Ben,

Agreed.  A lot of people write in about how they run
their WBXers at like 75mph for hours.  My 2.1 with an
auto transmission revs at about 3600-3800 rpms just to
go 65mph.  It would be near the redline if I was
cruising at 75.  I never rev it over 3800 rpm.

Greg Stelz
86 van to westy conversion
Columbus, Ohio
---
Date:    Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:14:59 -0400
From:    Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: 1.9L exhaust system comments

I have over 200,000 miles on my 1.9L and usually rev
it up
 > near 5,000 RPM before each shift - and the previous
owner did same
and
 > cruised the highways of Kansas for hours at 4,500
RPM.

Mmmmmmm.... this engine simply doesn't like to run
over 4000rpm.
Over that, the power curve is gone.
Running an engine that way for that long is simple
luck.

I have own 17 motorcycles (mostly air cooled), 1 years
of racing in
formula
ford 1600 and I have 978 hours log as a private pilot,
mostly on Cessna
172, Arrows and twin cougar. I have learned with time
to feel and
understand an engine. Our airplane engine are
air-cooled opposed flat 4
very similar to the VW (I know some guys who fly kit
plane with VW
beetle
engine!!!!) and for those who don't know we have to
adjust mixture
(rich /
poor) on all plane depending of altitude, pressure and
other stuff.
Also on
some other plane the pitch of the blade and other more
complicated
stuff
most constantly be monitor or adjusted. We have
learned to manage
engine
for optimum performance, reliability and endurance.
(My life depend on
those old Continental / Lyncoming engine)

All that stuff to tell you that I don't like the noise
of this engine
(2.1)
over 4000 RPM, I would never cruise over 60mph or
3400rpm (consumption
wise
also). The vibration and roar it does at 4000+ rpm
doesn't sound right.
The
VW engine is a "Driver wanted" engine for real, or
should they say;
"Pilot
wanted". With good care & maintenance (put some good
oil and change it
often) and some wise gear change (Trany), there is no
reason that the
flat
4 would not last for well over 250k mile.

Sadly many VW Vanagon drivers don't know shit about
running an
underpowered
vehicle. They just press the gas pedal and put some
gas.
Underpowered vehicle need careful & understanding
drivers.

Lol, Ben
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm

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