Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2012 11:26:28 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Low compression, more test results
In-Reply-To: <CAFNeVpH6isx+oZumO3JJFkn=ZN3-69bAWt3R6FXbBaz33cZi+A@mail.gmail.com>
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Yes, the knock that the lifters make when drained disturbed me the first few times, but I learned better how they work, mostly from folks on this list and experience. It is not a problem. I had had little experience with vanagons, or VWs generally, when I bought this one. I had done enough homework to know I was getting a good one, or thought I was anyway. But I was unprepared for all the things I'd have to do to be happy with it, or just for it to be reasonably reliable, and for a while deemed it the beast from hell. Some folks on this list became impatient with my complaints. I have spent more money on it than I like, but now I like the camper, and will live with the inordinate expense and trouble of having an old vehicle. And I think that is mostly where the trouble lies. My inexperience has also caused me to spend money that I probably could have saved by doing things differently (putting in a new oil pump when the problem was a bad sensor and a badly installed gauge, plus oil that was wrong for the season, for one, quite an expensive mistake). They are not new. mcneely
---- Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET> wrote:
> Hi Stuart,
>
> My van had low compression on one cylinder when I bought it earlier
> this year. I took it to a mechanic (here in Vancouver) and he was
> able to restore the compression on my engine by adjusting the valves
> and adding lash caps. This included adjusting one to 0 lash.
>
> I'm not convinced my engine is well just yet. I've had a series of
> coolant issues, possible minor head gasket leak, but not confirmed.
> Anyway, van runs quite well, although certainly not fast, it seems to
> have a reasonable amount of power. I did get overtaken by another
> vanagon going up a very steep mountain hill; after that I started to
> get engine envy/doubt again. :)
>
> The worst scare so far has been starting it after it sitting for a few
> weeks. Oh the horrid tapping! A quick Google said lifters are prone
> to draining if left sit, so I crossed my fingers and drove it for a
> while and now it sounds fine again.
>
> Tom
>
> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 7:52 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Well, for those who have been following by email thread about making the
> > mistake of checking compression on my 140k mile original engine
> > (90-150-100-130) I’ve done some more tests.
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. Valves were zero lash or 1 turn in, no valve noise, timing dead on
> >
> > 2. Manifold vacuum is 12” Hg with ±1” tick (should be steady 17-21)
> >
> > 3. No detectable vacuum leaks (propane test), all vacuum hoses new.
> >
> > 4. 22% leak down on #1, could hear leakage all three places, but
> > exhaust and intake were louder than the dipstick, with the exhaust being the
> > worst. (Should have used the decibel meter on my iPhone, but I didn’t want
> > to get it greasy ;-) ). Didn’t bother testing the others after this result.
> >
> > 5. Does not burn oil (in 1000 miles at least) Plugs that came in it
> > were clean.
> >
> > 6. PO installed reman AFM recently
> >
> > 7. Idles smooth (as any of them anyway), runs well, no coolant leaks,
> > but has poor acceleration and poor gas mileage (~15 mpg highway).
> >
> >
> >
> > Looks like it’s got some leaking valves. No surprise this rig is worn out, I
> > assumed it was, but I could drive it home at least. I hope I can get a few
> > thousand more miles out of it so I can save some dough for a conversion!
> >
> >
> >
> > Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but never for long. I waited until after my
> > planned summer trips to check the engine condition, so I was blissfully
> > ignorant on purpose. I’m still planning a couple of fall trips nearby
> > though. What the hell, I’ve got AAA premier.
> >
> >
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > ’85 Westy, purchased in May
--
David McNeely
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