From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Thu Jul 16 16:00:06 2009 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Thursday, July 16 2009 Volume 01 : Number 3111 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Re: [db] Defecting to VW? [db] Re: [CJ-10List] Diesel dreams delayed... superdawg will have gas... Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:13:21 -0700 From: "Nick Eckert" Subject: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Eric, I have not owned a TDI VW, but I have but over 350,000 miles on VW diesels, (Golf & Rabbit) and I have a friend that use to have a TDI Jetta. I have to say they are very nice vehicles, but the engines are not as strong as a M-B diesel. VW diesels are 'fast' diesels. The engine is very peppy off the line and I use to be able to get the wheels to chirp through 3rd gear. That being said, I have found that about every 150,000 miles of so the engines need re-building. Once I had the intermediate shaft break on me and the pistons sent two valves through the head, (this was right after replacing the belt, so the shop re-built the engine for me, they thought they over torqued the belt) and twice, on two separate VW diesels the head warped slightly. Both of those times I sourced a good re-built head and replaced the head. Once I pulled the pistons and honed the cylinders and changed the rings. With such a small engine, the cylinders walls had become oval, but it was $500 1979 Rabbit so I wasn't very concerned about it Have you tried to find your self a nice W124? I have been very impressed with mine, though I am looking forward to the automatic dying so I can put in a manual tranny. Cheers, Nick ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:36:02 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? I second the vote for a 124, especially with the 2.5L TD... not as economical as the TDI's, but there's no timing belt... chuck is on vacation, will be interesting to hear his input on the TDI as he is quite a champion for them... :) john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://creationwiki.org http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Thu, 16 Jul 2009, Nick Eckert wrote: # Eric, # # # # I have not owned a TDI VW, but I have but over 350,000 miles # on VW diesels, (Golf & Rabbit) and I have a friend that use to have a # TDI Jetta. # # # # I have to say they are very nice vehicles, but the engines # are not as strong as a M-B diesel. VW diesels are 'fast' diesels. The # engine is very peppy off the line and I use to be able to get the wheels # to chirp through 3rd gear. That being said, I have found that about # every 150,000 miles of so the engines need re-building. Once I had the # intermediate shaft break on me and the pistons sent two valves through # the head, (this was right after replacing the belt, so the shop re-built # the engine for me, they thought they over torqued the belt) and twice, # on two separate VW diesels the head warped slightly. Both of those # times I sourced a good re-built head and replaced the head. Once I # pulled the pistons and honed the cylinders and changed the rings. With # such a small engine, the cylinders walls had become oval, but it was # $500 1979 Rabbit so I wasn't very concerned about it # # # # Have you tried to find your self a nice W124? I have been # very impressed with mine, though I am looking forward to the automatic # dying so I can put in a manual tranny. # # # # Cheers, # # # # Nick # ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:46:40 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? what do you want for the 300CD? VW TDIs are decent rigs... have always liked VW Diesels... only thing I don't like is the timing belts. as noted in last email, the 124 series Diesels are superb, other than rube-goldberg climate controls they're great... turns out my SD33T project failed to ignite... superdawg will be getting the stock gas 4.2/t-5/np208 setup, along with new paint, etc. the nissan was sitting without being properly stored, the IP is probably toast... (have extras, but not worth the trouble of shuttling parts half way across the state when we're trying to rebuild the truck by the end of the month...) john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://creationwiki.org http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Thu, 16 Jul 2009, Eric Ditwiler wrote: # Guys: # # My 1982 300CD is getting to the point where she needs more TLC than I # have time to give her. # # I am looking around at other cars and am liking the VW TDI on paper--I # have yet to sit in the driver's seat of one. # # Does anyone here have any experience with VW TDI's? # # Is anyone interested in a 1982 300CD (grey/silver