[T3] Heads are toast, rebuild time

[Brian Fye]

Way tooooooooooooooo rich!
 On Jan 29, 2014 9:17 PM, "Jacob Adam Schroeder" <jacob.schroeder at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Over the past 3 months (1050 miles), my average fuel economy has been about
> 17.79 mpg.
>
> On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, Jacob Adam Schroeder <
> jacob.schroeder at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 6:52 AM, Jim Adney <jadney at vwtype3.org
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jadney at vwtype3.org');>
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> It's hard to imagine what would cause all 4 exhaust valves to wear
> >> like this, but it's clearly something you need to get to the bottom
> >> of. Is your car FI or carbs? What year?
> >
> >
> > I am running the stock FI set up and it is a 1972.  I really do want to
> > get to the bottom of this and have been hesitant to keep driving it.  It
> > sounds great when running, but I don't like to see those clearances
> > tightening up.  Although, if I rebuild, I will not be reusing any of the
> > engine internals from my current engine, so maybe I should just keep
> > running it and see what happens.  Worst case is I'll be out the money to
> > tow it home after it swallows a valve.
> >
> > I don't plan on reusing any of the components because the case is
> > universal, as are the heads, and when I rebuild I'm thinking I'd rather
> > have my OG case/heads rebuilt.
> >
> > Either way, I'd want to get a
> >> really good idea of what kind of gas mileage you're getting. That
> >> might have a lot to do with it. If, for example, it's running really
> >> rich, you could be getting carbon buildup on the valves, which would
> >> make the clearance go away. The solution for that would probably not
> >> require removing the engine.
> >>
> >
> > I have my mileage log in my car (I left that one at home today), but I
> > believe by mileage has been hovering around 20 mpg and that is mostly
> > highway type driving.  Usually it is in the range of 18-20 mpg.  What is
> > "normal" for our cars?  The day-to-day driving I have been doing on this
> > engine is more highway driving than the engine has ever seen.  Before
> this
> > year (when I started driving it daily), it was mainly used by me in
> college
> > (~ 10 years ago) to run to the grocery/liquor store twice a week.
> >
> >
> >
> >> The lack of the foam seal on top of the oil cooler MIGHT (very small
> >> might) have some effect on both left side cylinders, but shouldn't
> >> have any effect on the right.
> >
> >
> > Jim, that is a good point.  After searching many many forum posts here
> and
> > on the Samba, it seems like most people notice tightening on one exhaust
> > valve (such as #3) rather than all of them in unison at the same pace.
> > That is what is concerning me.
> >
> > I have very nice foam pad replacements
> >> if you get to that. I'd want to check the thermostat linkage and the
> >> cooling ductwork; make sure everything is there, working, adjusted,
> >> and tight.
> >>
> >>
> > Thanks Jim, I will consider that if I get to that point.  I do not have
> > the thermostat linkage in place (the flaps are removed), but all the tin
> is
> > in place.  I had originally planned on pulling the engine to replace the
> > thermostat, linkage, and flaps (I have a complete set now), but if I'm
> > going to tear it down that far I might as well . . . you get the idea.
> >
> > Jacob
> >
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