Katherine Lee wrote: > After a few months of crazy work schedules, I'm happy to report that > I'm > now back on the VANAGON list. > > I first want to thank everyone who responded to my earlier posts > (around > May or June) about the oil-burning problem (my 89 Westfalia, around > 140,000 > KM, was going through about 1/2 L of 20W50 per tank of gas, oil > changes > didn't clear it up, compression checks were fine, and I was getting a > bit > flipped out). It turns out that I did indeed have to get the piston > rings > done (consistently fouled spark plug in cylinder #3 pointed to this > conclusion) ... and I took Kelly's very wise advice to go to German > Motor > Car in Port Moody, and now the van runs just beautifully. > Fortunately, the > catalytic converter managed to escape the harmful effects of the > burning > oil, so my repair was limited to the piston ring work (all 4) and a > piece > of rusted out exhaust pipe. German Motor Car's estimate was about 2/3 > of > the one I received from a VW dealer's shop, BTW. > > On another subject, one tire dealer who prefers Continentals on his > Vanagon, says Michelin LTX M/S tires will ride like bricks. I ignored > his > comment and bought them anyway(!) in preparation for an upcoming > trip. My > accumulated research (plus a bit of experience with a car I once had) > leads > me to believe the Michelins will last longer than most tires, and I > realize > this of course depends on one's driving habits. So, we will see ... > > Third subject: our holiday itinerary has yet to be finalized, but my > significant other and I are thinking about a trip fairly soon > (December-time, starting around the 11th or so), down the west side of > the > US (from Vancouver, BC to California). I think I may have gathered > some > odds and ends of people's stories about good places to drive, camp, > hike, > and so forth, but I would appreciate any tips and pointers to > publications, > etc., nonetheless. For instance, I am told that there is no real > coastal > driving in CA, and that one should head inland to the desert. Would > anyone > risk going into a place like Yosemite at this time of year (I have a > 2WD)? > > Thanks in advance for any and all tips, > > Katherine Lee Katherine Lee, Somebody wa pulling your leg when they told you that there's no real coastal driveing in cal. just get on H 1 and see for your self . Drive to Santa Cruz then go East to get a taste of Yosemite Have a good time. Mitchell Miller Cal. Surfer 84 Westy San Rafael Ca. |
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