[Vwdiesel] Something interesting to share

[lbaird119 at aol.com]

  Basically it's just that the fuel gets thicker with little crystals.  Drive slowly and as soon as you hear the engine starting to lose power, let it drop to an idle or close.  Usually it'll let the blockage clear or flush through and start going again.  Just keep it slower and it'll usually keep going.  More or less fuel technically should make little difference as far as the actual cold's effect.  It's higher in the tank so less "pull" is needed to pump the fuel as well as a bit more to slosh around and break up any clusters that would clog the inlet of the fuel line.  Actually, a small amount of fuel should (possibly) warm up faster (from the pump) and run free more easily, than a full tank.  Tanks aren't insulated though so...
  I'd look for any possible air leaks into the fuel line.  If the hoses from the tank are wet... Also make sure all hose clamps are tight.  My Rabbit went from the first thing to freeze up to hardly ever needing any treatment to get the fuel to flow!  Just had a couple air leaks that only really showed up when it was cold and thusly pumping harder, therefore more able to pull air through those slightly loose connections.  Had more power afterwards too!

  My new snow tires are great!  Got the General ones.  Put them on after it finally snowed (just enough to make the  ground white is all.)  I have better traction on snow than I had on the de-icer covered pavement, by a long shot!  Stops like I'm on dry road!
  Thanks Doyt!!!
    Loren



-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Boser <greenerwheels at gmail.com>
To: vwdiesel <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Sun, Dec 22, 2013 12:46 pm
Subject: [Vwdiesel] Something interesting to share


Hi all
Happy holidays! I usually don't post much, me and my 81 rabbit, get along fairly 
eliably. But I did have an interesting experience last week. Here in portland 
regon the winters are usually pretty mild but last week the temperature got 
own to 14f and I forgot to fill up the car the night before. So when I went to 
tarter her up in the morning I realized I probably had about a gallon in the 
ank. It's about 3 miles to the nearest station that sells diesel, so I had some 
oncern about that little diesel in the tank and it being so cold. It started up 
ust fine and made it to the end of the block, but as soon as I started to 
ccelerate I could tell the motor wasn't firing right. About a mile from the 
ouse it started to die, I'm thinking the fuel in the injector pump was ok but 
he tank was jelled up, I got the car off the road (cussing at myself for not 
illing it up the night before) and waited a few minutes before calling AAA. I 
igured I had nothing to lose so I tried to s
tart it 
and fired up. It got me right across the street from the gas station and died 
gain, pulled off to the side of the road and waited a bit and it started right 
p.
illed the tank and had no problems since then.
 won't make that mistake again, having a few gallons in the tank makes a 
ifference in cold weather!
Steve