it's an old engine design that requires regular servicing....replacement service parts are poor quality...it's a viscious cycle structurally and mechanically, they're good at what they were designed to do, which is lug parcels around...electrical gremlins due to corroded terminals and old wiring are common...engine wise, it's down to good routine maintenance, but you have to accept that unlike a Honda Vtec, which can easily knock on for over 300K with a couple of cam belt changes and good synthetic oil, an old aircooled engine would need to be rebuilt a couple of times to achieve similar mileage....it's down to design and materials technology
Gawd yes, Have you seen the idiotic place they've put the oil filler? I didn't put any into my first three engines because I couldn't work out how to get the can up and over the nozzle thing. But now, I've got this little chap. He nips out, buys oil. 'Only the very best for my Bernie,' he always says. And he tops me up reglar.
Don't all laugh at once but I did this to my beetle 20 years ago, fully Synthetic sounded much better than boring old GTX, In fairness before the engine seized up the big end was knocking a fair bit (as in for a few weeks before). My tip would be to know the sound/smell/feel of your van and investigate anything strange, even if you don't think you know a huge amount it doesn't take a genius to open the engine lid an realise its over heating etc.
You put oil in your engine? That is so 1970's! Fek man have you not embraced the modern age even Macdonalds use their lard fat to power their lorries! Dont bother with oil just top it up with cold tea or coffee left overs? Recycle , save the Earths resources maaan , keep your Dub alive dude! Carrot or potato peelings are perfect for rocker cover and carb gaskets and the iron oxide that falls off is ideal compost for the garden! Ok I cant keep this up anymore! Sorry
Going to LeMans in mine in June, I've only driven it a total of 5 miles so far and that was over three different trips. I really needs to get some miles on it.
We have booked with travel destinations, the camp site is on the Porsche curves. We are traveling out on the Thursday back Monday morning on the eurotunnel. Me, sharpie on here and another friend of ours... 3 other mates are camping with us but they are going down in their lotus... Really looking forward to it. What about you?
Going weds back tues, Portsmouth Caen , Blu Sud campsite with Speed Chills so probably not far from you, going in this though
