Hello all, I have a '91 Jetta Turbo diesel and I think it's in need of a tune up. The car was originally an Ecodiesel and the previous owner put the turbo pump on it. I have a boost gauge and it's hitting 9.5psi no problems. The engine has 149k on it and harldy uses any oil and gives no sign it's getting tired. The tranny has also been changed to a 3.94 R&P and the 5th gear has been raised to .71. I drive a good mix of freeway and city. I love the car but I hate the MPG. My old Dasher got an honest 50mpg but the Jetta is stuck at ~30mpg. The car is otherwise in fine shape with nothing obviously wrong chassis wise to cause such crappy mileage. I've tried driving the car both like a granny on her way to bingo and like a rental car and I haven't been able to get a noteworthy change in mileage. Powerwise it's fine.
I'm thinking it just needs a good tuneup. I'm getting a bit of smoke that I can only see at night. It's heavy when I really romp the car and kind of hit or miss when I'm driving normal, no where near as bad as my N/A Dasher. The previous owner changed the timing belt but I don't think he readjusted the pump timing. I'm thinking a good tune up (check compression, adjust valves, adjust can timing, adjust pump timing, inspect injectors, ect.) should root out the source of my problems.
I asked the local VW shop and they wanted $450 to perform these services. That's way more then I'm willing/able to spend, so I figure I'll do it myself. I'm of above adverage mechanical ability and I have a damn decent set of tools but this will be my first serious foray into a diesel. What speciality tools will I need to do this and what should I know before diving in? I have a Bently and I'm thinking I'll need a Diesel compression checker, cam lock tool and pump lock tool. I already have a dial indicator and magnetic base, will that work or do I need the special VW thingy? Anything I'm missing? Where can I get the speciality tools for a reasonable price? How can I check the injectors? I dont recall anything in the Bently about inspecting them.
Any advice/moral support would be very appreciated. I know I'll love my car alot more if I can get the mileage up to where it belongs.
Thanks in advance
Travis
Adjust Valve. A 91 TD is hydrolic lifter. So no valve adjustment need to be perform. But the cam and pump timing can be done.
After you've been done the pump and cam timing, if she smoke after this get the car to a diesel shop to test the spray pattern and the opening presure of the injectors.
My 2 cents.
Well thanks, that makes me wonder about the shop that wanted to charge me to adjust my valves.