When it works, it works well. When it doesn't, it's an expensive, time consuming nightmare.  My son's van had a confluence of multiple problems, and to the system's credit, it accommodated many of them until it was overwhelmed. Maybe now that I have replaced everything it will be good for another 27 years.

Find that mechanic before you need him! http://roadhaus.com/shops.php. Only one shop is rated in Spokane; two "recommended" and one "not recommended" reviews.  Join the www.wetwesties.org group and I'm sure you will get other recommendations from folks in the Inland Empire. 

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 4:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Removing stuck O2 sensor

My 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile has 172K+ miles, 2.1 engine with  no modifications.  Paperwork I got when I bought it in 2009 showed long term reasonable maintenance.  I spent a few bucks on some things such as a new water pump.  Since then, Darrell Cook in Norman, Oklahoma has kept it up to desired standards.  It has run well throughout my ownership of it.  Any problems I have experienced with it have not related to how well the engine runs.

I recently moved to Spokane, WA.  I have not located a mechanic here, but it has not needed any work (it does need some bodywork due to a good citizen in a parking lot who chose not identify himself).  I did have to have it checked for emissions.  It passed with no requirements.  If that is a recommendation for digifant, then so be it.

mcneely

---- Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote: 
> I attended a VW campout recently and was quite heartened to hear a
> *very* nice sounding WBX 2.1 engine. Smooth and "right" sounding. No 
> idea how many miles on it etc. but the bus appeared to be quite well 
> maintained. However....
> 
> A bus can look nice but who knows what work has been done?
> 
> As a really rough estimate, anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 the stock (or 
> near to) engined buses I hear driving by at these campouts have lumpy 
> idles, and-or smell rich, etc. No judgements from me. Just a small 
> niche POV.
> 
> I've been meaning to check the valve adjustment on my 2.1  It idles 
> much better than it did when I got it but it's still not quite right 
> and can surge just off idle.
> 
> Neil.
> 
> On 2/2/15, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > ..... Idle on all the
> > WBXs I’ve seen has never been truly smooth.
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Neil n
> 
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
> 
> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
> 
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical 
> <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
> 
> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>

--
David McNeely