What causes an air cooled VW engine to overheat?
Tight exhaust valves are never completely closed, which means they can allow unburned fuel into the exhaust system. This fuel becomes very hot and can lead to overheating. Most often this affects the compression in the cylinder and lead to loss of power.
Why would an air cooled engine overheat?
Too heavy a load on the engine, a too lean fuel/air mixture, ignition timing to far out or restricted air flow or cooling cowls missing or loose can all lead to an air cooled engine overheating.
How to set ignition timing on an air cooled VW?
Connect one lead of your test light to the number 1 spark plug wire on the distributor and the other to a solid ground. Start the engine and aim the timing light at the top of the crankshaft pulley. Rotate the distributor body until the appropriate mark on the crankshaft pulley is aligned with the crankcase seam. Tighten down the distributor clamp.
What causes a VW aircooled engine to detonate?
This engine can be prone to detonation, which can be aggravated by lean mixture and hot spots in the cylinder. I would check out timing as well. If that is not the issue, then I would be looking at the spark intensity (voltage) with a spark tester (that is adjustable to give voltage indications).
When was the first air cooled VW made?
First published in 1969, this classic manual of automotive repair equips VW owners with the knowledge to handle every situation they will come across with any air-cooled Volkswagen built through 1978, including Bugs, Karmann Ghias, vans, and campers. Easy to understand and fun to read information. For novice and veteran mechanics alike.
Why does my VW engine back fire when hot?
When it is warm it has no power you can barely pull away, it also back fires extremely bad while accelerating. The owner seems to think the engine has recently been rebuilt.