><< Diesel engines will go 4-500,000 miles
> without a complete rebuild. >>
>
>???  500, 000 miles????
>
>come on, now...maybe a mack truck or something...

'78 Rabbit went to 350k and was totalled by a Mack truck actually, the
engine still ran smooth and "peppy" as it ever had.  The VW L4 diesel is
easily capable of 250-500k life without ever even pulling the head.  It is
also capable of dying in under 100k.

VW diesel (and most other) longetivity simply equals, oil changes (with a
real diesel 15W40), air filter changes (moronicly easy on a diesel), water
filter changes (real important), timing belt changes (though the first one
on the '78 went 150k and still looked fair), and probably now days the
regular use of Stadyne or whatever as a sulfur replacement.

I've seen lots of VW diesels with over 250k on the origional (I suppose)
engines at auction, in the yards, even have owned one '85 Jetta recently and
it had been poorly maintained by the look ($200 car)

John
janderson@iolinc.net