Good day to you all.
I wish to demystify the Vanagon reliability. (In that case, more specifically the 1.9-2.1 water-cooled engine)
First we are running 10-20 years old vehicles!!! That says it all! In the 90' (and still today) most manufacturer where making car and truck so they could last for about 100.000 miles, no more… (I have my sources) so running a Westy across any country but especially in Americas (long distance) is no different from running a old 86' Honda or whatever. It' an old van and if not properly maintain, you're playing with fire.
I'm an amateur mechanic (maybe not so amateur anymore), I use to rebuilt "engine heads" on motorcycle (air & water cooled) as a hobby (still do sometime) and did over 25 cars, mostly Mazda, Honda & Toyota (4 cyl. Only) for friends (I have many friends now, strange!!!). I only do engine works and mostly "heads jobs!!!" (Gasket, seal, valves and cam). So don't tell me that the heads gasket problem on the 1.9 & 2.1 are VW's problems, it's a common 4 cyl problem from the 90', most of the car I done had their head gasket change (80%), they had about 60-100k miles (100-160k-km). This is not the case of a typical type of driving/driver, all where different drivers / type /condition/women/men/automatic/manual. This is somewhat a normal problem. The Vanagon Water-cooled is no exception. I would even say that it is superior, it is underpowered and it work harder than most small 4-cylinder car (specially the camper version). So for the size of its engine/ weight, it is a very RELIABLE engine. The only special thing about the van it' is cooling system, it' damn complicated for a 4 cyl engine, with so many cooling line, junction and bleeding system. Those need replacement and frequent check-up, and that is the problem!!! Most Westy owner are "non mechanic oriented" people, not to say that they only put gas and run the van. I have an 87 GL and running on original head (heads gasket change for precaution last year, old heads where in good condition) and I did 12.000 miles (+ another 10.000 fooling around) trip across Canada / USA in the last years and I had only minor electrical problem due to our salty road / corrosion here in Canada. Many corroded wire problem. I have to say that the PO (bought the van new) took good care of it, that the key "maintenance".
Note: I have seen many Japanese cars with damaged heads surfaces due to poor coolant mixture (or none in some case), even if the Westy heads gasket system is a bit different (not to say special) the damage head problem is not unique at all to the van. As an example, I just did a VW 89 Golf heads that was leaking for almost a year, the head was so damage that it had to be rebuilt.
Also, the fuel lines are flexible in a Westy compare to hard or intern one on a standard import 4 Cyl. car. That mean that they need to be CHANGE if they are still the original one, this is critical (not to say dangerous - fire hazard), especially the one over the engine, they are close to the exhaust system. (Hot exhaust and fuel don't mix well)
Note: how to check if the head gasket are due or need replacement soon, put your nail on to the outer black gasket, if it's hard like hell they will need replacement soon. They need to be somewhat soft.
Sorry for my poor English guys, trying my best.
Ben from Montreal, Canada
Note: For more advance technical information on the 86 and up (Digifan 2.1L engine) model, visit my personal web page. Including info & maintenance on a few important mechanical known problems. You can also see all different trips I did with the van and you will see that I am not the kind of guys that stay 100 miles around my house.
personal web page
Another note: We are "the city" of import 4 cyl. car in north America, so I know what I am talking about.
I wish to demystify the Vanagon reliability. (In that case, more specifically the 1.9-2.1 water-cooled engine)
First we are running 10-20 years old vehicles!!! That says it all! In the 90' (and still today) most manufacturer where making car and truck so they could last for about 100.000 miles, no more… (I have my sources) so running a Westy across any country but especially in Americas (long distance) is no different from running a old 86' Honda or whatever. It' an old van and if not properly maintain, you're playing with fire.
I'm an amateur mechanic (maybe not so amateur anymore), I use to rebuilt "engine heads" on motorcycle (air & water cooled) as a hobby (still do sometime) and did over 25 cars, mostly Mazda, Honda & Toyota (4 cyl. Only) for friends (I have many friends now, strange!!!). I only do engine works and mostly "heads jobs!!!" (Gasket, seal, valves and cam). So don't tell me that the heads gasket problem on the 1.9 & 2.1 are VW's problems, it's a common 4 cyl problem from the 90', most of the car I done had their head gasket change (80%), they had about 60-100k miles (100-160k-km). This is not the case of a typical type of driving/driver, all where different drivers / type /condition/women/men/automatic/manual. This is somewhat a normal problem. The Vanagon Water-cooled is no exception. I would even say that it is superior, it is underpowered and it work harder than most small 4-cylinder car (specially the camper version). So for the size of its engine/ weight, it is a very RELIABLE engine. The only special thing about the van it' is cooling system, it' damn complicated for a 4 cyl engine, with so many cooling line, junction and bleeding system. Those need replacement and frequent check-up, and that is the problem!!! Most Westy owner are "non mechanic oriented" people, not to say that they only put gas and run the van. I have an 87 GL and running on original head (heads gasket change for precaution last year, old heads where in good condition) and I did 12.000 miles (+ another 10.000 fooling around) trip across Canada / USA in the last years and I had only minor electrical problem due to our salty road / corrosion here in Canada. Many corroded wire problem. I have to say that the PO (bought the van new) took good care of it, that the key "maintenance".
Note: I have seen many Japanese cars with damaged heads surfaces due to poor coolant mixture (or none in some case), even if the Westy heads gasket system is a bit different (not to say special) the damage head problem is not unique at all to the van. As an example, I just did a VW 89 Golf heads that was leaking for almost a year, the head was so damage that it had to be rebuilt.
Also, the fuel lines are flexible in a Westy compare to hard or intern one on a standard import 4 Cyl. car. That mean that they need to be CHANGE if they are still the original one, this is critical (not to say dangerous - fire hazard), especially the one over the engine, they are close to the exhaust system. (Hot exhaust and fuel don't mix well)
Note: how to check if the head gasket are due or need replacement soon, put your nail on to the outer black gasket, if it's hard like hell they will need replacement soon. They need to be somewhat soft.
Sorry for my poor English guys, trying my best.
Ben from Montreal, Canada
Note: For more advance technical information on the 86 and up (Digifan 2.1L engine) model, visit my personal web page. Including info & maintenance on a few important mechanical known problems. You can also see all different trips I did with the van and you will see that I am not the kind of guys that stay 100 miles around my house.
personal web page
Another note: We are "the city" of import 4 cyl. car in north America, so I know what I am talking about.
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