Testimonies to the virtues of the Diesel Westfalia
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 17:00:28 -0500 (EST)
From: James N Gagliardi
People have been talking a lot about 5 cylinder vanagons previously
about diesel to gas conversions. I think people have missed the boat.
I think A gas to Diesel conversion would make much more sense. Does
anyone know how long of an engine will fit an the Vanagon engine bay. I
have an 81 audi 5000 diesel which is slowly rusting away. If I could
only find a vanagon to stuff it into. Diesel vanagons are too slow for
some people, but I think a 65hp 5 cylinder would make a big difference.
Diesels are more fun. Below zero winter mornings aren't any fun with a
gasoline powered automobile. Getting to buy fuel next to 18 wheelers
has a certain romantic appeal. Slow speeds let you enjoy scenery more.
You can always use Kerosene/Heating Oil in a pinch. Diesels also have
lots of secret features.
- Diesel cars don't explode as easily.
- If you get bored you can turn on the smoke screen feature by
retiming your injector pump.
- Fuel injection is 100% mechanical so you can repipe the intake and
exhaust and drive in up to 3 feet of water without risk of flooding your
distributor. (CAUTION, in high compression diesel engines, water in
the intake is bad...).
- Glow Plugs.
- Free oil slick in your driveway.
etc...
Cheap Insurance? -- Smoke neighbour
On Fri, 31 Mar 1995, Susan & James Kramer wrote:
After the 5 minute acceleration lead-up, at what speed can the Diesel
Vanagon cruise comfortably on level highway?
With the 4 speed, non-turbo, non-westy diesel, around 62 mi./hr. is a
good cruising speed, although I guess it depends on your definition of
comfort. The engine is pretty busy at that speed. Of course, if you
have a headwind, sidewind, or any kind of climbing, even that speed may
be impossible. Top speed is 65 mph, and I don't think the engine is
affected by driving that speed continuously.
Mike
> 3) What are people's actual experiences with mileage around town and on the
> highway?
I got 26 to 27.5 miles per gallon (US) in city or highway driving. It
never varied from that range.
My (Martin's) answers:
On Fri, 31 Mar 1995, Susan & James Kramer wrote:
>
> Recognising that those early 80s Vanagon Westfalia's have been politely
> described as underpowered, I'm curious to know just how woeful the little
> Rabbit engine is pushing all that weight:
> 1) How long does the engine last, or better phrased, how much shorter is
> the life expectancy than in a Rabbit?
The previous owner of my 82 Westy had the engine rebuilt at 70k miles,
It's still doing fine at 115k now. Saw a claim in the "most miles"
thread on r.a.vw recently claiming 170k miles on a diesel vanagon.
> 2) After the 5 minute acceleration lead-up, at what speed can the Diesel
> Vanagon cruise comfortably on level highway?
55-60 is nice and reasonably quiet when it's level. Uphill is noisy.
VW allows you to modify the injection pump settings for improved
performance (see Bentley's vw golf-jetta diesel manual), but I haven't
had a need to do this.
> 3) What are people's actual experiences with mileage around town and on the
> highway?
I usually get at least 26 mpg mixed driving, 30 mpg highway, and up to
33 mpg doing "scenic cruising" (driving nice country roads in 40-50 mph).
On Fri, 31 Mar 1995 James N Gagliardi wrote:
> 3. Fuel injection is 100% mechanical so you can repipe the intake and
> exhaust and drive in up to 3 feet of water without risk of flooding your
> distributor. (CAUTION, in high compression diesel engines, water in
> the intake is bad...).
Too bad there isn't a mechanical override for the fuel shutoff solenoid.
Then it could be pushed to a start with a completely dead battery.
> 4. Glow Plugs.
Well, I guess I forgot about these. My engine doesn't want to start
at all without them (Rochester temperatures).
> 5. Free oil slick in your driveway.
With synthetic oil mine leaks a bit also. Haven't tracked down the
source of the leak yet. Used to curse the previous owner of my house
for the permanent oil stains on my driveway, until I discovered I
was replenishing myself...
I used to drive heavy trucks and busses for college money, and came to
like the big diesels in these. Now living off a graduate stipend I find that
my diesel VW Westfalia camper gives me a lot of vacation pleasure per $, both
invested and spent on fuel.
The vw-diesel doesn't have a good quality reputation compared to "real"
diesels, but that's true of other diesels built from gas engine blocks as well.
(Old's attempt comes to mind). Compared to a gas engine it seems
to give give it's owners many (trouble free?) miles though.
For the grad student low budget, big diesel wannabee it may be the best
option.
If you shiver at the thought of propelling nearly 2 (metric) tons of bus
with only 50 hp, I'll comfort you that the typical buss or (loaded)
truck has significantly fewer hp/ton (typically maybe half that).
The trick is to keep your momentum. If you don't have it starting
going uphill it's too late to accelerate. With only four gears
there won't be a suitable one for every combination of initial speed
and grade. Yet they don't have problems travelling about the same distance as
a car in a day.
/Martin
Vanogan vs. Type II
Hey folks! I am contemplating the purchase of a "bus-like" vehicle in
the next year or so,
I've owned two type IIs...loved them both, but my '82 Vanagon
Westphalia DIESEL (!) beats them all. Very slow, but reliable. at 132k,
finally had to rebuild it. (900 bucks, including labor!!) It could use
an extra 20 hp, no doubt...but 24 mpg around town and 28-30 on the
highway and in the mountains ain't bad. Better handling, creature
comforts, and heater than the type 2....Some parts are more expensive and
tougher to get on the aftermarket...but it's nice not to have to deal
with dropped valves and the like any longer. Just an opinion gang!
