Things to check on a diesel

[Duey]

'Jack', there is no such thing as "rich" per se, with a diesel.  You can overfuel, but that's a rare case, and from guys working to put out huge power from a diesel and heavily modifying the injection pump and/or injectors.  A diesel injects only enough fuel as required based on the load on the engine, but there is often way more air in the cylinder than is actually required to actually support combustion of the injected fuel.  That's why there is no throttle on a diesel (many have an anti-shudder valve in the intake, but it's not a throttle), the power is entirely controlled by the injection pump/injectors.  That's also why a diesel is thermodynamically far more efficient than a gasoline engine, typically 40% T.E. compared to 25-28% T.E. for the gasser...no extra energy trying to get the perfect stoichiametric mix (14.7:1 +/- a bit for the FA ratio.) in a gasser, which results in lots of heat hitting the cylinder side walls and "leaking" (thermodynamically) out of the engine.  It could be that the injectors are in need of a cleaning, as big droplets of fuel caused by dirty injectors will not burn completely and smell on the way out the exhaust.

Enjoy traveling about 1200-1300km per tank on the highway!

Cheers
Duey

[ACUDANUT]

 I didn't think any VW could last 10 years regardless of any engine it had.    BTW run the diesel on Veggie oil.

[six-tee-nine]

I didn't think any VW could last 10 years regardless of any engine it had.    BTW run the diesel on Veggie oil.

Any VW with ANY kind of engine will last for 20 years + easy. They're among the finest cars that are being produced in Europe.

And do yourself a favour.....DO NOT run a Diesel on veggie oil
You'll get your injection pump killed faster then you know. Veggy Diesel does'nt simply has the same natural lubrication in it

[ACUDANUT]

IMO VW's are JUNK.  Their resale value is one of the worst here in the Midwest. 

[suntech]

IMO VW's are JUNK.  Their resale value is one of the worst here in the Midwest. 

That means: In the midwest you can get a great used  car, for less money. 

[RTSE69]

Do the timing belt every 60 K miles or so, and you will be fine.



I couldn't agree more, EVERY 60k regardless of how it looks, they break like "clockwork"

[CFMopar]

I didn't think any VW could last 10 years regardless of any engine it had.    BTW run the diesel on Veggie oil.

Any VW with ANY kind of engine will last for 20 years + easy. They're among the finest cars that are being produced in Europe.

And do yourself a favour.....DO NOT run a Diesel on veggie oil
You'll get your injection pump killed faster then you know. Veggy Diesel does'nt simply has the same natural lubrication in it

I've read a post bout a guy running this one http://www.greasecar.com/kit_detail.cfm?prodID=23 and its working great for him. Not that I'd try it anytime soon but I t does look interesting