ABA block and crank ?'s

[gregdunn at prodigy.net (gregdunn)]

> The blue finish is heat treatment...  Even if the engine was revving at 6K
for
> 15 minutes without oil, it would not go blue...  I have seen enough
torched
> engine internals to know.  I also have never seen the blue that you refer
to
> on a VW crank, but I do not doubt that they would have done this, at least
on
> some...


> > There should be no blue marks - that indicates excessive heat, and you
can
> > bet that the marks
> > weren't there from the factory.


Yep, I don't know how many VW engines I have torn down, but every single
time there was any "bluing" on the crank, it was because a rod/bearing went
and the crank overheated in that area.  Was it just on one or two journals
or every one and uniform in application.  VW cranks are very well built in
general and if there is no bluing, you can rest assured they are straight,
but if they are blued, get them checked at a machine shop if you can't do it
yourself, or just toss it and move on.

David, you want to be the test subject for revving your motor at 6K for
15min with no oil?  Didn't think so.  If you have never seen the blue he
refers to, how can you make an educated guess?

gd