Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 01:25:48 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: My Vanagon: Trouble in Paradise ?
-- [ From: John Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
YauMan, you need to give the exhause system the "Crunch" test. Water and
acids produced by the combustions products will eventually eat away at the
metal from the inside. The damage first starts to show up as pinholes. You
sound as if you already know the exhaust system must be replaced, but test
the general condition by taking a pair of channel lock pliers, open the jaws
wide open, then in various places just go along and clamp the jaws of the
pliers tightly on the pipes. If the material has been eaten away, burned
away, corroded away, from the inside, the weakness will show up by tending
to collapse under the power of the squeeze. Don't over do it. You should be
able to feel it when it starts to give. Good metal won't give.
Luck,
John Rodgers
'88 GL Driver in Alabama
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Sunday, 22-Nov-98 09:10 PM
From: YauMan Chan \ Internet: (yauman@cchem.berkeley.edu)
To: Vanagon \ Internet: (vanagon@vanagon.com)
Subject: My Vanagon: Trouble in Paradise ?
This weekend, I did my annual major tune up on my 87 GL. (I'm the original
owner with 135000 "original" miles!) In addition to all the standard items
like oil filter, air filter, rotor, dist, spark plug etc, I also replaced
all my belts and the spark plug wires. I realized that the wires and all 3
belts were originals - I guess with 11 years and 135K miles, I got my
money's worth. Ordered all my tune-up stuff, belts and wires from Bus Depot
. This is the first time I used their web site and online order.. worked
out quite well.. total came to less than $150. Use their EFT and took only a
week for the shipment with no special shipping requested. All high quality
stuff.. Mann filters, Bosche electrical all the way and Continetal belts.
Only disappointment was the spark plugs were not platinum.. but I didn't ask
! I refilled with 10W30 Mobil One.. No leaks. I have, however, 3 potential
problems and I am soliciting advise and comments.
Problem A. Cylinder compesssion reads 1-115, 2-150, 3-135, 4-155. This wide
margin between cyl. 1 at 115psi and cyl 4 at 155psi seem too much. Is this
considered within the norm for this engine? I somehow remembers that 10%
deviation among cylinders is the limit of tolerance. 115psi to 155psi
spread is way high imho or am I just paranoid?
Problem B. When I took the timing reading, I notice that the timing marker
at idle wobbles + or - at least 3 degrees. With the idle speed rock solid,
the timing mark jumps around. Am I looking at potential problems? Is my
distributor gears wearing out? Or my distrib. advance mechanism going spooky
? I did not remember this happening in my last turn up.
Problem C. The exhaust system is a mess.. lots and lots of pin holes in the
muffler, cross flow pipes etc.. Again, these are all original. Is there
some acid built up on the fuel combustion that is pickling the exhaust
system? It has never failed a smog test yet. I guess my next big purchase
will be the whole exhaust. In my past experience with my Audi and Rabbits,
only the muffler fails.. usually the ends & flanges rust off. This van has
always been in California and thus never been salted. Any ideas what's
causing all the pin holes. MTBE?
As usually, all suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Yau-Man Chan
87 GL
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
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