From: davol@zosmameiko.co.uk (David Wilson)
Subject: An Enigma 
Followup-To: rec.autos.vw
Organization: meiko
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 18:31:27 GMT

In 1986, I visited Canada with my wife and two small 
children. We arrived in Toronto where we had planned 
to buy a vehicle and to drive it across to Vancouver 
in the course of our holiday. 

We were fortunate with our very first enquiry. We found
a VW Vanagon (Westphalia) camper which looked in good 
condition and was priced about right for us. I can't 
remember too many details, but this was an automatic 
with a fuel injection 'computer'. 

We made a deal and drove the vehicle away (after engaging 
in some quaint local vehicle registration rituals). 
The former owner had said that she had not had any 
serious trouble with the vehicle but advised us not to 
use a recently launched brand of gasoline called 
'Esso no-trouble gasoline' as this had not suited the 
engine. The no-trouble gas was advertised as containing 
some additive which cleans your fuel injectors. 

Everything was fine until - like the foolish character 
of some fairy story - we forgot the wise woman's advise 
and filled up with some of this gas. The effect was 
peculiar. We drove on for several miles (hours?) until 
slowing for a road junction, the engine quietly died and 
would not start again. After waiting for the engine to 
cool down (half an hour or so) the engine started fine 
and we were on our way once more. 

Even after filling up several times with regular gas, 
this behaviour continued. We consulted several 
mechanics in the course of our long journey. Some were
VW professionals, others eager amateurs confident that 
they would soon have our problem solved. However on 
opening the engine compartment and seeing the 'computer' 
they all - without exception - rapidly backed off, 
though some did try various remedies - all without 
success. 

The only course of action which appeared to have any 
effect was changing the fuel filter - even though the 
old filter appeared fine (on visual inspection). 
Changing the filter appeared to make the problem go 
away - until (folly, upon folly) we filled up again 
with the no-trouble gas. This, as I recall, was at 
some remote gas station in the middle of nowhere and 
there was no alternative. 

Sure enough, the trouble started again, and once again 
it was changing the fuel filter which appeared to cure 
it. (You must appreciate that all of this is with the 
benefit of hindsight. Different people were trying all 
kinds of different cures. It was only towards the end 
of our trip that the pattern I have described began to 
emerge from the confusion). 

Well, we reached Vancouver after having suffered several
half-hour engine failures - some in places of spectacular 
beauty, where no one was bothered by the delay. At another 
time, we were about to pull into a specialist VW service 
centre, when the engine cut out in six-lanes of traffic. 
We waited out the customary period and drove into the 
garage. Of course the engine appeared to function 
perfectly and could not be persuaded to demonstrate its 
mysterious party trick. Another wait was spent at a remote 
crossroads in the middle of the prairie at dead of night
while the Aurora danced in the sky. 

We sold the vehicle at the end of our holiday. We dutifully 
passed on the necessary advice about avoiding the no-trouble 
gas and flew back to England having had a wonderful and 
unforgetable holiday. Last we heard was that the new owner 
of the vehicle was planning to ship it to Norway !! 

----------------------------------------------------------

As you may guess, I am not a VW expert, nor do I know very 
much about engines. I thought this might be an interesting 
topic for discussion. By this time the answer is no longer 
of any importance as far as my daily life is concerned.  

I will read any follow-up postings with great interest. 
It's a sobering thought to be able to place this humble 
offering at the feet of the world's VW technical elite. 

Of course you may prefer to reply by E-mail - though 
personally I am more interested in the lifetime of the topic 
as a news thread.

In tremulous anticipation, 

Dave Wilson              --              davol@uk.co.meiko

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Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw