Confusing idle issue after fuel line leak

[The Mad Hatter]

Hasn't been a good week.  While loading my 85 Golf onto my trailer, it high centered and crushed the plastic fuel line under the car (under the passenger seat).  It was the intake line, not the return line.  Nobody around here has anything like those lines, so i cut it and put it back together by inserting the 2 pieces into a piece of rubber fuel line and clamping.  I made sure the cut ends of the plastic line were as close as possible to minimize pressure loss.

After all that, it runs almost like it did, but it idles lower now.  Is this a pressure issue from my fix, do i have air in the lines?  I don't know what it is.  My biggest concern is is this thing running lean now?  I dont wanna blow a hole in my pistons!  Thanks for any help!

[rabbitman]

After all that, it runs almost like it did, but it idles lower now.  Is this a pressure issue from my fix, do i have air in the lines?  I don't know what it is.  My biggest concern is is this thing running lean now?  I dont wanna blow a hole in my pistons!  Thanks for any help!

You can not run a diesel too "lean", I think your thinking of a 2-stroke gasser.

A diesel's "mixture" is always changing since the air is completely unrestricted and "lean"=idle.

Most likely you have air in the lines.

[The Mad Hatter]

Well that's good to know!  Thanks rabbitman! 

I drove it to work today, and it acts like it cant get fuel at lower rpms, which would indicate air in the lines.  How do i get the air out?  I don't know the procedure, i'm still new to the diesel world.  Thanks!

[burn_your_money]

It's self bleeding, at least it is once you get it running.

You could have a leak where you spliced in. Before assuming it's air in the lines, install come clear line going to the pump and have a look for bubbles.

[The Mad Hatter]

I don't think my self bleeding is working.  It does run, but is difficult to start.  But i just finished driving it 100 miles today (to and from work), and it still doesnt idle right.  I don't know where i can get some clear fuel line? 

I'm gonna head to the junkyard tomorrow and hope to find a replacement line, eliminating the need for my fixed one.  But if i can't find one, is there a good way to get the air out?

[rabbitman]

I don't think my self bleeding is working.  It does run, but is difficult to start.  But i just finished driving it 100 miles today (to and from work), and it still doesnt idle right.  I don't know where i can get some clear fuel line? 

I'm gonna head to the junkyard tomorrow and hope to find a replacement line, eliminating the need for my fixed one.  But if i can't find one, is there a good way to get the air out?

Napa has the clear fuel line. For your second question, the air is constantly being sucked into the feed line, pumped through the injector pump and returned to the tank. The only way to get it out permanently it to get a non leaking fuel line.