Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 13:29:09 -0400
Reply-To: dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: 1000 mile rebuild recommendations?
In-Reply-To: <A4BBB9D1-5DAC-40BF-8259-19379C30C06C@xochi.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Frequent oil changes on rebuilt engines is helpful to get rid of the dirt and stuff that was not cleaned out or created during the rebuild. The larger stuff should have been handled by the filter anyway.
Valve adjustment is not nescasary unless they were miss adjusted to begin with. If set properly no adjustment is needed unless something fails. Hopefully, they weren't set with clearance.
Running with the O2 sensor disconnected is non sense. If you are seeing a 3 mpg improvement wit it connected, then you are running rich and if done long enough, you might as well the catalytic converter good bye. A hesitation on take off is a common Vanagon malady that may need troubleshooting, but disconecting the O2 sensor is not a fix. If the O2 sensor is working, the only adjustment is the idle bypass. The mixture screw on the air flow meter has no effect above idle. Any further adjustment is really tampering. As far as running rich being good for a rebuild, I fail to see how excess fuel washing off the oil or leaving some soot behind can be of any good.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Date: Thursday, August 3, 2006 12:05 pm
Subject: Re: 1000 mile rebuild recommendations?
> Thanks to all who responded.
>
> No, I didn't get any documents with the rebuild, other than a
> bill. :(
>
> It sounds like the consensus is, for 1000 miles, an oil change for
> sure, and valve lifter adjustment maybe (but perhaps only if they are
> noisy?).
>
> Second question: I've been running with the O2 sensor disconnected
> as per the installing mechanic's recommendation. I'm a little fuzzy
> on his reasoning, but I think it was a combination of the idea that
> running rich was good for a rebuild. With the O2 sensor connected it
> seemed to be running lean, and it wasn't worth adjusting the mixture
> since the piston rings etc. needed time to seat in anyway, so it was
> better to just run rich for 1000 miles and then adjust it later. Is
> this nuts or was the mechanic just b.s.-ing me?
>
> In any case, I'm at 1000 miles, so time to move on. If I leave the
> O2 sensor disconnected, the van runs great, but only gets about 14mpg
> on the highway and is probably laying waste to the environment.
> With it connected, it gets around 17-18, but has moments when it
> stumbles on acceleration. The O2 sensor is new.
>
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