Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 08:13:10 -0800
Reply-To: quoton <quoton@DIAL.KFU.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: quoton <quoton@DIAL.KFU.COM>
Subject: Re: Rebuilding vanagon engine
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Darrell Boehler wrote:
>
> ---------------------
> Hi David,
> Last year I rebuilt my 86 with 227k miles and just knew I would need
> pistons and cylinders and ordered the german ones from a list supplier.
> When I removed the P and Cs and looked them over good I was amazed they
> still had cross hatch marks all the way up and down the cylinder walls left
> from the factory hone job. I know this engine had never been removed from
> the van and they were original. I mic the cylinders and had a
> professional mechanic check them along with all the rest of my engine and he
> agreed they had no ware. I returned the p and Cs saved the $650 and now
> have good compression and oil usage is normal 233k . The previous owner of
> my westy used synthetic oil.
> One other thing I feel that balancing this engine is a good thing. I
> took the crank and all the parts that are tied to it to a speed shop and
> they balanced it for $100. My 4 cylinder is as smooth as can be. Good luck
> with your quest.
>
> Darrell Boehler
> Makanda Illinois
>
Hi Darrell:
Glad to hear that your vanagon engine has no wear after 227k miles. I am
not
too surprised. I have 2 vanagons. I took araprt the engine of my 84
vanagon
2 years ago for replcing leaky head gaskets. I found the samething. The
original
cross hatch pattern was still quite visible on all 4 cylinders. I did
suspect
that the rings were a little loose and might had worn a little too. But
I did
not replce them but did some cleaning. The engine is still running very
strong
at 140k miles now. Well, now I can expect it all the way to 220k miles
without
wear.
However, my 83 westy is probably different. I bought this one used at
60k miles
from a friend. According to the friend it had the head gasket syndrome
since
30k miles. At the time his dealer drilled 2 small holes on the
thermostat and
hoped it would fix the overheat/flashing warning light symptom.
Naturally it
did not fix the problem. But the friend simply drove on until 60k miles.
During
the 30k miles he added he simply drove the westy with low temp or slow
warming
up condition. By the time the westy was clearly a powerless heavy brick
to drive
the engine probably had completely worned out (the liner).
I finally bought it from the friend, knowing the engine probably needed
work,
and took it to a VW dealer, submitted a request to fix it for the head
gasket
syndrome reason. They honored me 75% of the cost (I paid 25%) to fix the
head
gasket problem). They did replced the heads with rebuilt ones and fitted
with
new gaskets. But the westy was still powerless. I continued to drive it
for
another 20k miles and finally I could not tolerate the poor performance
any
longer. I should fix it or further damage might follow if I continue to
drive
it powerlessly. The compression are slightly lower than my 84 at 140k
miles.
There is definitely something wrong on the liner.
It's funny that the engine sounds like new, smooth and quiet and idle
just
like a new one. But it is just powerless. I have swapped everything I
can
think of, anything that might have snything to do with engine power,
with
my 84 and the problem persists.
I plan to tear the engine apart very soon. By then I expect to prove
that
the liner is worn. I might find that not everything is worn. The
Cylinders
might be still OK. The rings are probably in bad shape. I hope the
pistons
are still OK. But I do consider to replace the whole thing. I can not
refuse the temptation of a new set of OEM liner.
Thanks for responding.