with blue tex # interior, 1985 rear end and speedo) ~400K miles--the last 100K on # Amsoil. # A compression check a week ago showed two at 400, two at 460, and one # at 480. All of the driveshafts are new? # # I also have lots of parts as we took apart an 82 4 door and I have # been collecting coupe specific parts from the yard around the corner # from my house, and lots of tools: prechamber tools, spring # compressors, home-made pop tester, injector shims and parts and pre- # chambers up the ying-yang . . . . # # Oh, I also have an extra fool tank that goes in the trunk behind the # stock one. # # I have 8 years of evenings and weekends into this and it breaks my # heart to walk away but I need to set different priorities right now # and need to postpone building the Mad Max Grease Rod from Hell until # retirement--by which time we will probably be in a Mad Max economy-- # but alas have no 20 year storage facilities at hand. # # All of my stuff is in Pomona California about 35 miles East of LA. # # --Eric # # # # Eric Ditwiler # Director, Academic Operations # Harvey Mudd College # 909-607-3134 # eric_ditwiler-at-hmc.edu # # "My own observation is that organizations that confidently rely mostly # on informal codes and implicit contracts are more effective and more # satisfactory to their participants." -- Clark Kerr # ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:09:06 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Eric- 2001 Jetta TDI is my daily driver. 42 MPG mixed city highway 50% each, and just under 50 MPG on 100% highway. For what it is I do find it acceptable and cheap to operate. Caveats - Third and fourth gear are anemic. Acceleration in those two is pitiful. If the car is rolling at all, you can skip first. Engine has great torque but flats out above 3500 rpm. The 5000 rpm dial is wishful thinking. Most I can get out of it is 4500 and that downhill with a tailwind. Not a good car to try and pass people with, but great for commutes. Longest continuous hours driven 5 to 6 so far, not too fatiguing unless there is strong side wind. Radio/antenna system sucks. Reception poor. Benz radio is miles ahead. Permanent on DRL's lead to early faiure of the low beams. Have changed 2 in the last 2 years. Things that you have to watch - belts and water pump every 60,000 miles. Needs full synthetic oil. I get 5000 to 6000 per oil change. Uses drop in filter element, not spin on. Buy a topsider to extract oil, taking off the underbelly pan is a pain in the ass. I am near 290 lbs and 6' tall, find it plenty roomy and comfortable. Back seat space not viable with me in the front seat. Get good tires, the car is light and will waterplane with summer tires (ask me how I know). With Blizzaks in winter it is fantastic in snow and ice. Gets me out of my subdivision when others won't make it. Stuff that has broken ( I got this car at 66K and has near 100K on it now) - window clips that hold the passenger side glass failed, need special tool to raise glass and open panel for access. $200 at dealer. Rear RH abs sensor failed (internal failure) part was cheap, getting old one out was a battle, it is press fit at the factory. Required hacksaw and chizle with large hammer.\ At 60K PO changed the timing belt, will have to change it again at 120. Plan to put in the new 100,000 mile heavy belt. A/C is good, just don't get a black car, mine is and the A/C is marginal on a sunny day. Friends white Jetta feels like an ice box in comparison. Make sure you have a fresh battery. When it fails most roadside service does not have good enough equipment to get the engine to turn (ask me how I know in a -20 F snow day) Catalytic can failed at a weld, new one was aftermarket, had to re-work it with oxy acetylene to get it to fit, get original parts, makes life much easier. Overall much easier to work on than a Benz. Go for it. A 2002 or earlier in very clean shape should be about 6K if you can find one. I paid twice that due to the relatively low miles and absolutely showroom condition at date of purchase. Have fun. Edward Eric Ditwiler wrote: > Guys: > > My 1982 300CD is getting to the point where she needs more TLC than I > have time to give her. > > I am looking around at other cars and am liking the VW TDI on paper--I > have yet to sit in the driver's seat of one. > > Does anyone here have any experience with VW TDI's? > > Is anyone interested in a 1982 300CD (grey/silver with blue tex > interior, 1985 rear end and speedo) ~400K miles--the last 100K on > Amsoil. > A compression check a week ago showed two at 400, two at 460, and one > at 480. All of the driveshafts are new? > > I also have lots of parts as we took apart an 82 4 door and I have > been collecting coupe