mcmullen@convexs.UUCP (01/29/86)
/* Written 11:18 am Jan 24, 1986 by pwb@fritz.UUCP in convexs:net.auto */ /* ---------- "Re: Diesel-powered Cars - a questio" ---------- */ In article <1611@hound.UUCP> rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) writes: >[] >>...are the european diesels better? > >You bet they are. >In addition to mileage delivered, you can expect extended engine >life. The thing is, you can't just throw any old design together >and expect more than a GM disaster. Spend many years at it and >you, too, can design a VW diesel. > >-- > >"It's the thought, if any, that counts!" Dick Grantges hound!rfg The VW diesel engine was not designed as a `real' diesel, but is a conversion of the gasoline engine introduced with the Rabbit in the mid 70's (just as the early GM auto diesels were conversions). The European auto manufacturers that utilize diesel engines designed from the ground up as diesels (and distribute them in the U.S.) are Mecedes Benz, Peugot, and Volvo (I'm not sure about the new BMW diesel). These `real' diesel can deliver extremely long engine life provided they are cared for properly, though parts and labor tend to be VERY expensive. I owned a `78 diesel Rabbit for eight years and 150,000 miles. The rings started to allow substantial compression blowby at 80,000 miles. At 100,000 miles one cylinder lost its rings entirely. The engine was diligently maintained and cared for (I grew up on a farm ... I know how to care/maintain/rebuild diesel engines). When the earlier VW diesels developed substantial compression blowby, they tended to pick up oil from the overhead cam and blow it into the air intake (via the crankcase ventilation), causing a `runaway' (diesels can run on motor oil, imagine doing 65mph and accelerating down the freeway with your foot OFF the accelerator, at the head of a black cloud). This was enough of a problem that VW ordered a factory recall that inserted a baffle in the crankcase ventilator hose to slow down the air velocity (thus reducing the amount of oil picked up off the cam). Of course this didn't solve the real problem, it just caused the compression blowby to find an alternate route, like blowing the oil stick out. But it at least solved VW's lawsuit problem with VW diesel owners. If I ever get another diesel, it will be a `75 Mecedes Benz 240D. Phil Bonesteele FileNet Corp. Costa Mesa, CA {ucbvax,decvax,hplabs}!trwrb!felix!pwb /* End of text from convexs:net.auto */
mcmullen@convexs.UUCP (01/29/86)
/* Written 3:18 pm Jan 28, 1986 by mcmullen@convexs.UUCP in convexs:net.auto */ /* Written 11:18 am Jan 24, 1986 by pwb@fritz.UUCP in convexs:net.auto */ /* ---------- "Re: Diesel-powered Cars - a questio" ---------- */ I would like to add my zwei pfennig to this discussion: >The VW diesel engine was not designed as a `real' diesel, but is a >conversion of the gasoline engine introduced with the Rabbit in the I have heard from VW service people, that the orginal Wabbit L4 was designed to be used as either a diesel or gasser. The diesel is still the original 1600 cc (1597 actually) whereas the gasser has been increased to 1800. BTW there is a European 16 valve version that is currently being sold as the GTX Scirocco (sp?). Volvo diesels are actually 6 cylinder versions of the VW unit according to C&D. I have not seen this fact in any other publication, but find it interesting considering the reputation of Volvo-Penta diesels. Jim Mc Mullen Convex Computer Richardson, TX UUCP: allegra@convex