On Thu, 22 Jan 2004, John Connolly wrote:

> But all of this beats around the fact that gravity IS an issue, and is a
> prime contributor to the ovaling of VW cylinders in the Flat-4 engine. If it
> wasn't an issue, then the cylinders would be round because of the offset
> wrist pin, RIGHT?

Don't cylinders wear oval even on upright inline engines, because of the
force reaction from pushing against the connecting rod at an angle?  I'm
just not sure I'm convinced gravity is a significant force compared to
that one, but I'm not an expert.  I do know this side-to-side thrusting of
the pistons is a significant force in all engine layouts, having had an
inline engines with a piston slap problem. ;)

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon