[Vwdiesel] heat tape

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

Unless it's cold enough that the fuel is plain ol' jello, it shouldn't be a
fuel
issue.  It doesn't take much fuel so even if it has it's share of crystals in
it, it should still start and idle.  Powering the car down the road is a
different
issue.
  Primary issues are to make sure you don't have a dead glow plug or two.
One bad one is all it takes to keep it from starting in that cold of weather.

Weak battery:  It doesn't take much there either.  If it's not a group 41 or
higher amperage it's not likely to start.  (Group 42 fits right in but has
about 200 less CCA.)  If the battery isn't up to snuff, the engine will
crank over too slowly to start, until the battery's dead.  They just don't
warm up that much from cranking!
  Bigger battery cables!  With the longer length most vans have, huge
cables should be nearly a must for good starting.  My 5000's engine is
weak and would hardly start.  It has low compression, a sticking injector
or two and likely a glow plug or two out.  I still managed to start it the
other
week, on a warm day.  I'd put a BIG jumper ground from the body mount
to the engine.  Started better than before on a 90F + day!  Seriously!  In
fact it wouldn't start below about 80F before.  Yeah, yeah, it's on the list
for paint and an overhaul.
     Loren