petrol engine expected mileage

[vanhatter]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a 1982 2L air cooled, although the mileage concerns me. The meter says 46K, but there isn't room on the dial for a sixth digit, so I think that it's probable that this 30 year old van has done 146K... So this brings a couple of questions to my mind:

1) I know that this sort of mileage on a diesel is usually nothing to worry about, but how do petrol engines fare?

2) If this high mileage spells bad news, should I avoid? Would a replacement with a recon be needed, or just certain components? Sorry, I'm not mechanically experienced, so I don't have a nose for what's likely to fail after that amount of mileage.

I had a bit of a drive in it, and nothing jumped out as worrisome (with my very limited experience). The current owner said that it doesn't tick-over so well, esp if warm, but looking at other threads it seems that the connectors to the starter-motor just need a bit of a clean.

Any help, advice, direction would be great.

Thanks,
Andy

P.S a history check says that it's only done 300 miles since 2009, if this is typical (big "if") usage over the vans life-span (check revealed 10 owners), then is it so infeasible to have 46K mileage? [Holding out a bit of hope... ]

[Mocki]

Hi
146k isnt bad news. It means one of afew things....
either its already had a rebuild, had a completely different engine, its been looked after or its going to keep on going .
either way, i know of aircooleds that went over double that .

what you should be bothering about is the body .Engines are not a problem, bodywork, unless you are a welder, have lots of time for laying under it rather than driving it , or are financially too well off will zap your wallet.

By the way, the starter motor connection wont have anything to do with its tickover.

[Nij]

My watercooled 1.9 petrol has almost covered 151k miles on origional engine and it is still pulling VERY strongly. I know the previous owner looked after it (no expense spared kinda thing) - seams like he replaced the tyres as a set, oil change every 3000 miles etc..........

As said, bodywork is more important, but if you can see the seller has looked after it (matching tyres, clean oil (ask when oil/coolant etc changes have been done) and if they are genuine and looked after it they will happily tell you.

[kevtherev]

BODYWORK

the rest is nuts and bolts

[vanhatter]

Thanks for the replies all, it's good to know that high mileage on a petrol isn't necessarily a problem! Good point about asking about oil changes etc to get an idea how well it has been looked after

As you've all said, bodywork should always be the priority, I was just trying to get an idea for likely costs / work required post-purchase.

Cheers!

[vanhatter]

By the way, the starter motor connection wont have anything to do with its tickover.

Just out of interest, what do you think would be the issue with the tickover then?

[kevtherev]

I think you need to be more specific as to what the tick over problem is
my crystal ball is on the blink..

one other thing that sprngs to mind as its air cooled you are prepared for this fact I trust?

[vanhatter]

The van is now sold to someone else - the search continues!

er, here I reveal some more of my ignorance. It would try to stall every so often if you didn't keep the revs up, esp if warm.

What were you thinking of regarding air-cooled? I guess they're less reliable? https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... r#p7685642" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers

[kevtherev]

Not at all just more basic that's all

No creature comforts in the winter with demisted windows and warm feet... unless it's been sorted out