> In
> my experience with VW
> inline fours (in Golfs and Passats) their engines
> lasted about as long
> as a type 1 engine in a Beetle (or less), and they
> were pushing around a
> light weight, aerodynamic body.

my '87 golf has 181K on the original engine, i've seen
more 1.8L's than not make it *way* over 150K...
(seems better than the beetle if you ask me!)  in my
opinion, it's the fuel injection system that goes
before the engine does, and since the FI sys. is
fairly complicated (and expensive) folks don't want to
troubleshoot and fix them.  (not to mention a lot of
places *don'* know how to troubleshoot them.)  just my
.02.

> This causes me to
> wonder what the life
> expectancy is for an inline 4 in a Vanagon, or for a
> Subaru conversion,
> for that matter, since it is also an engine designed
> for a much lighter
> and more aerodynamic vehicle.

good point...  i'd guess they'll outlast most WBX
headgasket failures tho, and certainly outdistance the
diesel.

~j.

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