[Vwdiesel] Too cold

[Jason]

The wife's AHU (98 TDI) fires right up almost instantly even at -25 deg C.
However my newer 2005 Passat has a very long crank at the same temp and
barely starts.   It has new battery, starter and glow plugs (most recent
updated version with ECU reflash).   I've talked to a few people and the
newer PDs just don't start as quick.  It seems they need a faster crank
speed to catch.  Could be the injector design.   Both cars run 5w40 Fuchs
oil all year round.  My old bus - 1990 VW LT31 still has 15w40 and will
only start down to -15 or so.   Just too slow to crank.   Not a big deal I
only move it around the driveway to clear the snow around it.   It is a
camper and only used for the summer.

I've always said if you have to plug in your car - fix it.   Although a
block heater will save you quite a bit in fuel on cold starts.  Much more
than the electricity it costs to run.

For cabin heat - the 98 does much better than the 05.   Both cars have new
thermostats too.  The 98 seems to need one every year regardless of brand.
 I put a factory VW one in last year and it wasn't making heat again this
year.  The 2005 even with the EGR cooler in-tact takes about 15 minutes of
driving to come to temperature at anything below -10 deg C.   At -20 C it
barely makes any heat.  Just enough to clear the windshield.  It even has a
new heater core.  If I lived any further north, I'd just drive a gasser for
winter.  I hate being cold.

Jason