Rolling road reports 75bhp on my 16v!!!

[Veedubgt18v]

have you thought about getting an exchanged engine? are usually readily available and not mega bucks either.

[Gambit]

what are the compression levels on it?

knackered rings = low compression + banjo'd timing & CO readings = lack of power

u dont even need optimax, a 16v will happily run on LRP (which is 97 RON)

as for the exhaust being stuffed with something, stand behind it while somebody rev's it hard, if its stuffed you'll here it weezing

S/S exhausts shouldnt make any real performance difference on 16v's unless its highly tuned, you'd be surprised how easy the std item breathes

[golfvr6]

LRP is super unleaded with a lead added.
K-jets don't like LRP apparently  
I agree with Gambit, something is missing, if all the above has been checked properly.

[protechdm]

The exhaust seems to be much more torquey at lower revs, exactly what the catalogue stated really. Just be careful with people in the back of car!!

As regards the engine itself, the compression was nothing other than exceptional, in fact when the head was replaced I saw there was hardly any lip on the cylinder bores. Plus, the crankcase ventilator pipe returns hardly any exhaust fumes from the crankcase to air intake.

But as you all say, it has to be something. Air intake, fuel intake or timing. Airflow meter & throttle body checked. Fuel meter being checked. Timing checked. Only parts left I suppose are fuel lines and HT leads/coil/earth straps etc ( in fact, where are the other earth straps? I know the one on the battery and the one on the N/S bonnet. )

The battery went flat once and the immobiliser LED on the dash takes about 20 secs to light up ( gets progressively brighter ) so is there some battery back-up that needs to be replaced? Think the alarm and/or immobiliser taps into the fuel pump relay circuit at some point.

On the humour side, a work associate asked if VW made a 1300 engine block that mated with a 16v DOHC head. Now that would explain it!!

[tinman]

what are the compression levels on it?

knackered rings = low compression + banjo'd timing & CO readings = lack of power

u dont even need optimax, a 16v will happily run on LRP (which is 97 RON)

as for the exhaust being stuffed with something, stand behind it while somebody rev's it hard, if its stuffed you'll here it weezing

S/S exhausts shouldnt make any real performance difference on 16v's unless its highly tuned, you'd be surprised how easy the std item breathes

I always thought the 16v was only to use leaded. Since mine got rebuilt, its been run on super unleaded only.

However, when i looked into this - i have no idea why it was ever using leaded in the first place. Cant remember what i found but it clearly stated it was an unleaded car in the first place.

Some of the symptoms you are describing are on my vavler as well. (not the power bit ahem - got plenty of that).

We're currently looking for an air leak.

Tin

[golfvr6]

k-jets never needed leaded fuel, they needed high octane fuel, min 98.
leaded fuel used to be 98 RON.

[mk1]

I know the rolling road said 75hp, but does the car feel down on power?.
Steve.

[protechdm]

Steve I really do not know!!

The problem is that the car has never run right so to make a gauge on how the car should "feel" is a hard one. I own a Boxster, the use of the 16v is for "Porsche unfriendly" driving like M25 long haul work runs, shopping and the like. I used to drive a cal-look 8v imported one which is an absolute animal - now in storage. So, to swap from 8v to Porsche to erratic 16v won't allow any form of comparison. Suppose what is needed is a true 16v to measure against. If you, or anyone else, lives in the vacinity of Chelmsford in Essex by all means I will gladly let you have a go in it.

Tin, the head was a pattern match from EuroCarParts - cannot remember the name of the company who makes the head ( Veng, Vege summat like that ) but it has hardened valve seats which allow the hotter burning and not suffer from the lack of lead lubricant. I would sympathise with a little loss of power from unleaded but only about 3-5%.

Me-thinks-we-all-get-together-when-this-oddity-is-solved-and-celebrate-with-some-strong-fizzy-pop.

[winstonb]

On the matter of Lead/unleaded petrol, unleaded petrol was introduced in Germany in the early 70's and the manufacturers desgined engines accordingly.  Therefore *NO* VW engine requires leaded fuel, but might need timing adjustments to account for the RON ratings.

[protechdm]

fuel meter came back from specialist with no faults.

Thats it, I'm stumped. A car that reads 75bhp and no diagnostic faults.

Anyone know a good arsonist willing to make a quick 20 notes?