I got 205, 000 miles on my 1.9 WBX in my '85 GL. Next van, an '88 GL, I
only got 89,000 on the 2.1 WBX in it before it blew. The replacement
engine,  which I am now running from new, has 160,000 on it and going
strong.  It's showing an oil pressure fault that appears to be a sensor
system malfunction rather than a problem with the engine. Hope to get
200,000 out of it.

John
On Nov 10, 2015 19:06, "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> You wouldn't notice any change due to fuel composition or lower
> temperature If the engine was at full power output. Palo Alto does not have
> low temps anyway, you are just trying to keep up with all the speeders ;-)
> (IIRC, radar use by the state patrol is prohibited in CA?). It's time to do
> a check on the engine condition. At a minimum, do a proper compression test
> and an oil analysis (www.blackstone-labs.com).
>
> The oil analysis will show bearing and cylinder/ring wear elements, plus
> any coolant, silicon, etc. in the oil. If the compression is low (should be
> 145 psi or so, each cylinder within 10%) then you can also do a leak-down
> test. Mine is 90-150-100-130. Oil squirt didn't bring them up, so it's
> leaky valves in three cylinders. But, it still keeps plugging along, and
> I'm not putting any (more) money into this engine, that's going into my
> Subaru conversion fund. If you are interested, I can send you my oil
> report, as well as one from my son's '87 which is in fine condition.
>
> Usually the WBX gives plenty of warning before it blows (like losing power
> or buzzing from low oil pressure), and this info will give you a good idea
> of the engine's condition. At 195k it's undoubtedly tired, but can probably
> go a lot farther.
>
> And do start that new engine fund--in a few years you might just have
> enough!
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Michael Hart
> Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 1:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Power & MPG Summer/Winter
>
> Over the past ~3 weeks I've noticed a slight drop in power & mpg for my
> Westy (what power you may ask?). Specifically it feels like i'm fighting a
> headwind on the freeway at 50 - 60 mph.
> Searching for answers and hoping it is not a real engine problem (this 2WD
> Westy has 195k on the original engine), I followed a hunch on gasoline
> formulations & found the following;
> - the winter gasoline formulation for California has an average of 1.7%
> lower energy content (vs. summer) - due to added butane
> - the changeover date is Oct 31st (most stations switch over a little
> earlier)
> - other factors that affect fuel economy include air temperature (the
> daytime temperatures have dropped significantly over the past two weeks
> here)
>
> http://www.afdc.energy.gov/pdfs/2876.pdf
>
> Having read all this I am less worried that the engine is on it's last
> legs (I still have no really good excuse to spend large $$ on a new
> engine...)
> --
> Mike Hart
> Palo Alto, CA (SF Bay Area)
> 1987 2WD White Westfalia GL 'T3Westy'
>