Hey all,
OK, here's that separate post I promised about the troubles with my '81
Vanagon (air-cooled 2.0L).

First, the symptom:  it's running really really hot.  The oil temp has
no trouble reaching 250 on a warm day (and even on not-so-warm days) on
the highway (60 mph).  You can tell it's running hot, you can smell it.

What I've learned so far:  The first thing I learned is that I have a
compression problem.  While replacing the spark plugs I did a
compression check (on a warm engine) and got some nasty results.
Compression for 2, 3, and 4 is relatively fine, between 100-115 psi but
number 1 is way down at 70 psi.  This can account for some of the
overheating.  The trick is what's causing it?  I suspect it's not rings
since I'm not burning any oil and since the plug for #1 was not
oil-fouled.  It's probably valve-related -- maybe a dropped valve seat?
Burned valve?  Any guesses?

I also learned, while driving on the highway with both windows open that
my engine is pinging quite a bit!  I'm not sure if this is a result or
cause of the compression/heating problem, but it was pinging even under
a medium load.  I had already retarded the base timing to 4 degrees BTDC
from the stock spec of 7.5 BTDC but the pinging was still going.  So I
checked the total advance on my distributor and found it's advancing to
at least 38 degrees BTDC.  Does anyone know what the max. advance spec
is for the distributor on this particular Type 4 engine?  What can I do
about it?  I have a spare distributor that I plan to install to see if
that helps.  Is there anything about a distributor that would cause an
over-advancing condition?

I will probably need head(s) -- so if that is the case I guess AVP is
the way to go.  Ron, what's yer price?

Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated

Thanks!

Sean Bartnik
Johnson City, Tennessee
'81 Vanagon L Westfalia