[Gasification] SFC for De-rated EnginesWas:smallscalegasifiers for those that need them

[Peter Singfield]

The old Volk's diesels were "cheap" diesel engines for the common folks --
diesel cylinder heads slapped onto a gasoline engine block --

Precombustion chamber design -- a real "throw-back" --

These engines are not suitable for rebuilding -- they have no sleeves -- as
example. They were meant to run "one-time" -- 

Normally they get 200,000 miles and still stay "new" -- at 250,000 -- blow
back starts.

But as you mention -- many -- driven carefully -- do indeed run for over
400,000

Volk's in Germany stopped making these engines years back -- but Brazil
Volk's continued to produce them -- maybe they still do??

These engines are very suitable to 3rd world -- no turbos -- nothing
complicated -- 

In a Rabbit -- they will get 55 mpg town driving -- when in good shape --
and on highway will get 65 mpg -- at 60 to 70 mph. "Flat roads" -- or 55
mpg at 80 mph --

In my opinion -- the best car ever made for 3rd world conditions was the
original Volk's Rabbit diesel -- which was no longer produced after 1981.

They had heavy frame construction -- excellent suspension -- and a very
good small diesel engine.

I drove mine many times through back bush roads during rainy season that no
four wheel drive could ever go!!

To heavy -- to wide -- and to much dragging underneath.

I still run two Volk's Rabbits -- but both converted to gasoline engines --
a 1981 Rabbit -- and a 1981 Volk's Rabbit Pick-up -- a really rare bird.

Gave up on the diesels -- they all just got to old.

"'82 VW Vanagon Westphalia camper with a 1.6L diesel in it"

Is even more rare than the pick-up -- I have only seem one such -- ever!!
And it was made in Brazil!!

I would advise checking with Volk's Brazil for what a new 1.6 liter -- old
style -- diesel would cost -- and importing and installing that.

You should get 40 to 45 mpg easy at 55 mph with that rig??

Most fuel efficient house on wheels ever made!! And can go just about
anywhere -- no matter how rough the roads -- a genuine explorer's vehicle.

I had a collection of old diesels -- sold all to the Mennonites -- who
still use them -- running "derated" -- in small power plants.

I did not invent "derated" -- I observed derated operation here for many
years --- in larger engines -- then applied it to these smaller single
cylinder diesels.

Gee -- I never knew it was considered bad to do --- sorry folks!!!

You need to start a new campaign -- stop Mennonite framers here in Belize
from running large diesels "derated" - -because we know that is an "EVIL"
practice.

Further -- let's look around -- I am sure many other 3rd world countries
are doing this same.

Why do they do this??

Simple -- they are using very old and worn out diesel engines that can be
run for extended periods -- still -- but best only in derated mode.

Send the marines -- this evil practice must be put to an end!!

Sorry folks -- but when people start telling me something should not be
done -- can't be done -- when I have been observing it being done -- and
for so many years -- successfully -- I do indeed get weirded out!!

And start wondering just what in hell is going down???

Is it against the laws of your lands to run diesels derated -- or what?

Probably -- as maybe more bad stuff in the exhaust??


Peter



At 08:39 AM 7/2/2007 -0500, Harmon Seaver wrote:
>   Yup, I've got a nice old '82 VW Vanagon Westphalia camper with a 1.6L
>diesel in it. The speedometer has a red line at 55. I can drive at 60,
>much more than that it starts blowing oil out. I have to be careful on
>long uphills that I don't over rev it. And it's only got 113,000 miles
>on the engine. Those same engines in the smaller cars often go 450,000
>miles between overhauls. I really should do a ring and valve job on this
>one, but I've been looking for a good deal on a later 1.9TDI engine or
>even better one of the 2.5TDI's from South Africa.
>   It's amazing how disadvantaged we are here in the US for diesels --
>almost none of the car manufacturers have ever imported all those nice
>diesels they sell to the rest of the world. Even VW only ever gave us a
>couple of the many they've made. Almost seems like a conspiracy. 8-)
>
>
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