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Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:31 am

I might be taking a job that will require 350 miles per week of highway travel. My Bus has always run fine and mechanically checks out top notch. Over the nearly 8 years I've owned it I've put less than 4,000 per year on it. The engine was new in '97. Do you think I'd be crazy to put that many miles per week on it? My friends think I am (they don't own VWs though). If I keep it tuned up and all it should be fine... right?

Wed Jan 22, 2003 1:32 am

Volkswagens were built for 1 purpose, to move people from point A to point B. So yeah drive the hell outta that bus man. Enjoy it. Keep the mechanicals up, change the oil and adust the valves regularly and you will get a great many thousands of miles out of it.

Wed Jan 22, 2003 9:40 am

Well put VWP! I used to drive my 71 Westy back and forth to work every day and up north every weekend, it was almost 800 miles a week! And I that was in Motor City traffic going back and forth from work! If I could drive that much so can you.
Your friends don't know crap! What do they think the millions and millions of aircooled VW owners did back in the 50's 60's and 70's? drive a GM to work and keep the VW in the garage? Hell no! People did not buy them just for fun they bought them to drive!

Wed Jan 22, 2003 9:41 am

opps "And I was in motor city traffic"

Wed Jan 22, 2003 10:37 am

Thanks. I knew the answer before but I feel better hearing it from others. So when you were putting 800 per week on your Bus were you adjusting the valves every 4 to 6 weeks?

Wed Jan 22, 2003 2:19 pm

I would check them about that much, but I did not always have to adjust them every time. If they are within specs no need to adjust. I was always surprized how long they would stay in spec. You can sense when they need adjustment after driving it everyday for a long period of time.
the more you drive your vehicle the better, and a longer trip to work on the highway is much better for your bus than a short city driving type of commute. It is good to get any vehicle up to operating temp every day than to sit cold and look pretty.

Thu Jan 23, 2003 5:16 pm

My buddy puts close to 500 a week on his 69 Westy and its been 2 1/2 years at this job...he says he can "hear" when he needs to adjust the valves. The only problem he has run into so far was a slipping fan belt.