Date:         Thu, 19 Mar 1998 15:01:05 -0500
Reply-To:     Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Subject:      Diesel injector leak, Was: sniveling lurker no more!
Comments: To: kevin@earthlink.com, vanagon@vanagon.com, jag@cs.rochester.edu

> Hello all! Having been a silent lurker for about 2 months, I am proud to
> announce the new aquisition (spelling?) of a 1982 westfalia with a 86 jetta
> diesel engine. I am pleased as punch with it

Congratulations! Was this the one I passed on the ad for a week or
so ago?

> However, midway back here, I noticed a fuel leak. Seep actually. Where
> the fuel line connects with the injector 3rd from the back (dont know if
> that is properly numbered 2 or 3) there is a small amount of fuel that
> leaks from this connection. Any quick fixes?

Unlike other diesels the high pressure injector lines actually seldom
breaks on VW's. These are a few possible leak sources:

1/ Injector heat shield. Will look more like a seep from the head though.
Common problem when unknowing mechanics do not replace them with new.
(This should be done every time the injector is loosened) New
shields are $.70-1.50. Check bentley to avoid installing upside down.

2/ Someone cracked the fitting when trying to blled the fuel system.
Didn't get it back on correctly.

Loosen the nut, carefully seat and retighten.

(Bleeding is not necessary on the VW. Crank for about a minute and
the efficient vane transfer pump in the injection pump will fill
everything. If the injection pump is completely dry you might add
some fuel through the stop solenoid hole)

3/ Broken injector line. As mentioned not common on VW's. Look for
a hairline crack next to the fitting. This usually results in
spitting rather than seeping of diesel.

If this happens on the road a jury rigged replacement can be made from
soft copper line shaped to model the original line. (Worked fine on
a f*rd diesel anyway)

/m
--
Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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