Diesel Tune-up

High mileage is also a factor. Mine have gotten cranky after 200,000 -
250,000 miles, even with functioning glow plugs. Using a block heater helped
for another 100,000.

And have you verified when the timing belt was replaced?

Just got back from surveying the destroyed head on a friend's......He ignored
the advice to change it......

Lynn McGuire wrote:

> > Hello all, I'm new to this group. I have just purchased my first
> > watercooled volkswagen, a 1981 diesel rabbit truck. It runs like a
> > top, but it is really hard to start requiring ether everytime. I've
> > got a Bentley and it points to the pump injector for initial inspection
> > and adjustment. I just wanted some tips for what to look out for and
> > anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of an easier
> > start.
>
> Replace your glow plugs. Just two out the four not working
> will make it very difficult to start. Also make sure that your
> glow plugs are getting electricity (check the relay, inline fuses,
> etc...).
>
> BTW, dont use ether with on a diesel with glow plugs ! You
> can get a backfire in your face !
>
> Lynn
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

On 2006-10-20, wrote:
> Hello all, I'm new to this group. I have just purchased my first
> watercooled volkswagen, a 1981 diesel rabbit truck. It runs like a
> top, but it is really hard to start requiring ether everytime. I've
> got a Bentley and it points to the pump injector for initial inspection
> and adjustment. I just wanted some tips for what to look out for and
> anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of an easier
> start.
>
> THANKS!

First off, stop using ether. As I understand, ether can do a lot of
damage to a diesel engine. If you are having starting problems,
inspect the following:

1. Glow plug system
2. Battery
3. Motor oil, if it is too cold for the viscosity of oil in your car.

Personally, I'd first look at your glow plug system. Make sure that
all of your glow plugs are good and that they are getting power when
you have the car in the "on" position (where the glow light comes on).

-Bryan

--
remove the "REMOVE" from my email to email
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

> I just wanted some tips for what to look out for and
> anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of an easier
> start.

Have the compression tested, in addition to what others have mentioned.
When compression starts to go, diesels will be hard to start, and with
an engine that old, it might just be a fact of life you're going to have
to live with.
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

wrote:
> Hello all, I'm new to this group. I have just purchased my first
> watercooled volkswagen, a 1981 diesel rabbit truck. It runs like a
> top, but it is really hard to start requiring ether everytime. I've
> got a Bentley and it points to the pump injector for initial
> inspection and adjustment. I just wanted some tips for what to look
> out for and anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of
> an easier start.
>
> THANKS!

I would think that, assuming it is cranking at a normal speed, your most
likely problem with a 1981 (high mileage?) truck is going to be low
compression. Above freezing, it should be able to start reliably without
any functional glow plugs. On my 2002 TDI the glow plugs do not even
activate above 40º F.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

> I would think that, assuming it is cranking at a normal speed, your most likely problem with a 1981 (high mileage?) truck is
> going to be low compression. Above freezing, it should be able to start reliably without any functional glow plugs. On my 2002
> TDI the glow plugs do not even activate above 40º F.

When I lost two glow plugs on my 82 rabbit diesel (not TDI !),
it was very hard to start at 80 F outside. It took several
minutes of cranking to get it going. Replacing the two bad
glow plugs (actually I replaced all 4) brought things right
back to normal.

Diesel engine combustion technology has greatly improved
in the last 20 years, especially in precombustion chamber
technology.

Lynn
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

> When I lost two glow plugs on my 82 rabbit diesel (not TDI !),
> it was very hard to start at 80 F outside. It took several
> minutes of cranking to get it going. Replacing the two bad
> glow plugs (actually I replaced all 4) brought things right
> back to normal.
>
> Diesel engine combustion technology has greatly improved
> in the last 20 years, especially in precombustion chamber
> technology.

