I think I'm getting my car back, boys! Problems though...

[Fredrikkk]

After I sold my MK2 GTD, I've missed it. I did so much work on it, and yeah... K24, 2.5" exhaust, new interior, etc etc.

However, the owner now said that he left that car sitting for a week, and it barely started, so he used some starter fluid and got it running. Supposedly the turbo is now leaking oil out the exhaust pipe. I know that changing the turbo is really an easy job, so worst case, I just have to change it out. But could the ether have blown the seals of the turbo? He said the turbo still has the normal slack and it builds boost like it should.

I'm going back to Norway tomorrow and he's bringing it to me on Sunday. He's getting my Golf 1.6 most likely, as he doesn't want to swap the turbo.

Any thoughts on that turbo though?

[Toby]

If he used ether to start it the oil may be leaking through the big crack in the piston or worse. Ether is not likely to damage a turbo; its cranks, rods, blocks, and heads that succumb to a shot of Panther Piss.

[Fredrikkk]

Oh really?  I wasn't expecting that answer...

But would the car start and drive if that was the case? The guy is bringing it down to me on Sunday. Is there anything I should be looking for specifically?

[R.O.R-2.0]

Oh really?  I wasn't expecting that answer...

But would the car start and drive if that was the case? The guy is bringing it down to me on Sunday. Is there anything I should be looking for specifically?

now that it got ether, look for a blown head gasket. maybe some blown off glow plug tips. maybe even a cracked main cap or 2.. even a bent rod..

[RabbitJockey]

uh ether isn't that magically destructive unless u use too much and it runs away or something

[Toby]

Not so. Even one time can destroy a glow plug diesel. BTDT. Or you might do it a number of times before you have troubles. Its important to remember that not all "starting fluid" has the same amount of ether in it. In days of yore it was all ether. Today some of it appears to be about 20%. JD stuff is only 80% ether. An old can may well be the good stuff, so beware. WD-40 is a safe alternative and works almost as well.

I wouldn't buy it unless you were paying a "bad motor" price. If you just have to have it, at the very least, I would do a compression test. Only time will tell. I killed a 5.7D in a car that I really liked, once. It took one small shot of ether (when I was desperate to get to work). I knew it was hurt when oil consumption when from a quart in 3,000 miles to one in 250 miles. In an instant. It eventually went down to a quart in 50 miles and a bad rattle when I quit driving it. It lasted about 1,000 miles. Long enough to go through a 24 can case of Ursa 30 wt.

[Fredrikkk]

I am not paying anything for it. It is a trade for my 1.6 carb which leaks and has rust in the floor...

But again, I ask: Will the car start if it has a bent rod, or stuff like that? Is there anything specific I should look for/listen for? The car just had its glow plugs replaced as well...

[R.O.R-2.0]

I am not paying anything for it. It is a trade for my 1.6 carb which leaks and has rust in the floor...

But again, I ask: Will the car start if it has a bent rod, or stuff like that? Is there anything specific I should look for/listen for? The car just had its glow plugs replaced as well...

i would start with a compression test, then pull the head to look for damage.

[Fredrikkk]

Is it always a broken head, cracked piston? It almost seems that you guys are comparing it to a t-belt snapping. The car starts, runs and drives like it should. In either which way, the car won't be driven until next summer anyways, as I'll be in Poland!

[R.O.R-2.0]

ether is BAD..

plain and simple.. easiest way to kill a healthy diesel engine.

last engine swap i did, was a 6.9->7.3 IDI ford..

anyways, the 6.9 ran fine, but needed glow plugs. my buddy got it running by soaking the filter element with ether basically.. never heard such a clattery start up in my life.. was compression started, and it squeeled the tires for a split second once it took off.. could not believe it..

anyways, the cooling system was over-pressureized in less than 2 minutes.. think some combustion gasses were getting places they should not have been?

surprised the heads did not leave the block..

[Fredrikkk]

Well, I don't know if he used pure ether or what... But it starts fine, runs fine, and smokes gray like it always has. It got new glow plugs and starts up right away!

[ORCoaster]

Did you just hear that zipping sound past your left ear.  Dodged another bullet.

[Fredrikkk]

Did you just hear that zipping sound past your left ear.  Dodged another bullet.

Heh, yeah... Well I saw the car for the first time in person. It has new glow plugs now and started up right away. It smoked like it always did. I gave it a little bit after a couple of minutes and a whole load of white smoke came out. I checked the engine bay and I saw around the lip of the toilet bowl a mess of oil. How is this happening? Are the seals of the turbo gone?

The turbo boosted normally, but I did see a lot of white smoke. Any advice?

[R.O.R-2.0]

Did you just hear that zipping sound past your left ear.  Dodged another bullet.

Heh, yeah... Well I saw the car for the first time in person. It has new glow plugs now and started up right away. It smoked like it always did. I gave it a little bit after a couple of minutes and a whole load of white smoke came out. I checked the engine bay and I saw around the lip of the toilet bowl a mess of oil. How is this happening? Are the seals of the turbo gone?

The turbo boosted normally, but I did see a lot of white smoke. Any advice?

turbo seals are wasted. or else it has some other problem. but oil is definitely making it into the exhaust..

BTW.. toilet bowls are BAD.. really restrictive..

[Fredrikkk]

Did you just hear that zipping sound past your left ear.  Dodged another bullet.

Heh, yeah... Well I saw the car for the first time in person. It has new glow plugs now and started up right away. It smoked like it always did. I gave it a little bit after a couple of minutes and a whole load of white smoke came out. I checked the engine bay and I saw around the lip of the toilet bowl a mess of oil. How is this happening? Are the seals of the turbo gone?

The turbo boosted normally, but I did see a lot of white smoke. Any advice?

turbo seals are wasted. or else it has some other problem. but oil is definitely making it into the exhaust..

BTW.. toilet bowls are BAD.. really restrictive..

I have a straight 2.5" exhaust on it So itīs not restrictive at all! It just has a 2.5" welded onto the outer ring of the toilet bowl.

And yeah... I know I can find me a K14 anywhere, but I really have become accustomed to the K24.. Is it worth rebuilding it?