Hope this helps
Bill Protzek,
Medford, OR
Diesel Rabbits (a little lengthy)
Stephen Neely wrote:
I am here to ask about VW Rabbits that are diesels. I am looking at
one to buy and I wondered if you tell me anything about them? I know
nothing about DIESEL and I'm wondering whether I should get this one,.
What are the pros and cons of them?
Well, on the whole, diesel rabbits are GREAT cars. They can get
almost 50 mpg, they're very reliable, and the engines last forever. If
you want basics about diesels, here's a few little facts. 1) If you're
used to gas cars, you'll notice that acceleration is a little more
sluggish in a diesel (unless it's a turbo). 2) The upside of #1 is that
you have more torque to pull loads, especially at low RPM's. 3) They
have a really cool characteristic engine sound :)
As for looking at one specifically, there are a few things to
check. I've noticed that older ones have worn engine mounts (or
something like that) and this makes them rattle REAL bad. Not all of
them do. Also, as the owner if he has had an oil baffle installed under
the valve cover. This was a fix that VW came up with when there were
problems with diesels "running away". Basically what happens is oil gets
sucked up from the valve area, though the air cleaner, and back into the
engine so that after you turn the car off, it keeps running on oil. Had
it happen. It's funny in retrospect, but it sucked at the time. So
anyway, that's a good thing to check.
But they are reliable on the whole, and you if you can find a
good VW mechanic in your area, you should have the car looked over before
you buy it. This will only cost $30 or so, and it can save you a lot later.
Hope this helps...
-Jeff Gunn
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 22:47:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Christopher Diehl
To: STF2.8@eworld.com
Cc: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Diesels
Message-ID:
The V.W. Diesel engine is one of the strongest engines ever made,
as long as you follow some simple rules, oil changes, oil changes,
oil changes, and a few timing belt changes in between. As with all
diesels they have very good tork, but I wouldn't buy an accurate
watch to guage those long trips with. The performance would be
compairable with the 1600 cc. air cooled. I have been looking for a
good used diesel camper for a few years, but they are few and far
between. Somebody knows a good thing when they see it. I own a 81
Jetta Diesel with close to 400,000 miles on it and it still gets 45
m.p.g.'s Can't afford to get rid of it.
Tue, 12 Sep
1995 STF2.8@eworld.com wrote:
> Does anyone out there have a diesel vanagon/westy. Was wondering what people
> thought of these. What was the first and last year that these were produced
> and what are their particular strengths adn weaknesses.
>
> Thanks
> STF2.8
> 81 Westy
> 75 beater Bug
Article 869 of rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled:
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
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From: cn992@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Dent Harrison)
Subject: Re: Questions re Turbo Diesel
Message-ID:
Sender: cn992@freenet2.carleton.ca (Dent Harrison)
Reply-To: cn992@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Dent Harrison)
Organization: The National Capital FreeNet
References: <43skc9$8kj@pacific.pacific.net>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 11:39:41 GMT
Lines: 78
Nicholas Wilson (nwilson@mcn.org) writes:
> I'm considering buying an '85 Jetta turbo-diesel, 5 spd.
>
> Seeking words of wisdom and experience re the following questions:
>
> Any problems common to this model or to the turbo-diesel in general?
>
1. Depends on the milage and the care the car has received. A ten year old
Volkswagen can range from excellent to awfull. It all depends on who owned
the car.
> How do the turbochargers hold up?
>
2. Fine. The turbo is an integral part of a diesel, and is designed to last
the life of the engine, and will if two conditions are met: Air cleaners are
changed at proper intervals, and only VW oil filters, and the highest
quality oil (and proper viscosity) are used and changed religiously.
> Are parts available?
3. From VW, propably for a little while. Aftermarket should be no
problem.
>
> If the turbo fails, will the engine still run?
>
4. See (2) above. Yes the engine will run, but very poorly since the
fuel pump is designed for the turbo. A failed turbo is very expensive, and is
an indication that the engine is probably blown as well.
> Is there a significant boost in power using the turbo?
>
5. The naturally aspirated diesel is rated at 55hp, the turbo at 68hp, at
least for 1988 models and up. In practical driving, it makes very little
difference though, and the N/A diesel is easier to maintain.
> What is the normal fuel miles per gallon with the turbo?
>
6. A well maintained car, properly timed and calibrated fuel pump and
injectors, will get 60+mpg (imperial gallon - 4.54 litres), no matter how
old the car. This is an easy way to determine the general health of the car.
There is no significant difference between the economies of a turbo and
non turbo under normal conditions.
> What is this model worth?
>
7. Depends on the milage and the condition, but not very much.
You'd be better of with something post 1988 if you can afford it. The
car was improved continuously, with the elimantion of spacers on the valves,
better fuel filtration and water separation (Canada only) and changes to the
fuel pump timing mechanisms. Be very wary of anyone telling you that diesels
will run forever. They do not. The fastest way to kill an engine, any engine
is to drive it hard. A diesel is no more robust than any other under these
conditions, just more efficient.
Good luck.
Dent.
Current fleet on the road right now (and owned since new except the Benz):
1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D Diesel, 400,000 km
1988 Jetta Diesel, 299,000 km
1988 Jetta Turbo-Diesel GL, 94,000 km
1990 Jetta Turbo-Diesel, 255,000 km
1991 Suburban 6.2L Diesel, 85,000 km
--
Dent Harrison, P.Eng.
Chelsea, Quebec, Canada
cn992@freenet.carleton.ca