Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 18:15:37 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hundt <dhundt@PCEZ.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hundt <dhundt@PCEZ.COM>
Subject: Re: Diesel Caveat: Case in point!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
One little thing, try a shot of wd 40 instead of ether. works about as well
and won't destroy the glow plugs.
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: Gnarlodious <Gnarlodious@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2001 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: Diesel Caveat: Case in point!
> > Not necessarily an altitude thing either.... Once the compression gets
> > borderline, they start pretty hard even if the glow plugs work. You
notice
> > it first toward the end of fall / beginning of winter. Then when the
real
> > cold hits, there you sit unless you brought your long extension cord for
the
> > block heater (BTDT).
> > Chris
>
> I was explaining to someone off-list, the compression is less and the
blowby
> is more. The oil ends up in your air filter further reducing compression.
>
> As a matter of fact, I am going to post this on the list for those who may
> be concerned:
>
> > I'm p-mailing so I don't look stupid on the list... :^)
> Why not? everyone else does!
> >
> > Surely they don't sell different versions of diesel engines in different
> > states.
> No, they are the same.
> > So does this mean that an older, worn diesel will run at sea level,
> > but may not in the mountains?
> Yes, that is what it means. For a short trip it is not such a problem, but
> to expect a worn out diesel to perform the same all winter is too much.
> > Do you do a standard compression test before a mountain trip to verify
> > you'll make it?
> If you are driving over a pass you'll make it. The problem is cold starts
at
> that high altitude. If you have an old engine, don't let it get completely
> cold before restarting it.
> > And are there ways other than a rebuild to gain high altitude
capability?
> Yes.
> 1: Park on a long hill. You can go for years this way!
> 2: If your engine is really worn out, run without the air filter. This
will
> give you more compression and prevent oil blowout from clogging it, which
is
> the big problem even in summer. (noisier though!)
> 3: Give it a shot of ether prior to cranking, this is a pain in the ass in
> the Vanagon and not very safe for the engine. But what the hell, it is
worn
> out anyway!
> 4: Preheat with a block heater. You must have a plug-in. See
> http://home.earthlink.net/~gnarlodious/Vanagon_Notes.html#preheater
> 5: Yours truly has even been known to put a can of sterno under the oil
pan
> for an hour or so in really frigid weather, you can do this to diesel.
> Especially the Vanagon, it has the aluminum pan.
>
> With this toolbox of tricks you can buy a "needs rebuild" diesel CHEAP
and
> drive it for 2 years before it really needs it. ('Course you might have to
> bore 40 over by that time!)
>
>
> Rachel http://www.gnarlodious.com
>
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