I agree that all these things could be. Especially when you consider the
age of the engine. This is the 2nd engine life with those heads, which are
original German. I totalled up the miles on it and its 216,000 miles.  I
think that is pretty good life for one of these engines, especially given
the heads being the 2nd full run. I wish this didn't happen now, but I'm
satisfied with the life I got from it, especially given the $1700 it cost
me in the biginning. Time to move on.

On Oct 7, 2017 21:12, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> The combination of cracked heads and scuffed pistons indicate overheating,
> probably extended periods and/or multiple times. In particular cracked
> heads are a combination of overheating and then sudden cooling such as a
> cooling system not fully charged, with maintained pressure. When the system
> is not working properly parts get overheated and when suddenly hit with
> coolant they will distort or crack. Scuffed piston again indicate
> overheating but can also be from contamination (coolant) or pre-ignition.
>
> Overall this engine was killed with a combination of denial things were
> not right combined with incompetence at diagnosing and failure to take
> proper corrective actions.
>
> If the next step is a Subie conversion that should include addressing the
> support system failures that may have contributed to this one.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of John Rodgers
> Sent: Saturday, October 7, 2017 12:59 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: And so it ends!
>
> Wereas I was going to give my beloved '88 GL 2.1L Engine every chance, in
> the end I had to shoot it.
>
> The autopsy revealed scuffed pistons, extreme deposits on piston tops, one
> cylinder 1/2 full of coolant, and multiple cracks in each head. With all
> the main innards being  done for, with multiple cracks in the heads, and
> given the fact that there is now approx 210,000 miles on the engine and it
> is the 2nd rebuild that just gave up the ghost, it's time for a burial.Some
> parts recently replaced will be recycled, like distributor w/ hall sender,
> alternator, PS pump. Etc.   The case hasn't been split yet. Wont know what
> I'll find useful until I get there.
>