specific parts from the yard around the corner > from my house, and lots of tools: prechamber tools, spring > compressors, home-made pop tester, injector shims and parts and pre- > chambers up the ying-yang . . . . > > Oh, I also have an extra fool tank that goes in the trunk behind the > stock one. > > I have 8 years of evenings and weekends into this and it breaks my > heart to walk away but I need to set different priorities right now > and need to postpone building the Mad Max Grease Rod from Hell until > retirement--by which time we will probably be in a Mad Max economy-- > but alas have no 20 year storage facilities at hand. > > All of my stuff is in Pomona California about 35 miles East of LA. > > --Eric > > > > Eric Ditwiler > Director, Academic Operations > Harvey Mudd College > 909-607-3134 > eric_ditwiler-at-hmc.edu > > "My own observation is that organizations that confidently rely mostly > on informal codes and implicit contracts are more effective and more > satisfactory to their participants." -- Clark Kerr ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:30:19 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: Re: [db] Defecting to VW? Edward Pomeroy wrote: > > Make sure you have a fresh battery. When it fails most roadside service > does not have good enough equipment to get the engine to turn *** I have become expert on this. My airport cars sit a lot, and this is hard on the batteries - they sulfate up. I generally get 2 years out of a battery, no more. Even though I keep a solar cell in each car, and always leave the battery disconnected ( from everything but the solar cell ) when I leave. Each car has a pair of decent jumper cables in the back, and I always take out a battery box with me. I have gotten jumps by paralleling my battery box with the jumper cables, or by parallelling somebody elses jumper cables with my jumper cables. What bugs me when the batteries fail is that I know I could desulfate them and they'd be just fine. But there is no time to mess with it on the road. Just get a jump, drive straight to the Autozone, pay the man ninety bux, get it over with. - Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:55:15 -0700 From: john Subject: [db] Re: [CJ-10List] Diesel dreams delayed... superdawg will have gas... the pump wasn't stored properly... he said bits of rubber were coming out of the return lines... IP is probably toast he's moving forward with the 4.2/t5/np208 setup... I've got two other IPs up here, will bench drive the system before using it... he said the turbo was good though... hmmm... wonder if I could adjust the waste gate to add just a "little" bit of boost to my sd33... If I kept it under 5 psi I might keep it from doing damage???? thoughts? :) of course if I were to blow up the sd33 in the tug then I wouldn't be able to sell it, so I'd have to keep it... and then I'd be motivated to fix the sd33t... popcorn anyone? ;) john scottmacmoyle-at-gmail.com wrote: > > > What's wrong with the SD33T ? > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > > -----Original Message----- > From: diesel john > > > Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:46:59 > To: undisclosed-recipients: ; > Subject: [CJ-10List] Diesel dreams may be delayed... > > > ....curtis is having troubles with that old SD33T... not really > surprised... it's > a lot more trouble than he signed up for, he's going to give it one > more shot tomorrow > and then proceed with using the 4.2/t5/np208, which is fine by me... > the j10 will > be painted the same color as my '99 WJ... > > I'll fiddle with the SD33T up here and put it in the tug, if it works > out well, will > swap the drivetrains between the two... if the SD33T doesn't work I'll > sell off the parts > and look for a different Diesel drivetrain for my J10... > > stay tuned, keep the popcorn buttered... > > john > > > > ----- > ---------------------------------------------------------- > Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold > http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 > http://creationwiki.org > > http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com > http://fotomeister.us > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > __._,_.___ > Messages in this topic > > (2) Reply (via web post) > > | Start a new topic > > > Messages > > | Files > > | Photos > > | Links > > | Database > > | Polls > > | Members > > | Calendar > > > To View Pictures stored at the webiste go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJ-10List and click "photos" > MARKETPLACE > Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their > families, for the world and for each other > > > Yahoo! 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