Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 20:57:40 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
In-Reply-To: <CA+az7_4mkmYpLrRpA=7qO7xkVPxHWfznf6tjC+L45buk=5NAqQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Fun Bus almost 284K. Will be driving it from NY to Florida this coming weekend. Just wish the transmissions and rear main seals would work as well as the engine.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Rodgers
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 8:44 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
I got 205, 000 miles on my 1.9 WBX in my '85 GL. Next van, an '88 GL, I only got 89,000 on the 2.1 WBX in it before it blew. The replacement engine, which I am now running from new, has 160,000 on it and going strong. It's showing an oil pressure fault that appears to be a sensor system malfunction rather than a problem with the engine. Hope to get
200,000 out of it.
John
On Nov 10, 2015 19:06, "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> You wouldn't notice any change due to fuel composition or lower
> temperature If the engine was at full power output. Palo Alto does not
> have low temps anyway, you are just trying to keep up with all the
> speeders ;-) (IIRC, radar use by the state patrol is prohibited in
> CA?). It's time to do a check on the engine condition. At a minimum,
> do a proper compression test and an oil analysis (www.blackstone-labs.com).
>
> The oil analysis will show bearing and cylinder/ring wear elements,
> plus any coolant, silicon, etc. in the oil. If the compression is low
> (should be
> 145 psi or so, each cylinder within 10%) then you can also do a
> leak-down test. Mine is 90-150-100-130. Oil squirt didn't bring them
> up, so it's leaky valves in three cylinders. But, it still keeps
> plugging along, and I'm not putting any (more) money into this engine,
> that's going into my Subaru conversion fund. If you are interested, I
> can send you my oil report, as well as one from my son's '87 which is in fine condition.
>
> Usually the WBX gives plenty of warning before it blows (like losing
> power or buzzing from low oil pressure), and this info will give you a
> good idea of the engine's condition. At 195k it's undoubtedly tired,
> but can probably go a lot farther.
>
> And do start that new engine fund--in a few years you might just have
> enough!
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Michael Hart
> Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 1:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
>
> Over the past ~3 weeks I've noticed a slight drop in power & mpg for
> my Westy (what power you may ask?). Specifically it feels like i'm
> fighting a headwind on the freeway at 50 - 60 mph.
> Searching for answers and hoping it is not a real engine problem (this
> 2WD Westy has 195k on the original engine), I followed a hunch on
> gasoline formulations & found the following;
> - the winter gasoline formulation for California has an average of
> 1.7% lower energy content (vs. summer) - due to added butane
> - the changeover date is Oct 31st (most stations switch over a little
> earlier)
> - other factors that affect fuel economy include air temperature (the
> daytime temperatures have dropped significantly over the past two
> weeks
> here)
>
> http://www.afdc.energy.gov/pdfs/2876.pdf
>
> Having read all this I am less worried that the engine is on it's last
> legs (I still have no really good excuse to spend large $$ on a new
> engine...)
> --
> Mike Hart
> Palo Alto, CA (SF Bay Area)
> 1987 2WD White Westfalia GL 'T3Westy'
>
| 
