[Vwdiesel] Air cooled gas VW's versus Diesel VW's

[Harmon Seaver]

   Don't know about the diesels, but I can attest to the type 4 engines being a
whole lot better than the earlier VW aircooled. I had one in my '81 vanagon, and
had another that I put in my '73 westy. Stronger crankcases, oil filter,
hydraulic lifters, better cooling -- but they still ran waaaay too hot in the
bus/vanagon. My oil temps would often go over 230F and head temps of 600F were
common. The van engine compartment turns into an oven when going slow or stopped
in traffic.
   Can't imagine myself ever buying an aircooled tractor. Although I do have an
10hp aircooled walkbehind tractor. 8-) Wish I chosen the diesel option when I
bought it 25 years ago. But maybe just the fact that the tractors are open to
the air rather than being closed in a box helps. 


On Tue, Apr 06, 2004 at 09:59:40PM -0400, LBaird119 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> > It's not even remotely debatable -- aircooled engines of any brand or type
> > simply don't last at all compared to watercooled.
> 
>  You might want to rethink that.  : )  My brother-in-law used to work on 
> combines.  Deutz-Allis air cooled diesels.  If they break down and don't 
> last, farmers AIN'T gonna use em!  We have two air cooled diesel tractors. 
> One doesn't seem to be running quite right but it got a couple thousand 
> trouble free hours before anything but oil and filter changes.  The 
> Lamborghini is still going with a few thousand on it and AFIK the 
> engine is UNTOUCHED!  The water cooled tractors are in the same 
> range or a tad better but get more hours due to application.  VW 
> air cooled are a bit more problematic.  I put about 75K engine problem 
> free miles on my 914 and it had almost 100K on it when I got it.  Setting 
> valves, timing and dwell were critical to keeping it running perfectly but 
> other than rings and seals,  when I bought it, the engine was problem 
> free.  No loose head bolts etc.  Early 911 engines are notorious for 
> getting 200 to 300K miles before any major engine work.  The valve 
> adjusting isn't quite as big an issue on them either.
>   Water cooled is quieter.  :)
>      Loren
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel

-- 
Harmon Seaver	
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com
Hokay hey!