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Date:         Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:12:21 -0700
Reply-To:     Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Advice wanted (and maybe some sympathy) on what looks
              somewhat major..
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAHTkEuJwkcS=dDD5XXBR1b8fLUYc4K5bOFsnXY=cMtSU_2uCFg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Don,

The easiest way to determine the source of compression loss would be with a differential compression tester (leakdown test).

If you don't have one but do have access to a compressor you could simply pump air into the bad cylinders (about 80 psi) with the piston held at TDC and listen to where it escapes. It will either be intake or exhaust (valves) or you'll hear it coming out of the crankcase (oil filler is a good place to check) which would indicate piston and/or rings.

Sympathy is on the way...

Angus

On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 5:34 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm sending this to the Big List too...While this doesn't concern a WBX > stock Vanagon, there are lots of inline-familiar Vanagon people who may not > read Neil's 'new' inline Vanagon-specific list. Sorry for the length, but > I wanted to give all the clues and specifics I could to help anyone who > wanted to help me... Thanks, Don Hanson > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> > Date: Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 5:26 PM > Subject: Advice wanted (and maybe some sympathy) on what looks somewhat > major.. > To: "Vanagons and VW Buses (Bays) with VW inline gas engines" < > vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines@googlegroups.com> > > > The problem is my 84 5sp inline (ABA with 1.8l 8 valve head and > digifant) I think I may have worn out something. Here's the story: I > am guessing there's about 150k on the ABA 2.0 liter block, It's been well > cared for by me and driven properly since I got it with said "97k miles". > The head came off my original inline motor, a 92 Jetta 1.8 lite 8-valve > with mostly vanagon digifant stock parts...all installed with 83 diesel van > parts and the VW van 5sp. Nothing was done to the block when I put it in > about 60k miles ago other than swapping on the diesel oil pan and using the > windage tray from the Jetta motor, as well as some inconsequential parts > changed to allow the head to bolt on... > > The head was self-surfaced and properly torqued using the head gasket > suggested by Techtonics Tuning, pretty well respected VW performance > shop...This combo has been flawless for about 60k miles, but as expected, > old used stuff wears out and I couldn't afford to rebuild everything as I > did the motor...so most of it is original... I know the inline VWs are > hard on valve guides and those have never been touched, nor have any of the > valves, other than to have new guide seals installed when I changed > cams...way back (over 60k miles ago). I used new retainers too, but left > the springs and keepers stock (on advice again from TT) who said the stock > ones rarely need help...For the last maybe 20k miles I have been using some > oil and seeing some smoke at times...probably from the valve guides...I > hope...Remember, the valves and the head has been with me through two > motors without any work other than the mild cam change. > > Today I noticed I was down on power and running rough. Pulled the > plugs and found them at about 3/16" gap! Almost 50k on NGK Irridium > plugs. Fingers crossed, I installed new ones, hoping for a fix...Nope. > So I pulled plug wires, one at a time...and the two at the mainshaft end, > the clutch end...they didn't change the running much off or on....Uh > Oh....Next came a compression test, sort of. I can't reach the tester to > wrench it tight down in the plug cavities with the way my cheapo tester is > made, but I screwed it in finger tight and tested anyhow...twice around on > all four cylinders....Each time the readings were quite close on each > cylinder....from the alternator end of the motor...(back of the van) I had > 175, 170, 90 95 psi. Figures with the same two cylinders really low > that made little difference when the plug wires were removed...Also, the > new plugs....the two 'normal' reading cylinders showed a nice white burn > after a short run while the two on the low reading cylinders looked fresh > out of the boxes.... > > So I looks like I may have two bad cylinders for whatever reason(s)... > I know I will be at least pulling the head to work on the valves...is there > a way to know if the bottom of the motor is still ok? (without taking the > motor out?) I can get the head off in an afternoon probably and have it > reconditioned for about $400 with new valves and everything...or I can > probably find a junkyard head and just bolt that back on for ~$100-150, if > I don't have to pull the whole motor, I would rather not, since I work > mostly alone and that makes the motor removal more difficult... > > I've been scraping by on part time work when I can find it, all spring > and summer...slim pickings in the building trade now for a while...... and > now this will use most of what cash I cleared....so "inexpensive" is more > important than proper and complete...Maybe next time it breaks I'll be in > better $hape to do a complete job, but for now I need the van working > again, ASAP and As Cheap As Possible....ACAP... > > Advice on how to determine if I can get away with just pulling the head? > and if that is all that needs work, I can leave the motor alone for now, > hopefully. Ahhh, my "Golden Years".... > > PS, I am not losing coolant at all, nor do I ever have to add any...I am > using about a quart of oil every 1200 miles now....consumption (and a > slight constant leak) has slowly been increasing over the 50-60k miles on > the "new" motor.. My O2 sensor is working, it is in the header pipe that > comes from the two 'low reading' cylinders and each time I start the van it > hunts around for the right mixture for a bit, then settles down to a rough > idle. I was still getting 21mpg, right up till today and the motor had > great power....then it went 'off' pretty suddenly. There are no alarming > sounds under the van using a tube on the block and head to listen... >


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