[Vwdiesel] Cold starting with bad compression

Thu Jan 20 21:11:23 EST 2005

All good points. Another oil to consider for winter use is PetroCan Duron Synth, or 
Esso 5w40 synth. The latter I just saw @ Walmart in Victoria for $21 per jug. A very 
decent price for a CI-4 full synth diesel oil. 

On 20 Jan 2005 at 8:12, Gerry Wolfe <gjwolfe at telus.net> wrote:

> Dunno if you've done an oil change yet...
> 
> Manuals call for 15w40 oil for temps above -15C (about +5F).  Below that
> temp, you should be using a much lighter weight oil which will result in
> faster cranking speeds and reduced starvation at startup time.  Even back in
> (relatively) balmy Toronto ON I noticed significant differences in cold weather
> cranking speeds.
> 
> Lotsa folks use Shell's Rotella oil -- 15W40 dino oil for moderate temps,
> and 5W40 synth when the bottom drops out of the thermometer.  Crappy Tire
> sells 4litre containers for about $15Cdn and $30Cdn respectively.  If you
> were to do oil changes at 4month intervals (5W40 in Dec-Mar, 15W40 for the
> other 8month) your diesel would be very happy.  The only way to make him
> happier would be to use the 5W40 synth all year round.  Lottsa folks also
> swear by Mobil 1 Delvac and others are Amsoil enthusiasts.  IMHO, if you
> were to use any quality oil (say CF level or later) you're at the point of
> diminishing returns.
> 
> Filter should be changed with each oil change.  Stick with the OEM quality
> filters (Bosch, Mann, Mahle) and avoid the junk (Fram etc.).  There have
> also been discussion threads regarding bypass filters and Hagar's famous
> Hillbilly Blotter Testing resulting in REALLY long oil change periods, but
> I'm not gonna open this one again <snicker> but he just did!!! </snicker>.
> 
> My '91 Jetta TD has a block heater and battery warmer.  An hour of this in
> the coldest weather (-35C is not uncommon during winter in Temagami ON) and the
> little beastie lit up within a couple of seconds.
> 
> rgds, g.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Smith, Michael" <Michael.Smith at rvh.nb.ca>
> To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 04:26
> Subject: RE: [Vwdiesel] Cold starting with bad compression
> 
> 
> I am an absolute diesel newbie, so take this FWIW, but twice this week I had to
> boost my "new" 1986 Golf. IT has a new big battery in it and was rolling over
> quick enough to start any gas engine.  A quick boost with my Pathfinder and it
> started within 10 seconds.  Just that extra few RPM in rolling over speed seemed
> to make all the difference.
> 
> Car is back in the shop, so I haven't done ANY testing yet AFA GP's,
> compression, etc. so I don't know the real state of the engine, but
> the speed at which it rolls over seemed to make a huge difference in getting it
> started.
> 
> Both days it was -15*C -> -20 *C......I think it would start on it's own
> down to about -10*C (just a guess)
> 
> Mike in NB
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [SMTP:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
> > Behalf Of James Hansen
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:13 PM
> > To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Subject: RE: [Vwdiesel] Cold starting with bad compression
> >
> > you are absolutely correct Andrew.
> > My 89 Jetta td when I sold it had 550000kms and still started to -25C
> > first
> > try.  Only change from stock was timing a tad advanced, and break pressure an
> > extra 10 bar higher.  Compression was way off already, but mileage was good,
> > oil consumption less than a liter between changes.  It also lived the italian
> > tuneup.  regular oil changes with rotella T 15-40 in sumer, 0-40 in winter. I
> > think atomization has a lot to do with it, but cranking speed also has a lot
> > to do as well.  faster cranking speeds give a higher combustion space temp
> > when starting. -James
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]On
> > Behalf Of Libbybapa at wmconnect.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 6:14 PM
> > To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Subject: [Vwdiesel] Cold starting with bad compression
> >
> >
> > I have heard it said by many people that if the compression is bad on a vw
> > diesel it will never start in the cold.  I think that glow plugs are
> > essential, but many volks ignore injectors, which may have as much to do with
> > it as compression.  I recently redid the injectors in my 86 n/a jetta (managed
> > to crack the injector bosses in the process due to corrosion).  I did lots of
> > thinking about repair, and then finally decided to try to torque the new
> > injectors in there anyway.  They've held for 2 days so far.  Before installing
> > the rebuilt injectors, I did a compression check.  280, 320, 420, 320.  How
> > about that for s**tty.  Poor little engine has 295,000 miles on it.  The
> > blowby is impressive.
> >  Even without piching the vent hose, the loosened oil filler cap will
> > dance
> > around nicely.  I'm wondering when I get the excitement of a runaway (I
> > hope
> > my
> > wife isn't driving).  Anyway, this morning it was 16°F and I went out and
> > vroom, she started right up with no block heater.  when the glowplugs cycled
> > off she wobbled, but came out of it fine.  I want to see the single digits,
> > and give her a try.  Glow is key, and atomization is key. Andrew
> >
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--
Shawn Wright
I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School