds also
> suffer from leaks of coolant into the intake path and the combustion
> are next. Engine failures after some period of good operation are
> almost always the result of a support system failure or abuse. Fuel
> and ignition systems are support systems and improper set up of either
> can be a recipe for failure. Extended lugging of the engine will
> always help to create those melted pistons and nasty burned valves
> even with coolant temperature staying normal. Loss of oil pressure
> film etc. will help to throw those rods. This is the real Waterboxer
> weak link, especially on the 2.1. That's why they added that oil cooler.
The stretch bolts are not the problem.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of neil n
> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 5:27 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results-busaid inying used vans!
> ...... if I drive my WBX til it really showed it's age, and it popped
> a rod, from what I've read, the "gotcha" is that when it pops, it
> stops.
--
Neil n
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