5 gallons of oil in your engine ??     I know the US gallon tends to be smaller than the Imperial gallon but not that much smaller.    I feel sure you meant to say quarts LOL   :-)       Steve

On Jan 18, 2014, at 10:04 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Every now and then I get a chuckle thinking back to the days when many now
> experts couldn't recognize or spell Vanagon. If there is one fault with the
> auto repair industry it is the number of folks that learned strictly on the
> job with very little in the way available to test or certify technicians. It
> is not just Vanagon owners that have trouble getting "competent" work
> performed. When I bought my motor home back in 2004 it took almost a year to
> get reliable headlights. I replaced the headlight switch myself. I had the
> dealer do the first valve adjustment. Ended up with a leaking valve cover
> gasket and that was a $400 plus job. Had dealer in Florida do an oil change
> once. They tried to charge me 11 gallons of Mobil Delvac 1. My engine only
> takes 5.  Had a customer bring me a Toyota with a "pinging" problem. Another
> shop replaced the head. Turned out it wasn't ping but piston slap. Common
> problem on these engines. Guy paid $3k for the head job and still really
> needed an engine. That was a fun court event. That shop ended up paying me
> to replace the engine. The fun goes on.
> 
> When things go wrong many want the quick fix. Adjustments never fix
> anything. All changes in operation revolve around something failing. As
> these vans are getting old we have to include the wiring as a common
> problem. But symptoms should always be diagnosed. Don't just "clean the
> grounds". Which ground? Is it the wire or the connector? Is where a bunch of
> connectors are tied together? Find the problem, then fix. Don't just unplug
> the O2 sensor. What does it do? When is it looked at? You won't fix a no
> start with that one. If the input lead is shorted you won't know until you
> get the meter. In 25+ years and 150+ Vanagons I've changed 2 air flow
> meters. Both were opened and tampered with. They really don't go bad. Even
> if worn they really do so little the engine controls compensate if the O2
> system is working.
> 
> The vanagon engine control system really is an easy one. Just a few quirks
> with the O2 sensor but overall it works very well. Most often running
> problems turn out to be something past the controls. Bad valves, worn
> guides, rings, etc. will make more grief then the controls.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jim Felder
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 7:12 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Volksiebus - 88 Transporter - Rough Running Engine
> 
> Dennis, are you saying he ISN'T???
> 
> LOL I know I am! We have a great shop in town and they call me! Happened
> today.
> 
> Jim
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 5:11 PM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> 
>> Some of us are just waiting for you to go into the Vanagon repair
> business!
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of Steve Cotsford
>> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 1:17 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Volksiebus - 88 Transporter - Rough Running Engine
>> 
>> Seems like I can be amusing to some :-)   Glad to be of service LOL
> Enjoy
>> it while it lasts ;-)  Steve
>> 
>> On Jan 17, 2014, at 12:29 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> No end of challenging problems between you and Steve Cotsford and
>>> his Bluestar!  The list would be boring without you.
>>> 
>>> Is this the one you've replaced the distributor on? Revisit that
>>> first, wires second, injectors third. Stumbling under load is
>>> usually a spark or fuel problem.  I just had a similar problem and
>>> the coil secondary wire was badly corroded at the coil.  Clean and
>>> spray them all
>> with a little WD-40.
>>> 
>>> Stuart
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>> Behalf Of JRodgers
>>> Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 7:23 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Volksiebus - 88 Transporter - Rough Running Engine
>>> 
>>> Rough engine - the latest pita I'm having to deal with on a string
>>> of
>> many!!
>>> I'm on a roll!!
>>> 
>>> Ok - hot or cold - engine starts and idles well.
>>> 
>>> Conditions - ISV disconnected due to Idle issues
>>> O2 Sensor Disconnected to put ECU in default mode.
>>> 
>>> Cold engine: starts easily, idles easily, but upon attempted
>>> acceleration it bucks, kicks, snorts, hiccups, coughs - finally
>>> smoothing
>> out at speed.
>>> 
>>> Warm engine: starts easily, idles easily, but upon attempted
>>> acceleration it bucks, kicks, snorts, hiccups, coughs - finally
>>> smoothing
>> out at speed.
>>> Only the bucking isn't quite so bad. Occurs mostly on the initial
>>> acceleration after idling successful.
>>> 
>>> Suspicion: Throttle body switches out of limits and need adjusting.
>>> 
>>> Anyone have any ideas about this?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> John
>>