I've been reading "how to keep your volkswagen alive" and was wondering how hard it is to service a 2ltr kombi engine yourself. I'm not a mechanic and i'm still kinda learning where everything goes but it seems pretty simple. Is it worth trying or after buying air filters/oil filters/spark plugs/rotor buttons etc, should i just pay the little bit extra and get a professional to do it?

I do the routine servicing myself and get a mechanic to do anything heavy duty, e.g. suspension, brakes etc. as I don't have the equipmentor knowhow for it.

I take some satisfaction from doing the routine servicing work, and it keeps me au fait with overall condition of the truck.

If you allow adequate time for it, a full service (oil change and filter, air filter service or replacement, splugs, points) can be done at the roadside without needing any special tools, other than having the right allen key for the oil drain plug.

Take your time, don't force or over-torque anything and the labour cost you save on your first service will pay for the oil-drain pan, allen key, oil-fill funnel and spark-plug socket you might need to buy, assuming you've got a basic auto tool set and a manual; you'll then need to dispose of the waste oil for a fee through you friendly local full-service petrol station. In the long term you'll become much more familiar with the health of your engine, which is the real motivator to do it.

hth

I think it is a matter of heart

If you are not goint to put your heqart in it and do it properly and have a tantrum when you get it wrong - then you are better off paying some one else to do it.

You WILL do things wrong and they WILL stop you.
But you WILL learn from these things and do it better the next time.

Not having a go - just pointing out it does take some love and effort.
that is why mechanics charge for there work. It is not JUST time but knowledge.

To great sites to help you are

http://www.vw-resource.com/ 

and

http://www.type2.com/ 

Just ask questions and happy learning

Barry

do it---- nobody is more infatuated with your ride than you,, take your time and learn and read the books before you start nothing is too difficult (other than the gearbox) gather the tools as you go:beer:beer:beer

cool... thanks for the encouragement, might be time for me to get my hands a bit dirty then!

One question though before i go fiddling... the whole Top Dead Centre thing... how exactly do you know where it is? Im assuming by the position of the distributor... but that doesnt make sense cos the dizzy might be wrong too?...

Im new to the deeper mysteries of enginedom

Do it yourself mate, I went through the same thing 10 years ago when i bought my kombi which has a 2 litre in it. I knew nothing about engines, went and got my bus serviced and got stung $700 for a tune up, thought f#$% that, bought the idiots book and off i went. It's not hard to do, and it is quite enjoyable driving a car that you look after. Now 10 years later I work as an aviation Engineer on Gas turbine engines. Just start of with a basic tools listed in the idiots book and keep buying and collecting tools, i did now i have a tool box that canfix any dub out there. I am now in possesion of four Type 4 2 litres, one of which i am building up to 2.3 litres and putting in my bug, so just read that book cover to cover and you will be fine, Good luck, cheers Damien.

TDC is related to the crankshaft position,the dizzy will give an approximate as to which cylinder is nearing TDC..there are lots of ways to get it accurate but its best to read muirs book or others and go for the way that you understand after reading ,all that aside the mark on the pully is close enough unless you are checking cam timing and lift(which wont concern you unless you totally rebuild the engine):beer:beer:beer

cool... i will study the book like a madman...