Where Do The Horses Go?

[flipperthebushkangaroo 2]

After reading various how to upgrade my 205 topics i was wondering where have all the horses gone? It had loads when it was new but i'd put money on a fair few having escaped over the last 21 years/ 160 000 miles.

 

So the main question is what bits wear or whatever to lose the power over time? and what can i do (easily) to get some back. don't really want to start stripping engines and the like but would like it back to standard.

 

And as a lecky i'm curious of these mechanical mysteries.

 

Thanks for your advice in advance

 

Roddie

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

It will be a combination of many worn parts adding up to take away a few of the dobbins.

 

If you look at the engine, piston rings will be worn, liners will be worn, this will reduce compression slightly. Cylinder head, valve guides worn allowing small amounts of oil down which contaminates the fuel octane. Cam followers and lobes worn meaning less valve lift.

 

All of these things are minor in their own right, possibly some of them not measurable. However they all add up. If you then add all the injection stuff, throttle body, air flow meter, distributor, that is worn, it all adds up.

[welshpug 1,666]

Though that's not to say a well serviced and maintained engine would still perform well, my 1.9 still makes book bhp+torque on the RR and drives nicely and it has 144k on the clock.

 

It is running a totally electronic management system so not relying one bit on an AFM or Mechanical Dizzy, though that's not to say if you spend enough on the original Jetronic it'll still work (though I'd not bother! find a second hand DTA ecui or something!)

[Anthony 1,003]

Also don't forget that some engines were missing ponies when they left the factory thanks to tolerances stacking up the wrong way, poorly cast/machined heads etc

 

Retarding the ignition to run on standard unleaded doesn't subjectively seem to help whatsoever either, especially on 1.9 (non-CAT) GTi's

 

Certainly all the factors mentioned in this and the other posts above, together with the differing amount of care/neglect/abuse different engines have recieved over 20+ years means that today the difference between a good, average, and poor engine is huge.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

As said if looked after it will keep the old HP's, my 306 with now 275k on it makes above book power even when others where moaning the RR was reading low

[flipperthebushkangaroo 2]

Thanks gents for your prompt and informative replys as ever. So are there any quick checks i should do while the engine is out? water pump and cam belt changed a couple of thousand miles ago.

 

Roddie