Eco-Modding and diesels?

[worthrj]

Where can I buy a good cheap vacuum gauge with the stuff I will need to install it?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by PremierSprinter

...VW owners tend to not do the maintenance that they are supposed to and just let them fall apart.

There's another point. On my Honda Insight, maintenance (other than oil & filters) is replacing the spark plugs and adjusting the valves every 100K miles, which I can do myself in under an hour. Much the same is true for my '88 Toyota. For a VW diesel, "maintenence" includes timing belt replacement (which I'd consider a major repair job) as frequently as every 40K miles, per here: TDI Tech: Life After 100 (Thousand) — Part One | Dr. Dan's Biodiesel

The VW diesel may be saving fuel, but it sure doesn't seem to save money.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

There's another point. On my Honda Insight, maintenance (other than oil & filters) is replacing the spark plugs and adjusting the valves every 100K miles, which I can do myself in under an hour. Much the same is true for my '88 Toyota. For a VW diesel, "maintenence" includes timing belt replacement (which I'd consider a major repair job) as frequently as every 40K miles, per here: TDI Tech: Life After 100 (Thousand) — Part One | Dr. Dan's Biodiesel

The VW diesel may be saving fuel, but it sure doesn't seem to save money.

Yeah, I'm always surprised when I see maintenance other than "change oil, check wear items and fluid levels". Most Hondas and Toyotas don't have any regular maintenance, and parts don't begin to fail until near or after 200,000 miles.

[deejaaa]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

There's another point. On my Honda Insight, maintenance (other than oil & filters) is replacing the spark plugs and adjusting the valves every 100K miles, which I can do myself in under an hour. Much the same is true for my '88 Toyota. For a VW diesel, "maintenence" includes timing belt replacement (which I'd consider a major repair job) as frequently as every 40K miles, per here: TDI Tech: Life After 100 (Thousand) — Part One | Dr. Dan's Biodiesel

The VW diesel may be saving fuel, but it sure doesn't seem to save money.

did you read this: "Note 1: Interval for 1998-2002 ALH cars may be increased to 100k at belt replacement if updated parts are installed."
since 2013-09-13, when I started tracking mileage, till now 2015-06-02, I have saved (over EPA), 523 gal. (US), Total saved: $1762.51. Total distance traveled: 54741.2 mi. Total cost: $3,095.93.
when I was driving my truck, the best it got was 20 mpg. cost would have been $7,526.00.
I thing my jetta saved me a lot.

[redneck]

.

deejaaa

I thing my jetta saved me a lot.

I thing so too...!!!





>

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by PremierSprinter

I have owned and worked on VWs all of my life. The automatic transmission aren't great. The rubberized coating on interior buttons start to come apart after five or so years. The newer direct injection motors had some metallurgy issues with injector lobes. The 1.8t motors had carbon issues with very high mileage. Most problems that VW has get an actual recall, even for body rust up to 12 years old. TDI motors, especially the ALH are insanely reliable. Plenty of TDI owners proudly drive around with 400,000 miles on them with the confidence to go across the country. Once you actually learn them well, you'll realize that the people who think that they are unreliable either have never owned one, bought one used after somebody else trashed it or bought one new having a common problem which is now covered under a recall with updated parts.

Oh I like the diesel. I wish I could trade our 80k mile 2001 1.8t auto and pay the difference or just buy our friends 1996 jetta TDI with 5 speed manual and 200k miles.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by deejaaa

did you read this: "Note 1: Interval for 1998-2002 ALH cars may be increased to 100k at belt replacement if updated parts are installed."
since 2013-09-13, when I started tracking mileage, till now 2015-06-02, I have saved (over EPA), 523 gal. (US), Total saved: $1762.51. Total distance traveled: 54741.2 mi. Total cost: $3,095.93.
when I was driving my truck, the best it got was 20 mpg. cost would have been $7,526.00.
I thing my jetta saved me a lot.

But what if you had bought a 2002 Civic instead of a 2002 Jetta, would there be any savings? It's not hard to save money coming from a truck.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by deejaaa

did you read this: "Note 1: Interval for 1998-2002 ALH cars may be increased to 100k at belt replacement if updated parts are installed."

Yes, but that still means you (or some previous owner) had to do at least one "maintenance" which IMHO qualifies as a major repair job.

I thing my jetta saved me a lot.

Over a truck, sure. Over a Honda or Toyota of similar size as your Jetta, maybe not much, if anything - and that's before factoring in the cost of a timing belt replacement. Have you had to do yours, and added in the cost?

[deejaaa]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Yes, but that still means you (or some previous owner) had to do at least one "maintenance" which IMHO qualifies as a major repair job.



Over a truck, sure. Over a Honda or Toyota of similar size as your Jetta, maybe not much, if anything - and that's before factoring in the cost of a timing belt replacement. Have you had to do yours, and added in the cost?

Originally Posted by deejaaa View Post
did you read this: "Note 1: Interval for 1998-2002 ALH cars may be increased to 100k at belt replacement if updated parts are installed."

Over a truck, sure. Over a Honda or Toyota of similar size as your Jetta, maybe not much, if anything - and that's before factoring in the cost of a timing belt replacement. Have you had to do yours, and added in the cost?
I wouldn't own a Honda or Toyota so I can't figure that into the equation. if I had money at the time and no kids, it would have been a diesel Smart.

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Yes, but that still means you (or some previous owner) had to do at least one "maintenance" which IMHO qualifies as a major repair job.


Over a truck, sure. Over a Honda or Toyota of similar size as your Jetta, maybe not much, if anything - and that's before factoring in the cost of a timing belt replacement. Have you had to do yours, and added in the cost?

I wouldn't own a Honda or Toyota so I can't figure that into the equation. if I had money at the time and no kids, it would have been a diesel Smart.

I did a TB change 6 months after I bought it. I'm not saying it's not a major job, but after you've done one, it's not that big of a deal. what the previous owner did to the car, as far as repairs, has nothing to do with me.
these cars can be had for as little as 1,500.00 or as much as 8,000.00. engine maintenance is all part of the package. I read lots of threads on tdiclub of a new owner who broke a TB. most are in denial and are appalled that no one warned them. all I can say is, do your research.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by deejaaa

these cars can be had for as little as 1,500.00 or as much as 8,000.00. engine maintenance is all part of the package.

Yeah? $8500 for the Insight, in '03 or '04. $2800 for the Toyota (net cost is minus $1100 that I got for the old carbed one that wouldn't pass smog), so not a lot of difference in price.

I read lots of threads on tdiclub of a new owner who broke a TB. most are in denial and are appalled that no one warned them. all I can say is, do your research.

Seems that since the timing belt is a failure point which results in major damage, and a certain number are going to fail before their stated replacement interval, the new owners might have a point :-)