Author Topic: How long to leave the Cold Start Lever pulled out? (Read 15117 times)

AudiVWguy · « **on:** February 29, 2008, 09:04:50 pm »

Like the subject line says, How Long, in time or temp is the correct amount of time to leave the cold start lever out? I know this seems like a beginner question, but its always bugged me that I didn't know the official answer. So once again here I am at the Diesel Collective to find the answer.
Thanks,
-JB

subsonic · « **Reply #1 on:** February 29, 2008, 09:18:26 pm »

Run it for a while, push it in. If it starts to run like crap, pull it out again. I guess it will vary based on weather conditions.

Clankin-Rabbit · « **Reply #2 on:** February 29, 2008, 09:24:58 pm »

I've found absolutely no difference with mine pulled or pushed in. I know I've read on here that it's pretty much pointless unless your IP is retarded? I know mine is lined up in the stock position so there shouldn't really be a difference I suppose.

I let mine warm up good before driving it off...

hillfolk'r · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2008, 09:37:01 pm »

i usually push it in when its like 1/2way warmed up
heck.who hasnt driven around with it on for a week,like me :lol:
its not too big a deal if you dont shut it off when warm,
,i once heard that in town mileage went down if it was on when warm,,who knows

this explains a little

im sorry,i havent scanned that page yet..its one of the last

burnt_servo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2008, 05:35:45 am »

in the summer i pull the lever out and leave it out when i'm running the a/c , as it bumps up the engines idle speed and makes it less prone to stalling when under load from the ac .

the only negitive effect i can see is less engine breaking when the lever is pulled out .

the caveman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2008, 07:12:37 am »

i would think that you if you left it pulled past warm up, you would get slightly worse fuel mileage, assuming everything is running fine. You should get a little more performance, but i certainly don't feel a difference. BTW for anyone who cares we were told [like 20 years ago ] when i was at the vw diesel course that the way to use it when starting in very cold weather : glow plugs on, crank the motor, just when it's about to catch, THEN pull the timing advance. This way the engine won't force with the advanced timing, but once its about to start , it will "accept" the change in timing. This seems to work when real cold.

Vanagoner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2008, 07:32:56 am »

My '82 owners manual says to pull it out at every start, before actuating the starter. It says to leave the starter engaged while the engine is first firing when very cold 'till it runs smoothly on it's own. It also directs to leave the cold start knob out for two minutes before pushing it in.
That works for me.

hillfolk'r · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2008, 08:13:10 am »

Quote from: "burnt_servo"

in the summer i pull the lever out and leave it out when i'm running the a/c , as it bumps up the engines idle speed and makes it less prone to stalling when under load from the ac .

the only negitive effect i can see is less engine breaking when the lever is pulled out .

yea the later mk2 pumps have an idle speed kicker if the lever is pulled out all the way,but when its out to the detent(s) it only advances the timing

the caveman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2008, 09:32:07 am »

"keep the starter engaged till running smoothly" ? okay i think we all know what they mean ,but i'm sure some people will take to mean to keep the starter cranking till the idle smooths out, what 30 secs., 1 or 2 minutes???
About the "choke", in that same class i remember someone had taken out their owners manual to try to prove our instructor wrong, one of the top trainers vw ever had [Pierre Leveille for some of you vw dealer guys], well that was fun. Also had a couple of students argueing with him on how to check glow plugs with an ammeter.

jtanguay · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2008, 12:16:32 pm »

Quote from: "the caveman"

"keep the starter engaged till running smoothly" ? okay i think we all know what they mean ,but i'm sure some people will take to mean to keep the starter cranking till the idle smooths out, what 30 secs., 1 or 2 minutes???
About the "choke", in that same class i remember someone had taken out their owners manual to try to prove our instructor wrong, one of the top trainers vw ever had [Pierre Leveille for some of you vw dealer guys], well that was fun. Also had a couple of students argueing with him on how to check glow plugs with an ammeter.

thats some pretty big load on the starter... i myself like my engine better with the cold start pulled out. has way more balls down low. but my mileage suffers considerably.

Baselyne · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2008, 02:50:09 pm »

i dont know, mine just goes down when she get warm enough..

is this not right?

dieselsnowmobile · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2008, 05:43:44 pm »

My cold start only affects the timing when at idle. It makes no difference when driving down the highway. In fact, when I pull it out much above idle, there is no tension to pull the lever out, like it does not do anything either.

rabbitman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2008, 02:20:33 pm »

yeah, there should be no difference with the knob pulled at highway speeds, once you get over about 2000rpm the internal pump pressure advances the timing past what the knob can do so it won't make a difference.

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2008, 04:48:24 pm »

i always forget to push it in till i get to my destination haha

burn_your_money · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2008, 06:04:32 pm »

on my 92 I never pushed it back in. One less thing to forget and one less thing to remember. 2 birds with one stone :lol:

Author Topic: How long to leave the Cold Start Lever pulled out? (Read 15117 times)

AudiVWguy

Baselyne