Author Topic: Cold starting and crap. (Read 9604 times)

mac.man25 · « **on:** February 05, 2007, 02:19:16 pm »

A little problem:

I am at School and I have a Golf Diesel, and this Sunday, I tried to start it to be off to church, but it would not go.

It seemed my battery was dead, (It would turn over but not nearly fast enough) so I asked somebody to give me a jump, and it still wouldn't go any faster. So later that day when it warmed up more I asked a friend to come over and we tried it again, and that time we got it to turn over fine, but it wasn't getting any fuel. It seems as though the fuel filter is gummed up with diesel gel. So since I don't have any access to AC power by the car, is there anything that I can do so that will be sure it will start?

I thought of getting some of the chemical hand warmers and putting them around the fuel filter to warm up the diesel in it, and also putting some additive in the fuel tank. Any other suggestions on getting the fuel ungummed and flowing?

Thanks for the suggestions.

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2007, 02:28:01 pm »

post your location so we know approx how cold it is there.
let us know how cold it is when you try starting it.
let us know some more specifics about your engine... good/bad compression, oil weight, etc

if you are sure that it is a fuel issue, there are some threads on this forum regarding solutions to heating your fuel filter.

mac.man25 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2007, 03:07:46 pm »

St. Paul MN, it was -11 when I tried to start it the first time. I tried it again at -5.

I am going to try again on wednesday or thursday as the forcast seems to say that it will be 9 or 10 degrees by then.

In the meantime I think it's time for a new battery. I am looking around and If I get a good battery and the fuel lines warmed up I should be fine.

I do have a torch at my disposal, but no charger or AC power where it's parked. I do have a block heater, but unless I want to splice some wires in the parking lot light above, I don't think I will be using it.

mac.man25 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2007, 03:20:01 pm »

As far as the engine goes, I just have resurected the car from 5 years of sitting, so I have no idea what condition the engine is in.

I assume the compression is good, because when it is warm out, or the engine is warm it starts on the 1st or second revolution. I started it in 5 degree weather on saturday to prepare for the cold start on sunday, but no go.

Oil weight, again, no idea, there wasn't any crap in the oil and the oil didn't look that bad so I haven't changed it yet. I was going to get around to it, but I keep putting it off because I don't like doing Oil Changes. (I can do clutches, but oil changes frustrate me, don't as me why)

burn_your_money · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2007, 03:20:28 pm »

Are you getting power to the stop solenoid? Is it working?

It sounds like you need to upgrade/add a ground wire from the battery to the starter

mac.man25 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2007, 03:39:22 pm »

The only problem with that is that it's out on the top of a hill and it's windy out! I would love to do some work to get it more reliable, but it's just too cold for me to stand out there and do anything, I really just need to get it started once so I can drive it to a garage to work on it.

If All else fails I could drain the oil for a couple hours (joy, cold oil) and put in the winter oil I have. I might do that tomorrow as it's dark out now.

Is WD-40 a good way to start the car? I've seen other's mention it, but I've never seen if it's good or not.

If I use a propane torch to heat the fuel lines, what should I be careful of and should I do that at all?

jtanguay · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2007, 04:09:31 pm »

this is what you do. well this is what i did anyways... i bought some nice 0w40 oil then i heated it up (kept the bottle near a fireplace

) and then drained my oil and poured the nice warm/hot oil in. if you have a nice CLEAN metal pan then use that to heat it up!

i can almost guarantee that it will turn over faster, and probably fast enough to get her going.

now if the actual fuel filter is plugged then i dont know what you can do for that... maybe start it off a bucket of fuel or something? still doesn't help the problem much though.

seems to me like using a torch to heat up the fuel filter might be a good idea... just keep the flame at a safe distance though.

ditto on the negative cable. clean the battery top posts too... if your car has a/c you'll probably see a lot of corrosion. clean the contacts on the stop solenoid!

burn_your_money · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2007, 04:26:57 pm »

I might be wrong but I think dino diesel breaks down after a few months so you might want to change it, plus after sitting for 5 years it probably has alot of moisture built up in it

mac.man25 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:42:29 pm »

Well tomorrow the old dino oil comes out, and the new winter oil goes in, and warming it is a good idea, but without a stove and a metal container I'm not sure how I will heat it. But anyhow, I'll figure out a way to do that, if nothing else i can set it on top of a hot engine and that will warm it pretty well.

Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into getting this started on wednesday.

jtanguay · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2007, 08:30:36 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

I might be wrong but I think dino diesel breaks down after a few months so you might want to change it, plus after sitting for 5 years it probably has alot of moisture built up in it

ugh... 5 years and you didnt change the oil? yea bym is right... the moisture in the oil will help to form acids... i would really hate to know the TBN of that oil. change it immediately! any dino oil will break down after a few months from moisture and is why they should be changed every few months... unless in a vehicle that is constantly run and has a good filtration system

i would even add some kind of extra detergency package to that oil to help clean out the old bad oil in it..

saurkraut · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2007, 06:16:27 am »

First, change your oil to a 10W30 dino oil that is "C" rated, or better yet, to a 5W40 "C" rated synthetic.

You can pull the plug on the oil pan and let it drain for hours to get as much of the old oil out.

There is no 0W40 availble in the US. I don't count chasing down Amsoil bumper stickers to see if you can buy oil when you need it.

Nor is there 0w30s, 5W30s, 10W40s or 20W50s that are "C" rated here either. If the back of the bottle does not have a "C" rating in the API circle on the back, it doesn't belong in a diesel.

You can get Moble 1 Truck & SUV 5W40 at Fleet Farm, and some Walmarts have Rotella 5W40 synthetic. You can probably call ahead and make sure its in stock.

If you are gelled up, you need to adress that problem as well. Power Service Diesel 911 might get you going again. Its at Fleet Farm, and maybe Walmart. Unscrew your fuel filter. Dispose of the diesel fuel thats in the filter appropriatly. Fill the filter with the PS 911. Re-install the filter. Dump the rest of the bottle in the tank, and attempt the start.

clbanman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2007, 06:30:48 am »

Walmart Canada carries Esso XD-3 0-40 synthetic oil, so I would think that U.S. Walmart should be able to get it for you if you ask. In my opinion in the temperatures you're seeing there is no substitute for synthetic. As far as your fuel filter goes, if it started when it was warmer, it's probably not clogged due to dirt but gelling because of moisture. At the very least fill the largest thermos you have with boiling water and run it over the filter just before starting it to give you a better shot. As far as your battery, if the engine isn't cranking any faster when you are boosting it, I doubt the problem is actually with your battery. Likely you have issues with cables and connections. Assuming you have a good set of booster cables, try running it from your battery to your starter. If that improves cranking speed, you have cable issues. I have had problems with cables in the past that looked good and tested OK with an ohm-meter, but when I tried the booster cable trick the car started right up. When I removed the cable I slit the insulation and found corrosion on the cables under the insulation due to small breaks in the insulation.

saurkraut · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2007, 06:41:00 am »

Walmart in the US can't even keep the 5W40s in stock. What makes you think that they can get an oil that is not even in their US distribution system?

Diesels are some what of an oddity down here. we don't yet have the market pull to have fuel and oil vendors give a crap.

anarchyx34 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2007, 06:53:38 am »

I found Mobil1 0w-40 at my local Advance auto parts. They only had 3 quarts, so I ended up going with Castrol syntec 5w-40 instead. The bottle states it was designed for VW engines, the TDI in particular. It made an amazing difference on my car, which wouldn't start when it was colder than 15f out.

clbanman · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2007, 09:32:36 am »

http://www.autobarn.net/mobil-1-diesel-truck.html
http://secure.data-comm.com/RBIS/Detail.bok?no=194188
Maybe I'm a bit naive, but if I'm in Canada and can find synthetic diesel oil for sale in the U.S.,

?? Even if your local retailer doesn't stock it, get them to order it. The oil companies make this stuff, you just need to convince your local retailer that he needs to carry it, but even if they won't, I have yet to have one refuse to special order something. Check your jobbers or even your local VW dealer. They sell the cars, they will $$ell the oil :shock:

Author Topic: Cold starting and crap. (Read 9604 times)

anarchyx34