Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 15:51:25 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results-busaid inying used vans!
In-Reply-To: <CAB2RwfjQ1buqvbsE+1MOp-+4-d-7+hh3SPLw9AVT2PurV8HcrA@mail.gmail.com>
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As mentioned..
there are almost always warning signs ..
if a person pays close enough attention.
Oil pressure gauge is a very good way to monitor condition of the bottom
end, bearing clearance wise.
That is the final 'gotcha' usually ...especially on 2.1's.
I have one 1.9 wbxr engine that I personally drove at speed, on the
interstate about 3 hours to my place.
The oil light on that engine is on anytime rpm is below 1,500 when hot.
Yet it ran very smoothy with good power, and no signs of blowing up
suddenly. I can't say I know what the 'real' oil pressure it, not
having had a guage on it ...but the OP switches are usually pretty
reliable in my experience.
Would I head out for say, northern BC with that engine ? Doesn't sound
to smart ? lol.
The nicest deal I think is rebuild one very carefully while you drive
your current one.
And it's nice to put a 2.1 in where a 1.9 was.
It all bolts together ....with various combinations possible ..
even 2.1 type oil cooler/heat exchange in a van with 1.9 type cooling
system ..
or convert the 1.9 van's cooling system to 2.1 spec ..not that that is
particularly better ..it's easier to work on ..but there are plastic
parts that.... ahem ....melt and break sometimes- though not for years
usually.
But yeah, if the engine is 'iffy' don't wanna be hundreds or thousands
of miles from home..
OR ..you could just have a blowup in lord knows where and that will be
your new home ..just get a job washing dishes in a truck stop in Montana
or something and 'start all over' .
rebuild one while you drive the other ..that's the best plan I think
without breaking the bank.
scott
www.turbovans.com
On 9/9/2012 10:08 AM, neil n wrote:
> 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
>
> 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
>
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