[Vwdiesel] updates

[dieseltdi at verizon.net]

Well it has been a while since I posted anything in the way of updates on my 82 Jetta GTD due to the holidays, a bum shoulder, a daughter in the hospital (and the requisite baby sitting of 4 grandkids) an ice storm, a separate storm with temperatures in the teens for several days AND the Spring school semester starting.  So a bit of update:  first of all, I solved my battery charging problem by simply bypassing the starter with the charge wire.  I used 6 gauge (?) wire left over from my solar panel installation to run the charge wire all the way from the alternator to the battery in the trunk.  Now charges well with no problems starting in the cold.  My son recommended this as something he always does with water cooled VWs.  I also discovered that my timing was not spot on (85 instead of 90) so I reset that.  I am still not satisfied with the MPGs.  Although I understand that this engine has a higher flow rate than the regular TDs (high flow pump and injectors)I am not satisfied with the 33-35 mpg that it is currently getting.  One thing I am going to try is to increase the fueling.  I think that it may be somewhat under fueled for two reasons.  First it produces virtually no visible smoke in daylight unless I drop a gear and stand on it.  At night I can see just a light haze upon heavy acceleration.  I am also not producing much in the way of exhaust heat.  The other day, on the highway, I rapidly accelerated uphill from 60-75 mpg and could only produce about 300 degrees C (572 F).  So my intention is to remove the collar from the fuel adjustment and turn it up ¼ turn at a time until I am getting a bit of visible smoke on acceleration.  The car is making great boost.  I blocked off the intake pressure relief valve and can pull a really strong and steady 13 psi but I have an adjustor that I need to install that will give me access to the full 15 psi that the pump is set up for.  I also installed a water temperature gauge so that I can compare the “idiot” gauge, the oil temp and the water temp.  The results are interesting.  After a long drive, the car has oil temperature of 220-230 F, water temperature of about 200 degrees and the idiot gauge isn’t even at the halfway mark.  It is barely above the wide white area on the left!  My current problem is dealing with ANOTHER leaking heater control valve.  I am about to replace it with another China Replacement Auto Part (the last one lasted only a few months) while I await the arrival of 2 genuine Meyle valves to arrive.  Hopefully this will allow me to drive that care without carrying a bottle of antifreeze with me.  I still have a bit of things to do with rattles and such but the car is doing well as a daily commuter and gets as many looks from other drivers today as it did back in 81 when I bought the first delivered MK1 Jetta in Monroe, La.
In a separate update, the Ecodiesel Grand Cherokee is really doing fantastically.  The low end mileage has been in the low 20’s  mpg but I have gotten as high as 31.7 mpg on one tank.  I am well pleased considering the size of the vehicle.  Can’t wait till we finally pick up a travel trailer and hit the road with it.    Hayden

“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.” 
“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run."
“I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all.”  Alexis de Tocqueville

Proud owner of:
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel
1968 Beetle, Still in progress
1982 VW Jetta Coupe GTD "FrankenJetta"
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 (11), Passats (2), Dasher (1), New Beetle (1), Rabbit Convertible (1) and Rabbit Pickups (3) most now gone but not forgotten.