Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 13:30:52 -0000
Reply-To: "Woodcock, Frank" <f.woodcock@UNISON.CO.UK>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Woodcock, Frank" <f.woodcock@UNISON.CO.UK>
Subject: Aircooled Oil /Gas/ Breaks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
First a BIG thank you for all the Emails about my gas overfill problem -
I now half fill the tank and the gas fumes are no more, just the smell
of oil through the heater vents- I shall replace the fuel overflow hoses
soon.
My VW Transporter Camper Van is called 'Phoo' after the bear and
reflects the body colour and oil fumes was built in 1980 and is a
Holdsworth Villa conversion.
This type of van is known as:-
Australia: Kombi.
England and U.S.A. : Vanagon, westie (to westfalia) Eurovan.
Denmark: Rugbrød (a danish bread "smørrebrød")
Germany: Bulli.
Hungary: Kocka (cube)
The Netherlands: Vierkante bus, aardappelkist. (potatobox)
It had a replacement 2.0 Litre Air-cooled engine - mileage unknown -
fitted just before I bought it in January 1998. The tailgate door lock
was defective and a local locksmith (not key cutter) was able to re-pin
it to match the other locks - cost the minimum bench charge of 5 pounds
sterling far cheaper than a replacement lock - took him less than 10
minutes. All the interior lights were intermittent and I traced this to
the interior roof light behind the sliding side door. Removing light
fitting revealed the culprit. The wires were connected with Blue Scotch
clips that pierce the insulation. The wires were stripped back and a
screw terminal block used to make a better connection.
I do have some remaining questions that I cannot find answers....
What can I expect the oil consumption to be? - I am using about a
quarter of a gallon every gas fill (250 miles)
When I unscrew the oil filler cap it is covered in a 'thick paste' which
is cement colored and there is a similar deposit on the oil filler tube.
The oil itself on the dip stick appears OK. Is this normal or is there a
problem?
Now that leaded fuel (gas) is becoming expensive - can I use unleaded
fuel without damaging the valves and if so which RON is best?
I have read Boston Bob Donalds (http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/)
excellent 'Today's Fuels, Yesterday's Engines' and he says that the UK
gas has a different formula (no alcohol?) and we also use the European
RON standard - not (R+M)/2.
Bob Donald also says that the 93(R=M)/2 method octane 'high test' is not
even sufficient for the upright VW engine with a posted minimum RON
octane number of 91 as evidenced by early failures with evidence of
over-heating and pre ignition.
From all of this I think that the main concern is that as leaded fuel
keeps the valves lubricated, will changing to unleaded damage them or
could I adopt the Ford Motor approach of using 3 fills unleaded, one
fill leaded fuel?
Last but not least - I was recently flagged down by a taxi driver who
said that I have no break lights.
I checked them and the lights only come on when the pedal is hard to the
floor.
The Eurovan (1980) has the brake light switch screwed into the break
master cylinder. Can the 'light on point' be adjusted? - My Haynes
manual does not show this.