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I agree with your points re wind chill.
Re your curiosity, I would say no that is not really the major reason although it might be a tiny factor. I think the reason is that diesels produce less waste heat per unit hp than does an equivalent gasser. or something like that.
You are attempting to apply a law of physics which describes how FAST somting will lose its heat. This is NOT the same as the term "wihdchill" wich attempts to describe how cold a human "feels" under given conditions.
Windchill is ONLY a factor to warm-blooded Humans. It is a term which was made up by the weather-reporting community to help describe how cold it "feels" by calculating in temparture, humidity,evaperation and wind against the skin of a human. This windchill calculation often comes out to be COLDER than the actual outside temparture.
An inatamate object such as an automobile simply cannot have the term "windchill" applied to it. A car cannot "feel" colder than the actual temparture. It does not matter how much the wind blows, a thermomator will show that the temparture is unaffected.
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Also, The reason your TDI runs colder is because it is MORE EFFICENT. It generates less waste energy as heat. Very little to do with RPMs.
Infact, lower RPMS (higher loading) would heat TDI engine faster than higher RPMS (light loading). However, it is not benifetial to your engine to load it too heavily when it is cold. (undue wear on the bearings and cylinders)
If an automobile engine was 100% efficent.... it would convert all the energy in the fuel into forward motion. There would be ZERO heat generated so there would be no need for a radiator. (And would get over 100 MPG)
Basically, there are 2 options to running Veggie oil.
1)Modify the vehicle to deal with raw veggie oil
2)Convert the veggie oil into biodiesel so it can be put into the fueltank.
If you search the internet... there a many websites that can help with either of the above options.
1)You can purchase kits to convert your TDI to replace the spare tire with a second fueltank that contains veggieoil.
2)You can purchase a kit which contains all the materials you need to produce biodiesel in your garage.
My diesel fuel pump was leaking. I had it replaced and it was ok. It was a very small leak, it dropped my milage only from 45mpg to 42mpg. You dont really realize these leaks by looking only at car milage.
it's a human feeling thang.
but isn't it a fact that a car engine will consume more fuel per unit time to maintain engine & cabin temperature while parked and idling at zero F in a 75 mph wind than it will with no wind?
The above statement is from the National Weather Service's site describing wind chill. Think about it: If wind chill has no effect on radiators or engines, there is no reason for cooling fans in automobiles.
All is not lost though. I understand that Wallmart should have "Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40" on the shelves by end of Feburary. This oil is essentually re-packaged Mobil DELVAC1 which has been proven to be very good for the NON pumpe-duse engines.
ELF has an almost complicated and complex product offering for the vast array of European models in this country. Prices as you would expect are at premium to the Mobil products.
51 MPG
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(seen on a previous-gen - A4 - jetta tdi sedan).
reminds me of a nice geek t-shirt: GOT ROOT?
Given that my TDI can go over 700 miles on one fillup... it is VERY RARE INDEED when I can actually empty a tank of fuel on a purely-highway trip.
My TDI did a round trip from Burlington Vermont to Southern Colorado and back in about 5 days. The engine NEVER cooled down during this entire round-trip as we rotated thru 3 drivers.
As an aside, the engine-oil level did not drop at all over this entire trip. Often, highway-speeds will consume some amount of oil thru the crankcase ventalation system.
On the oil issue. I am afraid I would not have good economic news for you. 10 per filter is about the going rate. You can search the net for better deals, but you normally have to buy 10 ea @ 6-7 per each to justify the shipping charges.
For the oil, information is getting a tad more complex, so indeed START with the oem specification in your owners manual !!!! You might want to do a google for ELF oil products. Chances are, EVEN the dealer is NOT putting the correct specification oil.
UNFORTUNATELY it is almost totally "BUYER BEWARE"
Having said that, once you have those issues resolved, DIY takes me all of 10 mins and that is dawdle ling!!! I use an evacuator and the real time is used cleaning up the new/old oil containers and unbuttoning and buttoning. The filter R/R is a bit of a mess and bother but total cost for me is like 6.50 filter, 5qt oil at 4 per or 26.50 and I go 25,000 miles OCI's. With the advent of ULSD I am seriously considering 30,000 mile OCI's.
-cJ
As for your service expenses, your service department must be very proud of their work. At the dealer we pay $50-$60 for the 10,000 mile servicing for our Passat and Jetta TDI' s. (The Passat costs less because it takes one less liter of oil.)
As for oil. YOU MUST USE VW505.01 synthetic oil (not VW505.00) Since my TDI only needs oil-changes every 10,000 miles, it is not really all that more expensive than other cars.
Since these oils are DESIGNED to go at least 10,000 miles, you would be wasting perfectly good oil if it were removed from the engine before 10,000 miles.
More importantly, your engine will very likely suffer severe mechanical damage if any lesser oil were substituted. (Some people have tried lesser oils and ended up with a boat-anchor for an engine)
CAN'T WAIT!!
