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Date:         Mon, 17 Nov 2003 18:31:34 -0800
Reply-To:     Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      DIESEL starting and other general questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Hello,

My question is, what's the starting procedure using the "knob," or more properly, does use of the "knob" contribute to the cutting down of smoke upon startup?

Here's why I ask: I drive the car every day now. It's fun to drive and gets so much better mileage than my 89. I've never used the choke/knob until the last few days because the car started and ran without it, no matter what the temp. It smokes a good bit upon cold start, but hot or warm starts no smoke at all. So I would cloud the driveway in the morning, but could come and go all day after that with no smoke.

The smoke dropped off considerable after leaving the driveway and is pretty much disappeared in a block. On cars I've owned that leaked oil down the valve guides when sitting, this smoke would occur on every startup, even a trip inside the grocery store. But that's not the case here.

The last few days I've been pulling out the so-called "choke" knob, and the smoking seems almost non-existent! But that could be coincidental with a bit warmer temps. I pull out the knob, start the car, back out with the knob out, push it in and take off without filling the neighborhood with smoke. I'd like to know if this is the way the "choke" is supposed to be used, or if it's a no-no.

Any experience like this? Everywhere I read anything about the "choke" know only serves to confuse me more, none of it seems to agree, the discussion in bentley seems counterintuitive..

Also, a side question: I've done everything I could do myself (new head, thermostat, injector pump, seals) and most everything on the engine is dry as a bone and working great. But there's still a small nagging leak at the flywheel-end seal. I don't really have the facilities to pull the engine ( could if the situation were dire enough, but don't want to deal with the mess) and wondering what the expected rate would be for having a shop do this task if anyone has done it recently.

Thanks,

Jim


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