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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: rx7145 on May 01, 2007, 04:58:55 pm

Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 01, 2007, 04:58:55 pm
Hello,

I have run across a 91' (build date 11/90) Jetta 1.6L Diesel non-turbo. The car was ran out of oil by the previous owner. The engine seized until I "broke" it loose. It will start and run but not hold any oil pressure. I'm thinking new engine. I found a running engine in a junk yard out of a 86' with 89Kmi they want $625 shipped to me.

My question is: Should I mess with it? I drive 150mi round trip to work every day so I'm hoping to save money on gas.

Also will a 86' 1.6L be the same as a 91' 1.6L?

Give me some of your feed back. Thanks.

I posted some pictures here: http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=58910#58910
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: tylernt on May 01, 2007, 07:59:01 pm
The Mk2 Jetta ran from 1985 to 1991, so an '86 engine should be mostly the same as the '91. I say mostly, because VW did change little things year to year, particularly the alternator, A/C, and P/S brackets and belts. But since you will have both engines, you can swap stuff as required and it should work without too many headaches.

I got a junkyard TD engine for $300 since I had them pull the engine from the car, if I pulled it myself it would have been $150. Shipping is pretty darn expensive though and that's probably where most of that $625 cost comes from.

I would say fix it, but then I'm a diesel nut. If you're not into diesels so much, then the noise, smoke and vibration may annoy you after a while. But with 150mi/day you could probably learn to live with the 45MPG or better. :)
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 01, 2007, 08:07:17 pm
Thanks for the reply.  Without shipping the engine is $550. It's only being shipped 200mi.

I have always liked the idea of a Diesel. Sounds so cool to have a small Diesel in a car. I remember right after 911 I was in a long line of cars at the gas station and a TDI pulled right up to the Diesel pumps, filled his car and a couple of jugs and drove off. I thought that's cool!!
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: jtanguay on May 01, 2007, 08:31:45 pm
hehehe yea... i love having a diesel too!  so many people were at this one gas station.. i needed to fill my car... nobody using the diesel pump so i backed the jetta as close as i could get to the diesel pump, and then filled it up! i pretty much made my own spot...  hehe very funny seeing the look on peoples faces.  

i remember too someone stole someones spot, and this lady rammed this car with her car... man that woman was psycho! she drove away like a bat out of hell!!!  :lol:
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: houseofdiesel on May 03, 2007, 09:34:07 am
You are better off with a replacement motor, diesels that ran low on oil are very expensive to fix right-oil pump, all bearings (crank, rod, intermediate shaft), hopefully nothing is scored like crank or cam, ring set, all gaskets etc easily add up to over $500 plus machining work of a few hundred. Hard to find a machinist how actually knows how to put a vw diesel together right also...
If you get a used motor reseal and install a new timing belt and tensioner (change the head gasket, head bolts, all oil seals-well under $200) and then you know what you have. If the head or pistons have damage ship the engine right back...
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: vwmike on May 03, 2007, 12:21:30 pm
In all likelihood it's going to be well worth it to replace the engine in that Jetta. If the rest of the car is in decent shape and inexpensive you should count yourself lucky. You're also lucky to have found an engine with low miles. The only better thing I could think of would be to install a TD or a TDI but TD's are hard to find and TDI's can be a much more costly and a lot more work.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 04, 2007, 02:13:35 pm
Well the junk yard called and said that when they were running the engine (testing it) it overheated and there is oil in the coolent. Sooooo I'm still looking for a engine. CRAP!!
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: jtanguay on May 04, 2007, 02:28:15 pm
well hey at least they tested it for you... nothing worse than paying for a motor, installing it, and having oil in the coolant!!
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: burn_your_money on May 04, 2007, 06:30:48 pm
it is possible that it was just the oil cooler failling, or residue oil from a previous problem... but definitly not worth the risk
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 06, 2007, 05:06:19 pm
Quote from: burn_your_money
it is possible that it was just the oil cooler failling, or residue oil from a previous problem... but definitly not worth the risk


True, I'm going to call around tomorrow and see if I can find another engine. I also saw this place: http://www.vwdieselparts.com/ They would rebuild it for me. I don't have the $1600 right now but it is tempting...

Anyone know of a good engine near Columbus Ohio?
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: jtanguay on May 06, 2007, 05:38:22 pm
honestly, for all the headaches that you may encounter with an older diesel... a good rebuild would give you best economy, and super reliability! (provided the place rebuilding it knows what they are doing)
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rallydiesel on May 06, 2007, 05:42:55 pm
You may want to call this place:

http://www.partsplaceinc.com/

They are in Michigan and sell rebuilt VW diesel engines and parts.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 06, 2007, 08:14:18 pm
Quote from: rallydiesel
You may want to call this place:

http://www.partsplaceinc.com/

They are in Michigan and sell rebuilt VW diesel engines and parts.


