Volkswagen Bus by Richard Copping

Author:Richard Copping
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Consumer advice
Publisher: Veloce Publishing Ltd
Published: 2018-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

Putting the spare wheel away wet caused the well on this Bay to rust. Note the safety strap for securing the wheel.

Useful toolkit and spare bulb set for a Splittie.

Body jack and wheel wrench for a Bay stored in a vinyl bag under front passenger seat.

Jack and tool kit

The tool kit in a Bay is a simple collection of the basics and should be stored in a leatherette bag under the left front seat. While elsewhere we have advocated the jack’s use only in a dire emergency, it should, nevertheless, be present.

Mechanicals

Under the bonnet – general impression

Go to the back and lift the engine lid. Is it beautifully clean with everything in place? If the answer is yes, the chances are that it’s been well looked after. If you find it covered in oil, plus a black film on the inside of the engine lid, then it’s probably been thrashed. There’s even the possibility of a broken ring or burnt piston.

Although you should have made this check during the 15-minute evaluation, it’s worth repeating. With the engine switched off, grip the crankshaft pulley and rock it fore and aft. The movement should be barely perceptible (0.004in/0.01mm). More than this, and the engine has been through the wars and is probably in need of a rebuild.

Is the generator/cooling fan drive belt adjusted to the correct tension? If not, then chances are it’s been slipping, with a resulting loss of cooling air to the engine. This can have serious implications for an air-cooled engine, such as cracked cylinder heads, or cracked/broken pistons and rings. In recent years, there has been a tendency for owners to remove the thermostat and cooling control flaps from the bottom of the fan housing, in the mistaken belief that it will improve the cooling to the cylinders and heads. The angle of the flaps has been designed to direct most of the air to the hottest part of the engine, which is the cylinder head. The thermostat is there to allow the engine to warm up quickly to its most efficient temperature. To check if the thermostat is in place, look under the right-hand side of the engine between the crankcase and the heat exchanger or heater-box. On pre-1963 cars, the heater control will need to be in the off position, as this opens the rear flaps. On post-1963 cars, there’s a two-piece section of tinware that, with the aid of a torch, you must look above, to find the thermostat.

In the 15-minute evaluation reference has already been made to the importance of the engine bay seals, including those around the air hoses, which should also be in good condition to prevent the loss of cooling air, not to mention precious heating air.

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