The Passat! (R.I.P.)

[FoMoJo]

Wait, does it have a timing chain or belt? You mentioned both.

I was wondering.

[thewizard16]

Wait, does it have a timing chain or belt? You mentioned both.

It has a chain for timing on the camshaft on one side of the engine (with a cam chain tensioner, which was also failing) and a timing belt on the other side. They showed it to me and I had no idea there was a chain in there as well.

I know very little about modern engines to be honest but it sounded like some VW witchcraft to me.

[12,000 RPM]

Fucking Germans!!!!!

[Soup DeVille]

Wait, does it have a timing chain or belt? You mentioned both.

I believe it has a belt from the crank to a pulley between the cams, and then runs the cams with a chain.

[thewizard16]

Fucking Germans!!!!!

When I would work on (minor) things on that engine it really seemed like someone looked at it and said "Can we make this any more complex and still have it work?".

[thewizard16]

I believe it has a belt from the crank to a pulley between the cams, and then runs the cams with a chain.

That sounds science-y and I think is how it was explained when I read about how this chain reaction (pun intended) happened.

[FoMoJo]

When I would work on (minor) things on that engine it really seemed like someone looked at it and said "Can we make this any more complex and still have it work?".

Was that the engine that had some clever VVT/VTEC type of cam system?  I remember reading about it once.

[thewizard16]

Was that the engine that had some clever VVT/VTEC type of cam system?  I remember reading about it once.

I honestly have no idea. It was fun but it was not efficient so who knows what all they did designing that thing. VW/Audi gets a ton of use out of those 2.0T engines though, they're in everything.

[CaminoRacer]

I believe it has a belt from the crank to a pulley between the cams, and then runs the cams with a chain.

Fucking Germans!!!!!

[MX793]

Not uncommon for multi-cam engines to do that, though.  You'll frequently see a belt or chain from the crank to one cam, then a second chain jumping from cam to cam.

[Soup DeVille]

Not uncommon for multi-cam engines to do that, though.  You'll frequently see a belt or chain from the crank to one cam, then a second chain jumping from cam to cam.

Looking it up, its almost all belt. The chain goes from the crank to the variable timing actuator on the side of the engine.

[CaminoRacer]

VVT is garbage. Give me the big cam all the time. Simplify your life!

[Eye of the Tiger]

VVT is garbage. Give me the big cam all the time. Simplify your life!

VVT is just cam timing, not VTAK.

[AutobahnSHO]

Crazy. Sorry man!

[Raza]

Horse emissions are horrible; and do you have any idea the nasty chemicals used to tan leather?

Only if it's chemical tanned leather. You can get vegetable tanned leather, which is natural and eco friendly. It's just a lot more expensive.

[FoMoJo]

Horse emissions are horrible; and do you have any idea the nasty chemicals used to tan leather?

Still, horse emissions/extrusions can be useful in many ways.  Obviously as part of nature's balance to provide food for our plant life as well as provide unlimited amusement as ammunition for children's play fights.  The little round balls are the perfect size for small hands to seize and hurl at 'the enemy'.  No doubt it's still practiced in many rural areas.

[Soup DeVille]

Still, horse emissions/extrusions can be useful in many ways.  Obviously as part of nature's balance to provide food for our plant life as well as provide unlimited amusement as ammunition for children's play fights.  The little round balls are the perfect size for small hands to seize and hurl at 'the enemy'.  No doubt it's still practiced in many rural areas.

Well, that's true. Road apples are usually dry enough to throw without getting the evidence all over yourself.

[FoMoJo]

Well, that's true. Road apples are usually dry enough to throw without getting the evidence all over yourself.

We called them horse buns.  Horse buns and cow pies.  Horse buns, even when they're fairly fresh are good ammunition.  The advantage of that is they shatter when striking often stick to the enemy.  Dry ones just bounce off.  Cow pies, on the other hand, need to be dry otherwise it's just a mess in your hand.  When dry though, they serve as nature's frisbee.  With enough practice, you can curve them in flight in case the enemy is hiding behind a tree.

[Soup DeVille]

We called them horse buns.  Horse buns and cow pies.  Horse buns, even when they're fairly fresh are good ammunition.  The advantage of that is they shatter when striking often stick to the enemy.  Dry ones just bounce off.  Cow pies, on the other hand, need to be dry otherwise it's just a mess in your hand.  When dry though, they serve as nature's frisbee.  With enough practice, you can curve them in flight in case the enemy is hiding behind a tree.

Had a friend who spent a summer shoveling horse shit at Mackinac (tourist trappy island in northern Michigan). His cart was proudly emblazoned with the moniker "Road Apple Express."

[FoMoJo]

Had a friend who spent a summer shoveling horse shit at Mackinac (tourist trappy island in northern Michigan). His cart was proudly emblazoned with the moniker "Road Apple Express."

He likely could've sold them to the local kids for horse bun fights.

[MX793]

Always heard them called road apples around here as well.  But we did not partake in any poop flinging shenanigans when I was a kid.

[BimmerM3]

Sherpas use yak pattys to as fuel for their cast iron stoves.

[MX793]

Sherpas use yak pattys to as fuel for their cast iron stoves.

That was common practice for settler on the plains.  Well, buffalo patties rather than yak, but same idea.

[Soup DeVille]

He likely could've sold them to the local kids for horse bun fights.

Selling horse shit on an island with more horses than people? Interesting concept.

[FoMoJo]

Selling horse shit on an island with more horses than people? Interesting concept.

I suppose.  But I expect it's really not such a popular pastime for kids anymore; with smart phones, computer games, cheap crap toys from China.  Back then, we didn't have any of those so we just made do with what nature provided.  We used actual apples at times as well, but they really hurt if you got hit hard.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Had a friend who spent a summer shoveling horse shit at Mackinac (tourist trappy island in northern Michigan). His cart was proudly emblazoned with the moniker "Road Apple Express."

I hear about that place (and Bridge) all the time. Never been further north than Traverse City myself......

[Soup DeVille]

I hear about that place (and Bridge) all the time. Never been further north than Traverse City myself......

Superior is worth seeing.

[RomanChariot]

Always heard them called road apples around here as well.  But we did not partake in any poop flinging shenanigans when I was a kid.

Poop flinging is now reserved for that class of adults referred to as politicians.

[thewizard16]

...Watching how our threads evolve is like having a conversation with an elderly dementia patient. Start out by asking Ms. Jenkins if her foot hurts and by the end of her answer she's telling you that the Pope doesn't allow her to bake pies like she used to.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

...Watching how our threads evolve is like having a conversation with an elderly dementia patient. Start out by asking Ms. Jenkins if her foot hurts and by the end of her answer she's telling you that the Pope doesn't allow her to bake pies like she used to.