Date:         Fri, 27 Sep 1996 08:12:20 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven Johnson" <sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com>
Subject:      Re: Engine Dies  (was: air-conditioning for a '71)

So Jrl says:
> We are not VW novices. In fact I had checked the valve clearances and
> changed the oil (which I do at 3000 mile intervals AND within a
> couple of days of a new rebuild). In fact, this particular engine was
> preety good at keeping the valve clearances steady. After the engine
> started smoking on a big hill south of Las Vegas, we stoppped
> immediately, even though the engine was still running. After it
> cooled overnight, I checked the valves, which were all fine, but the
> compression in #3 was zilch, and that's where the oil was leaking from
> as well. The oil was not burning in the engine, but on the outside of
> the hot jugs.   

Well... I could only judge by your previous post that had no indication
of how you took care of your engine.  In that light, I would say that
reading how you drive, I would put in oil temp and head temp gauges 
and use them as a guide as to how fast you should be driving.  This
should help you keep the engine temp down.  Other than that, I don't
know what went wrong with the engine.

Steven
Sacramento, CA
sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com