Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 11:15:24 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results-busaid inying used vans!
In-Reply-To: <CAB2RwfhVb8EEYyBc9bwMrvnNxvR+7X0DiaaNWosavMtRZr7kmA@mail.gmail.com>
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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!
And with a Westy, gear in the back, loved ones proclaiming it's time for a
nature call, or ice cream, you won't notice the engine sound
nearly as much. ;^)
That's an interesting question about VW future plans for the 1.9 WBX.
Old Beetle history would indicate VW was thinking ahead to a 2.1 Then again,
I've read of issues with the 2.2 or 2.3 WBX. Were they mostly due to owner
use or abuse, parts/build quality, or design limits?
With all the history involved in increased displacement etc. of the air
cooled engines (stock or the tuner, race crowd), you'd think it wouldn't be
a stretch (pun intended) for VW to have upped displacement to 2100 cc.
As Stuart MAY be planning on doing, 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. *** I ran two Dodge 225
engines with a very audible engine knock (likely con rod bearings) 50
- 100 miles back home. "Apples and Oranges" but maybe a 2.1 with a engine
knock may not do that.
Neil.
*** I was younger and foolisher. The '72 was a somewhat nice ride, the
engine knock happened only while decelerating, the gamble being expensive
tow vs used 225 install. The other, well, it was scrap metal value. But it
did have a "snake skin" roof.
On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 1:33 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> With road and wind noise ...and an unusually flat torque curve .
> there's not much in the way of an 'automatic signal' that it's time to
> shift up.
....
> And I do think sometimes, when I see a sepearated rod cap with
> catastrophic failure, I wonder if the driver was going 80 mph in 3rd
> for a while not realizing it.
> OK, 65 to 70 ..exaggerating some with the 80 mph figure.
....
> Or, with 2.1's perhaps the rod bolts stretch or loose strenght ..
> possibly changing oil clearance on the bearing part of the engine that
> gets by far the most stress on it.
>
> I do wonder sometimes.......was it oil /bearing failure leading to
> total rod cap and bolt failure ?
> or is it just rod bolt failure, possibly due to excessive extended
> high load, high rpm operation.
>
> Likely both.
....
> It would be interesting to know if the 2.1 was in mind when the 1.9
> waterboxer was designed in the first place.
>
> As far as I'm concerned though ..there is 'no reason' for a rod to go
> through the case.
> Having that happen would be due to long term neglect and
> ,insensitivity,, let's say.
>
> or abuse by the DPO.
> On 9/8/2012 1:10 PM, neil n wrote:
>
> Just recently, I somewhat ignorantly issued a blanket statement to a
> local Vanagon mechanic that the 2.1 rod bolts were prone to failing.
> >From his POV, he was pretty adamant that when the rod(s) blew, it
> wasn't always, or usually, due to poor design of an engine part.
--
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-engine
s
