Another VANOS Questions....

[JohnnyGraphic]

Like I said, there won't be any 'symptoms', just a slow degradation of performance over time. If you drive a fresh ZHP and then an old one, you will notice a difference in low end response and the transition to the different cam timing wont be as smooth. At your mileage, I would bet that your seals are pretty bad. Mine were at 92k.

When you do your VCG, spend the extra $65 for the seals and do it. If you don't have a rattle, it may never happen. But, you could always do both just to be sure.

Johnny

[Crickett]

I'll throw in my $0.02 having just re-done my VANOS seals: I'd assume, like most others, that your VCG is original, as are your VANOS seals. The portions of my VCG at 92k that I could touch from the outside were fairly soft & pliant, but the parts on the inside of the valve cover were brittle as hell, especially the spark plug well gaskets. I didn't have any noticeable VANOS rattle, but bought the anti-rattle kit just in case. Beisan's walkthrough describes how to check your VANOS pistons for the axial play that the anti-rattle kit fixes; mine weren't audible, but had a decent bit of play. As for the VANOS seals, it's pretty much guaranteed that yours are plasticized, shrunken, & brittle.

In short, a VANOS seals, anti-rattle, & VCG job isn't a hard DIY, & certainly isn't one that's vital if you aren't experiencing any symptoms.

[kayger12]

Like I said, there won't be any 'symptoms', just a slow degradation of performance over time.

... unless they get really bad. Once they get really bad, you can get definite symptoms.

Surging at 3k is one that I had very noticeably on my 325.

My 325 would also stall with the AC on when starting from a stop. This was the symptom that led me to research causes... which is when I first learned what a vanos was and what my problem was.

That was at about 100k.

To your point, though, for most people who have vanos seals that are somewhere between new and terrible, there will not likely be any noticeable symptoms.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[danewilson77]

Aha...that is the one. Are the undersized spacers are those rings that come with the kit?

Yes. They are the anti-rattle kit. 2 rings. Double vanos.

[das boots]

Bravo Zulu to all. Now, I will have to keep my eyes and ears opened to any symptoms that you all specified. Oil leaks from VCG is very obvious. VANOS is what I will be pinging on....as DW's submariners would say..."One ping only."

[danewilson77]

Bravo Zulu to all. Now, I will have to keep my eyes and ears opened to any symptoms that you all specified. Oil leaks from VCG is very obvious. VANOS is what I will be pinging on....as DW's submariners would say..."One ping only."

Yup....



For you my friend.

[das boots]

Great find....That's where I got my screen name. Although I was referring to Capt. Marko Ramius from Red Oktober.

[danewilson77]

Great find....That's where I got my screen name. Although I was referring to Capt. Marko Ramius from Red Oktober.

Sweet.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[WOLFN8TR]

I would definitely do the Vanos anti rattle kit and seals when doing the VCG. When I hit 100K my VCG started leaking so I decided to do the plugs, gasket and the Vanos. You're half way there anyway when doing the VCG and plugs. I had the surge at 3,000 rpm's but NO rattle, the seals were very hard. For the money doing both is a no brainer. After doing the Vanos my ZHP runs like new!

FYI: When torquing the Vanos bolt that is reverse threads on the pistons make sure your torque wrench works on reverse threads, mine didn't. I almost snapped that bolt off.

[das boots]

Do you feel the surge at 3K when traveling at freeway speeds? Meaning when at 3K, there will be a RPM surge that jumps and settles down? Just needing to keep my eye on symptoms....I need to read again the VANOS DIY concerning the torque values of the bolts. I seem to not seeing that phase of torquing the bolts.