[Vwdiesel] Looking for Tips to Minimize Startup Smoking in Winter

[Doug Presny]

I have an '82 Rabbit which smokes generously for 30 seconds if less than
40 F and not preheated fully by block heater.   I assume this may have
been the normal condition out of the showroom, but I wanted to make sure
I am not missing something.  My problem is that I don't know what
"normal" cold weather starting is.

 

I use two dedicated 12V batteries with a 500 watt inverter to "plug in"
the block heater when I am away from a power source.  This takes care of
the startup smoking assuming I was able to get it turned on two hours in
advance of my departure.  Yesterday I filled a floor of a parking ramp
with smoke when I had to startup without taking advantage of having the
block heater in operation and it was 30 F outside.

 

Current sequence is ... cycle glow plugs two times (have light on buss
bar), advance pulled fully out, start, ramp up RPM as suggested in
owners manual to minimize smoking.

 

I recently installed a factory rebuilt injection pump and have not
changed the out of the box settings that have the yellow paint lines
indicating as rebuilt settings.

 

The engine is reported to have been rebuilt 10,000 miles ago via
previous owner, although I have not tested compression.

 

Any thoughts are welcome.