Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 13:32:34 -0500
Reply-To: Bryan Belman <bryanbelman@IWON.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bryan Belman <bryanbelman@IWON.COM>
Subject: Re: Diesel tips for new owner
In-Reply-To: <3A35A577.D636A4EA@sprintmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Welcome to the slowest vehical on earth club!!!! Get yourself one of those
large farming equipment orange triangles and tape it to the back deck.
I did for a while.
I have and extra circut board for that cluster that I may consider selling,
but most likely it is just the yellow diode light that is burnt out. Easy
to change and you most likely do not have the temp guage in the replacement
cluster.
That glow plug socket being melted on the inst. cluster is not common....not
sure about that.
I would try replacing the diode first, it has a plus and minus side, so
pay attention to how the other one comes out. One wire leg is slightly
thicker then the other. If you put it in backwards, it will not light.
I have never had to use fuel additives, I live in NJ(sorry to say).
I run 15W-40 weight oil, but my valve seal guides or lower rings are warn,
so I use cheap oil. My 1.6D has a big hunger for oil.
Use the same phosphate (sp) free anti-freeze as in all VW's
Good luck, sounds like you have a nice driver. E-mail if need help swapping
the cluster. Get a new diode bulb at Radio Shake.
-- Original Message --
>Howdy.
>I just bought an '82 diesel vanagon. This is my first diesel. It is
>getting chilly here in PA and I am looking for advice/tips for running
>this van in the winter. I bought this van to hold me over until my
>syncro is done which is currently living in sunny south CA.
>Here's what I got:
>It has a new head, new starter, new alternator, new master cylinder, new
>brakes, new timing belt and some fairly new el-cheapo brand tires.
>The dash cluster is not from a diesel so there is no glow plug
>indicator. The original cluster is with the van but apparently the
>lights were not working. I noticed that the lens in front of the glow
>plug light looked a bit melted. Is that common?
>The front heater blower is busted but she had a good used one (actually
>the whole front heater assembly, I think) that she threw in.
>Here are some questions:
>What brand/weight oil should I be using? Is synthetic OK?
>I will put the MT90 in the trans. This is good, no?
>What type of fuel additives should I consider?
>Does the diesel require the same special coolant as the aluminum-headed
>WBX engine?
>
>The PO is a VW enthusiast and took care of this van the best she could.
>This is her third diesel. She even changed the oil for me after we did
>the deal but before I picked it up. All-in-all, I think that it is a
>decent van for the money and I am looking forward to the diesel
>experience. I suspect that my daily-driven Thing is looking forward to
>the rest it will get this winter as well.
>
>Thanks a bunch,
>Mike Pidcoe
>
Bryan Belman
Pt. Pleasant, NJ
90 Audi 200
82 Vanagon Diesel Westfalia
70 Type 1
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