Cj
CLEAN DIESEL VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MAKES NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT WASHINGTON, D.C. AUTO SHOW
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. today unveiled its cleanest diesel ever for the U.S., the Jetta TDI. Additionally, the company announced that this new clean diesel will be available to the U.S. market in the spring of 2008. This Jetta TDI will meet emissions standards applicable in all 50 states, including the most stringent "TIER 2/BIN 5" or "LEV II/LEV" requirement limiting nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to 0.05 g/mile.
This clean diesel Jetta meets the lowest emissions standards without the use of urea injection. Instead, a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst reduces NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. The engine management system in the Jetta changes operating modes periodically to treat the NOx that has been stored in the catalytic converter. A particulate filter in the exhaust system further reduces emissions.
The Jetta TDI is one of the first products of the BLUETEC offensive initiated jointly by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. The goal of this partnership is to establish the concept of BLUETEC as a uniform label for clean and highly fuel efficient diesel-powered cars and SUVs with 50-state compliant engines. BLUETEC denotes diesel power plants that comply with the strictest emissions regulations of the US market. The technologies individually developed by each manufacturer serve to reduce NOx in particular – an exhaust element more prevalent in a diesel engine.
Volkswagen unveiled its clean diesel concept Tiguan compact SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The Tiguan will be available in the U.S. mid 2008.
Volkswagen has a 30-year history of providing the U.S. market with efficient and durable diesel vehicles. Diesels traditionally account for almost 20 percent of Volkswagen's sales in the United States.
It does have to be used properly by running it thru the injectors directly. Here are 3 links describing how to use it.
link 1
link 2
3rd link
I have an opportunity to buy a 2004 Jetta TDI at my local VW/Audi dealer. The car is immaculate. I have owned quite a few Mercedes diesels but never a VW. I am somewhat concerned about the service horror stories I have read on this and other websites.
This Jetta has 66000 miles.
Someone out there convince me to buy this car..or not
Thanks
SECOKENN Washington state
If the car's history and price are good, go for it.
We've had one minor electrical problem with our 2004 Passat TDI in 33K miles, and absolutely no problems with our 2006 Jetta TDI in 11K miles.
David
What is the ambient tempartures where you are and have you been adding antigell to the fuel at every fillup?
How many miles ago did you replace the fuel filter?
I just bought the car and the guy I got it from said he changed the fuel filter not too long ago. Unsure of actually time.
This is my first diesel and I wasn't aware of any antigell aditive. I assume you'd get that ay any auto parts store, right?
Thanks for your reply.
David
Summer ==> Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost
Winter ==> Diesel Fuel Supplement
POWERSERVICE products are available at WallMart.
Unlike some of the "snake oils" that are sold as "additives" for gasoline.... Diesel fuel in North America is pretty crappy and needs some help. Adding a few Cetane numbers can improve MPG and reduce engine noise. (Obviously antiJell is a must in the winter)
Also, using a diesel fuel additive also lubricates the VERY expensive fuelpump and keeps the injectors clean.
I will certainly go out and get some today.
If you know of any other resources, on the web, that might be helpful please let know.
Thanks again.
David
It could be the gelling in the low temperatures..
or the fuel filter...with gelled waxy stuff inside..
or intake manifold...though it must be really dirty to cause any symptoms as severe as yours.
You should go to the link for the site for tdi owners, above....see link 1 .
Technically speaking, Even if you could get a heater that could make a difference, there really is not enough power available in the car battery to power it. (Simple "conversion of power" math which I will not delve into here)
I assume you have already covered the radiator air-intake and considerd a plug-in engine heater. (still only about 1500 watts max available from a wall plug and the engine cools off quickly once you unplug it and drive away.)
With a baby, you really need a way to heat up the inside of the car. It sounds to me your only real solution is an engine heater which is powered by diesel fuel and they do not require any external power. There are several types available and it is reported that they work VERY well.(engine is all warmed up when you start it on the coldest mornings.) These heaters are NOT cheap (over $1000) but they are the ONLY real way to do what you ask.
Here is a link to the ESPAR heater.
and Webasto Heater
I do agree that these 12V mini heaters seem very cheap and not practical to heat the interior air space. They are only typically 100-200W units operating off a 12v car lighter. There are some units you can buy that are 110V and you can place inside your car prior to going out and it will heat the interior and they run around the 900W range. However, as you mention when you drive away the cab can lose its heat fast and your stuck with the heat from the TDI. Unless of course you had the heater and a 1000W DC-AC inverter straped in your trunk! I do have the plug-in engine heater which works great to make the cold start MUCH easier, but once you drive away the heat dissipates very quickly. I have not yet put on the pipe insulation, as i recall it is 1/2inch material I need. So I will give that a shot. I checked out the ESPAR site, cool products but a little over the top for what I need. Other than that I can not wait for spring, and baby will use lots of blankets until the car warms up.
Best way many TDIers have been doing, is to immediately drive off in lower gears , not gunning the engine, and putting some load on it, like turning up the heated seats and keeping it in lower gears a little longer.
I would also try to bring extra throw blankets....
I do see some people selling their working tdi engine after the car received some damage....but I would ask to see that it at leasts starts, before I buy it. I saw some on buy, maybe there is one site for your city.
you can also checkout: this