Hi Andy,

The diesel has lots of low end torque, as you probably know. I don't know what your gear ratios are on that van, but 2nd gear starts from a standing stop require a fair amount of clutch slippage for a start. Rolling starts however are another matter; I do this all the time and it makes for much quicker starts and less shifting. As a matter of course, if I am stopped on a down slope, I let the van start to roll, then start in 2nd, works great. I would worry about premature clutch wear if done too many times from a standing start.

Out of curiosity, where are you located? Diesel transporters are rare in North America.

Andy Chiu wrote:

> Hello List, > > This is my first post to the list. I drive a 97 Transporter with a 2.4 > liter diesel engine. My question concerns using the second gear from a > standing start. Is this advisable and are there any disadvantages to doing > this? Where we live, we see a lot of diesel vans such as Fords and > Mitsubishi. My brother-in-law has a Ford van and I'm told that the 2nd > gear is often used and the first gear is used only occassionally (for > example on inclines and with a heavy load). > > Andy Chiu > '97 Transporter Diesel

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Diesel John Southern Ontario, CANADA

'83 Vanagon GL Diesel "The Smoking Tortoise" '71 S-Cab Pickup "Ole Blu" '83 Audi 5000TD '84 Audi 5000 Avant ex '71 Super Beetle '71 Type II "Ole Red" '76 Scirocco '77 Diesel Rabbit '78 Diesel Rabbit

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