Wow! That parts place has everything. I found a junkyard (online) that says they have a "great running diesel" from a 86' for $525. Don't know milage. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Thanks for thst web site.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: 935racer on May 06, 2007, 09:04:30 pm
I would personally spend the money and do a good rebuild, you will not regret that, you may regret that used engine if it calves in you in a few months...
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 06, 2007, 09:38:10 pm
Well the car has over 200Kmi on the body. I just hate to put 2k into the the car just to have it fall apart around the engine.

So how much would my car be worth if the engine is running? Ballpark.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: 935racer on May 06, 2007, 09:43:46 pm
Its only worth what someone will give oyu for it. Doesn't help much but I have seen mk2 jettas in great shape with rebuilt diesels sell for as low as $1000CAD up to $6000CAd in virtually the same shape. I don't know what they are worth in your area. One nice thing about vw's is that the engines are so easy to swap out, I can do a complete mk2 diesel engine swap from running to running in 6-7 hours without breaking a sweat.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 06, 2007, 11:37:59 pm
I just hate to borrow $$ just for a engine.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 07, 2007, 05:29:38 pm
Well I'm going to ebay a lot of stuff and see how much money I can raise.
 I'll let you guys know.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 08, 2007, 02:13:30 pm
Well I found two engines for sale. One is $675 runs good 90day warrenty. Engine has 160K mi on it.
Other is $500 one of the injectors needs heli coiled.  No warrenty. I do have a good head on my old engine but for $150 I think I might just get the complete one. Then I have a complete engine to rebuild.

Thoughts?
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: tylernt on May 08, 2007, 02:31:20 pm
Quote from: "rx7145"
Well I found two engines for sale. One is $675 runs good 90day warrenty. Engine has 160K mi on it.
Other is $500 one of the injectors needs heli coiled.  No warrenty. I do have a good head on my old engine but for $150 I think I might just get the complete one. Then I have a complete engine to rebuild.
If your head is the one run out of oil then you may need to have the cam bore line-bored (cam rides directly in the head, no bearings) and maybe a new cam too. Or it might be just fine, hard to say.

I would be leery of the injector helicoil. The injector bosses in the head are prone to breaking anyway, so there's not a lot of material there to hold an injector and a helicoil to torque without cracking.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 08, 2007, 03:18:59 pm
Thanks I'm not going to mess with that bad head then.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 09, 2007, 07:39:46 pm
OK I ordered the engine today. Should have it next week.

Right now I'm planing on changing the timeing belt, tensioner, engine seals and mabey clutch. Anything else?

Should I replace the Head gaskit and head bolts also?
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: tylernt on May 09, 2007, 07:45:15 pm
Quote from: "rx7145"
Right now I'm planing on changing the timeing belt, tensioner, engine seals and mabey clutch. Anything else?

Should I replace the Head gaskit and head bolts also?
If it's a good running engine, I see no reason to pull the head off.

I'd definitely replace the clutch and pressure plate and rear mainseal. I re-used my presure plate bolts but some say you should replace them.

And if there is no block heater installed, this would be a good time to add one while you have easy access to the back of the engine.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 09, 2007, 07:50:18 pm
Block heater, good idea.  Anything else?
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 09, 2007, 08:23:54 pm
OK thanks.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: burn_your_money on May 09, 2007, 08:28:31 pm
Injectors and glowplugs. If you remove the pump it will be much easier. Be careful when doing the injectors though
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: tylernt on May 09, 2007, 09:04:03 pm
Quote from: "burn_your_money"
Injectors and glowplugs. If you remove the pump it will be much easier. Be careful when doing the injectors though
If you don't have the dial gauge and adapters to time the pump, you may not want to disturb it.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: burn_your_money on May 09, 2007, 09:10:08 pm
Quote from: "tylernt"
If you don't have the dial gauge and adapters to time the pump, you may not want to disturb it.


That's true, but personally I'd want it timed anyways just to know what it is set at. There is a pretty big window for what a car will run at.
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: rx7145 on May 09, 2007, 09:14:56 pm
I'm going to buy the timeing tools. I'll need to change my TB about every year and haft.

Should I get new injectors or rebuilt ones?
Title: Replace engine or not? Newbe needs options.
Post by: tylernt on May 09, 2007, 10:39:21 pm
Quote from: "rx7145"
Should I get new injectors or rebuilt ones?
Rebuilt ones have the important bits, the nozzles, replaced with new parts. So unless new ones are almost as cheap as rebuilt, there shouldn't be much of a difference.