Finished my HG, kind of. Couple of Qs

[burn_your_money]

Ok I put my car back together and it ran awesome. Fired up within the first crank except for when the engine was already hot, then it took up to 5 cranks to fire. Also, I had air in my fuel line, could this be related?

The big question is, I drove about 100 kms and used up roughly 20 liters of fuel. No visable leaks either. I never checked my timing (since I didn't move the pump) but could that expain 20l/100kms? I'm used to 5l/100kms. Or about 50mpg compared to the 14MPG I was getting.

The real kicker is my headgasket crapped out on me again. Boy am I mad. This ******* piece of gasket sealer must have warped the head, as it started leaking coolant in the exact some spot as the first time, this time way worse though


That'll teach me to not check the head to make sure it's straight. I figured since it ran awesome and never overheated the head should be good. I'll never rush a HG again. At least I know what I'm doing next time :roll:

I haven't re-pulled the head to confirm, but I'm pretty sure that's the problem. I probably won't either until the spring. I'll just put my other car on the road

[tdi4by]

How was the engine already hot? do you mean like room temp from a warm garage or something? Did you use new headbolts? What torque proceedure did you use? I am also curious what you did with the gasket sealer because head gaskets usually are done dry.

[burn_your_money]

New headbolts, and gasket. I followed the bentley exactly, 30, 44, then (2) 1/4 turns (only variation). The get up to operating temp and turn another 1/4 turn. Never loosening.

That gasket sealer I think is from when a previous owner did a waterpump. It broke loose and got lodged in the HG. It definitly wasn't attatched to the HG, just stuck in there.

When the engine was warm, I meant I had driven it, then stopped it and let if sit for 30-60 minutes. Enough to cool partially, but not cool enough to require glow plugs.

[RabbitJockey]

my car takes a couple cranks to start when i drive it then let it sit and its warm enough not to need glow plugs. but then it fires right up, and when it fires it fires you know, it's like missing or anything

[jtanguay]

yea there should be a way to cycle the glow plugs just to get that immediate start  wire in a switch

[burn_your_money]

yea there should be a way to cycle the glow plugs just to get that immediate start  wire in a switch

I took taht switch out, I hated it. I had like an extra 10 switched wired in from the previous owner. Too lazy to figure out how it was suppose to work so be made his own.

Any ideas on the 13MPG?

[HarryMann]

13mpg  :shock:

You measured it wrong? 100km is no distance at all to determine an accurate mpg figure!!!

You thrashed the nads off it for 100Km 'cos it went so well...?

Your calculator needs a new battery?

The timing is out, despite thinking it hasn't changed?

[jtanguay]

lol 13 mpg... thats impossible in a 1.6td... my IP leaks, and the fuel screw is turned up, its a complete dog, turbo isn't boosting much so its basically screwed, and i'm getting better than 13mpg... and i beat on it.  maybe if you disconnect the fuel return from the tank will you get 13 mpg... hehehehehe

[burn_your_money]

Well I drove 100-200 kms, not exactly sure and I used half a tank. My gauge in my rabbit is pretty good half to half, so thats about 20 liters.  I know it's not accuarte due to the measuring methods and also the lack of distance traveled, but I can't really drive it anymore to check. Maybe I messed up my return lines (between injectors) and that caused the horrible mileage?

I wasn't beating on it at all either, kepp my speeds under 100kmh.