[Vwdiesel] Initial Diagnosis: 1998 VW TDI Jetta

Sun Jan 9 16:28:07 PST 2011

By good I meant that there was no slop on the crankshaft, and all of the
journals mic'd out to the large end of new, with everything looking like it
just came from the factory. If I bought something labeled as new and it was
in that kind of shape then I would be quite happy with it.

No, I did not mean to advise anyone to reuse bearings. I was just saying
that just because your lower end is in good shape is close to zero relation
to how well the rest of the engine was taken care of.

Erik

On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 2:06 PM, brian hoeft <qweblog at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm not trying to be wordy or combative here, but I see more observation
> and speculation than actual diagnosis, as the title reads.
>
> Stephen, what evidence do you have other than observation to make your
> determination on the bearings and other internals? I agree that they are
> very good for upwards of 300k miles, but a plastigage/micrometer session is
> much more accurate than casual observation, even if you had a trained eye.
>
> I don't see ANY measurement of anything for that matter.
>
> From reading other recent posts, I see a lot of pre-determined objectives
> based on casual, well-intentioned observation, NOT fact, which -unlike the
> disease that is eroding our society today- is very easy to obtain when
> dealing with man's metal fabrications.
>
> Just adding my take on it to encourage listers out there to do it right the
> first time instead of being one of the many do-over patients I have been
> reading about and working for a lot as of late.
>
> -Brian
>
>
>
>
> .
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 2:52 PM, Erik Lane <eriklane at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Well, to be fair those bearings never seem worn in any engine I've ever
>> seen, even those that come out with 300k on them. These lower ends are so
>> overbuilt that they never have needed work on anything I or my family has
>> owned. I always feel a little bad even putting new bearings in - like I'm
>> wasting a perfectly good set that was already in there. (Of course I do it
>> anyway, because it's a silly place to save a couple bucks and risk the
>> engine. It's just the thought of how good of shape the old ones were in.)
>>
>> Erik
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 9:23 PM, Stephen Kraus <ub3ratl4sf00 at gmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks James!
>> >
>> > That was exactly my plan. Hell, the bearings are even unworn!
>> >
>> > Current plan:
>> >
>> > Get car running via:
>> >
>> > New Piston rings
>> > New Headgasket
>> > New Oil
>> >
>> > Future Plans:
>> >
>> > ARP Head Studs
>> > New Injectors
>> > Re-build turbo with different compressor
>> >
>> > On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 10:20 PM, James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > >  Sounds good Stephen.  Real good actually.  Definitely check the head,
>> > add
>> > > some fresh rings, and you should be good to go.
>> > >
>> > > Nice score.
>> > >
>> > > -james
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > *From:* Stephen Kraus [mailto:ub3ratl4sf00 at gmail.com]
>> > > *Sent:* January-08-11 11:12 PM
>> > > *To:* James Hansen
>> > >
>> > > *Cc:* vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>> > > *Subject:* Re: [Vwdiesel] Initial Diagnosis: 1998 VW TDI Jetta
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > James:
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > They didn't try a pullstart, it ran until it got outside the shop, and
>> > next
>> > > time they tried to start it it wouldn't crank. The shop is a
>> TDI/VW/Audi
>> > > only shop and they told him to take NO further action. No bent rods
>> here,
>> > > they all look good.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Cylinder walls are glazed, so I'm going to have to de-glaze and
>> re-hatch.
>> > > Otherwise, no damage to speak of.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > It has 206k on it right now. I am currently de-coking the pistons with
>> > oven
>> > > cleaner
>> > >
>> > > On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 10:05 PM, James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net>
>> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Well, that's pretty cool. Cylinder walls are unscathed, or are they
>> > scored?
>> > > How many miles on the engine Stephen?
>> > > Be sure the piston height is the same as it's neighbours.  If the
>> gasket
>> > > was
>> > > leaking, and the PO hydrolocked it on more than one occasion, if he
>> tried
>> > > hard, say pullstart or something high powered, there may be a bent
>> rod.
>> > >
>> > > -james
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com
>> ]
>> > On
>> > > Behalf Of Stephen Kraus
>> > >
>> > > Sent: January-08-11 1:46 PM
>> > > To: dieseltdi at verizon.net
>> > > Cc: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>> > > Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Initial Diagnosis: 1998 VW TDI Jetta
>> > >
>> > > James: The spot did not change, it stayed constant in one position, I
>> > could
>> > > turn the crank back and it would freeze. I had already set the cam to
>> TDC
>> > > as
>> > > well.
>> > >
>> > > Discoveries made today:
>> > >
>> > > Head pulled, good condition, no dropped valves and no foreign debris.
>> > > HOWEVER, excessive oil in the #2 cylinder, I believe it was there
>> before
>> > I
>> > > pulled the head. The #2 piston also has heavy coking from oil
>> > consumption,
>> > > #3 had some minor coking as well, #1 and #4 looked clean. I am
>> beginning
>> > to
>> > > suspect the head gasket was leaking oil into the piston and caused it
>> to
>> > > hydrolock due to oil. Otherwise, once head was pulled the engine does
>> a
>> > > complete 360 stroke without issue.
>> > >
>> > > On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 9:22 PM, <dieseltdi at verizon.net> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Sounds like a a dropped valve or a broken glowplug.  You may be very
>> > > lucky.
>> > > >  Hayden
>> > > > On Jan 7, 2011, at 9:05 PM, Stephen Kraus wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > Well as you all know I purchased a 1998 Jetta TDI for $600, siezed
>> > > > engine.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Well after initial look over, the engine turns freely one way, and
>> > the
>> > > > other
>> > > > > until it hits something. This is looking better and better
>> > > > > _______________________________________________
>> > > > > Vwdiesel mailing list
>> > > > > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>> > > > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>> > > >
>> > > > " Those who are willing to sacrifice Liberty for Security, deserve
>> > > neither
>> > > > Liberty nor Security."  Ben Franklin
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > Visit my website at:
>> > http://mysite.verizon.net/resosxp8/mydieselpages/
>> > > > Proud owner of:
>> > > > 2004 Jetta GL PD TDI, K&N Filter, ScanGauge II
>> > > > 1968 Beetle, my latest project, watch for details
>> > > > And many, many, many VWs; from a 1947 Beetle (13 Beetles total), to
>> > Vans
>> > > (5
>> > > > - 3 splitties, 2 bay window (both were campers), 1 Vanagon Westy,
>> > Rabbits
>> > > > (3), Karmen Ghia (1), Jettas (7), Passats (2), Dasher (1), New
>> Beetle
>> > > (1),
>> > > > and Rabbit Pickups (3) most now gone but not forgotten.
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>> > > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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>
>
>
> --
> *           Groundhog Day 2011*
> This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur on
> the same day.
> "It is an ironic juxtaposition of events: one involves a meaningless ritual
> in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication
> while the other involves a groundhog." -A.A.
>      http://208.53.138.125:8068/
>       [blinders off&earplugs out]
>