My '85 diesel never lit the glow plugs, except momentarily, when the
temp was above 40-50 F. Always started easily without the plugs then,
until it got very high miles and lost compression in a couple cylinders.
If a couple of cylinders start to go, it'll blow blue clouds of
unburned fuel when you're cranking it and just after it first fires,
which is what it'll do in the cold if your glow plugs are shot.
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

Does the glow plug light function? If so..........
Make sure the glow plugs function...........or just replace them all. Gear
Wrenches work well.
Make sure the shut off solenoid on the fuel pump/distributor does not leak
and allow the fuel to drain back to the tank and out of the fuel
pump/distributor.
Yeah check the engine compression also.....which will require some specific
tools.

And are you using the cable to advance the fuel pump/distributor by pulling
the cable out? This usually makes starting the diesel easier.

I think VW used to recommend using 1/2 gallon of gasoline with a diesel fill
up in very cold climates. Where are you?

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


wrote in message

> Hello all, I'm new to this group. I have just purchased my first
> watercooled volkswagen, a 1981 diesel rabbit truck. It runs like a
> top, but it is really hard to start requiring ether everytime. I've
> got a Bentley and it points to the pump injector for initial inspection
> and adjustment. I just wanted some tips for what to look out for and
> anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of an easier
> start.
>
> THANKS!
>
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

On 20 Oct 2006 08:48:17 -0700, wrote:

>Hello all, I'm new to this group. I have just purchased my first
>watercooled volkswagen, a 1981 diesel rabbit truck. It runs like a
>top, but it is really hard to start requiring ether everytime. I've
>got a Bentley and it points to the pump injector for initial inspection
>and adjustment. I just wanted some tips for what to look out for and
>anything else I can check/replace/service in the name of an easier
>start.
>
>THANKS!

Gah, like living on the very edge of life? Stop (STOP) using ether! It
can and will destroy a diesel engine that uses glowplugs.

Ah, glowplugs...

Are yours working correctly? What tests have you done on them to
determine they are working?
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 01:37:38 GMT, Brian Running
wrote:


> If a couple of cylinders start to go, it'll blow blue clouds of
>unburned fuel when you're cranking it and just after it first fires,

Not blue, blue is oil leaking by the rings.

Unburned fuel is white in color, and has a very distinctive smell (it
smells just like raw diesel fuel--sniff your hands after refueling!)
<g>
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

"dave AKA vwdoc1" wrote in message

> I think VW used to recommend using 1/2 gallon of gasoline with a diesel
> fill up in very cold climates. Where are you?

there's also wintertime fuel stabilant available as an additive for when
it's cold...prevents gelling of the diesel fuel.
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

PeterD wrote:

>Gah, like living on the very edge of life? Stop (STOP) using ether! It
>can and will destroy a diesel engine that uses glowplugs.
>
>Ah, glowplugs...
>
>Are yours working correctly? What tests have you done on them to
>determine they are working?

Actually I saw a can of starting fluid the other day that claimed it
was good for All gas AND diesel engines except those built to 2007
specs. Guess because of the new fuel.
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:08:40 -0400, Dave wrote:

>PeterD wrote:
>
>>Gah, like living on the very edge of life? Stop (STOP) using ether! It
>>can and will destroy a diesel engine that uses glowplugs.
>>
>>Ah, glowplugs...
>>
>>Are yours working correctly? What tests have you done on them to
>>determine they are working?
>
>Actually I saw a can of starting fluid the other day that claimed it
>was good for All gas AND diesel engines except those built to 2007
>specs. Guess because of the new fuel.

Try again: They say that because:

1. It lets them sell more product, and
2. It is virtually impossible to recover anything from them *when*
(notice: not if, but when) your engine blows up.

In short: do you trust the makers of diesel engines (who all say don't
do it) or the makers of spray ether (who simply want to sell their
product?)
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up 

> Not blue, blue is oil leaking by the rings.
>
> Unburned fuel is white in color, and has a very distinctive smell (it
> smells just like raw diesel fuel--sniff your hands after refueling!)

No, sorry, it's blue. If it's white, it's coolant leaking past a blown
head gasket.
 >> Stay informed about: Diesel Tune-up