DIESEL ENGINE TIMING and hunting for missing power and economy -- VW T3 TDI --

[@adamderbisenda]

Disappointingly the came shafts is perfect 😂

[@patrickhalpin5935]

Hi pat in co clare! I have restored many cars over the years have just started 76mgb roadster. I looked at some of your videos and i must say from start to finish i enjoyed your attitude to all the upsets a vintage car can test you with. My channel has some finish cars on it . But i never made help videos. Keep up the great work looking forward to you getting back on the ..mg🤪

[@Endfloat]

Hi Pat! Thanks for stopping by my channel and for the very nice feedback. I try to make up for my lack of experience with my attitude and approach, although this doesn't always work. I will be taking a look at your channel.

[@patrickhalpin5935]

@@Endfloat don't ever lose your approach! The mg is a very basic mechanics but a lot of what you see today came from these old cars. Understanding what a part is to do when working will all help to fix any problems. Get some sponsorship for your site .NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. Best wishes for the west of Ireland

[@Endfloat]

@@patrickhalpin5935 honestly the MG is the car I'm enjoying working on the most. They're so basic in many ways, yes, but there's some fantastic engineering in them. I think it's my approach that makes making the videos enjoyable actually too!

[@patrickhalpin5935]

@@Endfloat and i ment to say get welding its the easiest part of the restoration. By the time you finish your mg you should be a good welder and spray painter!! Go the extra mile it fun

[@Endfloat]

@@patrickhalpin5935 that is actually the plan. It'll be much further down the line though! Probably another couple of years before I get to the bodywork. That's not to say I won't drive it for a bit in its ratty condition.

[@davidhenderson7722]

Ive got a similar problem with my 1z tdi apart from the drinking fuel issue. Its just underpowered. I replaced the n75 turbo actuator and bought a cheap maf before i replaced the turbo actuator which didn't solve it. My last resort is buying a genuine pierburg one and see if it cures it because the way it stands right now its flat as a fart 😭

[@mikehodson4911]

very interesting vid, learnt a lot, hope you get it sorted 👌

[@Endfloat]

Thanks! No doubt there'll be future videos of my progress!

[@ronanmc2112]

Very frustrating for you but great watching for us! Sorry you didn't put the V6 TDI in now? LOL. Seriously though, I hope you get it sorted 👍

[@Endfloat]

The thing is, there's nothing to say that I wouldn't have had the same issues with the V6, plus a whole rake of other issues to be sorted out too. I'll get there in the end! This won't beat me!

[@only-vans]

I have 2 scenarios here. when I built my daughters T3 with a 5 speed T3 box and a 110hp audi a4 AHU motor, it would fly up the M18 motorway at 90mph with power to spare. That is up hill all the way for 6 miles. I have recently just rebuilt my AFN motor, new everything, compression tested, timing spot on and it ticks over lovely. Still a twat to start even with new glow plugs. Foot on the pedal, it blows smoke and coughs like an 80 year old coal miner as the revs fall. Replacing the injectors next ... not feckin' cheap either. Now onto your problem. I did notice that you checked mechanically that your cam and crank timing was correct, I didn't notice a locking pin in your fuel pump timing. I may have missed that part. Having said that, fuel pump can't be far out ( if at all) otherwise it would be a complete bastard to start. As for getting these vans up to running temperature with a TDI install, it will never happen at tickover. The TDI engine is SOOOOO efficient at cooling itself. Couple that with the long run of coolant pipes and the rather large radiator, the only way to get the engine up to temperature is batter it along the motorway, uphill, with the handbrake on, towing a loaded trailer in second gear.

[@Endfloat]

Wow, thanks for the detailed comment! I reckon gearing has some part to play in my issue, but it's not the be all and end all. If you were using the T3 box, the engine would be screaming at 90mph. To tell the truth, I'd have expected it to hit the rev limiter before that point. Be that as it may, I still feel that there's something up with my engine. Hopefully my new MAF sensor arrives soon. After that it's compression test time. With regard to the temperature, it does get up to temperature a lot better now with the new stat. It never got up to temperature at all before. Anyway, I'll keep you updated with my progress and hopefully it'll help you find your issue. Definitely doing the injectors is a worthwhile exercise though.

[@only-vans]

@@Endfloat it was absolutely roaring at 90

[@carstenmoore5760]

Hi Ross, If your engine is down on power and difficult to start it might be low on compression...? Maybe do a compression test before you go to the trouble of taking the head off... It may give you more of a clue. As you rightly say the lack of performance is likely to be a mechanical issue, not electronics.

[@Endfloat]

If the MAF sensor doesn't fix the issue, the next step will be a compression test.

[@pyronitro]

i think putting back the EGR and doing a dynamic EGR might be better than a EGR delete.

[@trevbrady]

Are you sure you're getting 100% from the throttle potentiometer? Should be able to check easily in VCDS.

[@Endfloat]

That is something i did check earlier in the game actually, but good shout all the same.

[@J.F.K.O]

don't you have a timing mark on the flywheel? edit i just remembered that you're not running a T3 gearbox :P

[@Endfloat]

Yeah that's the problem! The gearbox I'm running is on upside down! 😉

[@TheTinski07]

I know I used a different ratio gearbox to you but mines AHU 90bhp and as far as I'm concerned ours pulls really well. Now my nearest motorway is probably 40miles away so I rarely even go 60 but do a lot of lugging up big hills and plodding around but I can leave it in 5th and 35mph and if I put my foot down its there. No smoke at all. Can't say about fuel economy. We just keep putting it in because the gauge is so dodgy. Your performance seems like mine before I got power to all the sensors but clearly you have those working 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@Endfloat]

Thanks for the info. It's good to get a different perspective cause from my own perspective I cannot understand at this point why these conversations are so popular. I'll keep going up to a point to see if I can get more power.

[@trevbrady]

In fairness Ross, the performance you're getting is akin to what I'm getting in my TDI bay with flipped passat gearbox. I really have to wind it up to use fifth gear and there's an automatic hill detector built in, there's no way it would climb any kind of hill at any speed in 5th. Compared to my daily passat with similar engine, gearbox, vehicle weight, tyre height, the performance difference in fifth gear is night and day. Aerodynamics have to be a factor.

[@Endfloat]

Honestly Trev, I'm not fully convinced there isn't something wrong with yours too. Have you ever had it on a dyno? If someone had told me before I had done the job that the best I was going to get was 30mpg and a 0 to 60 time of over 25 seconds, I wouldn't have bothered my arse and would have gotten the aaz engine sorted out.

[@TheTinski07]

I did a video on mine accelerating on my channel. The 1100mile video. Might be usefullish to compare. I tried mine on a long hill recently to compare to my 2.5 l200. Acellerated from 50 in 5th. Both hit 60 although the l200 had a little more torque. I did use a Petrol passat box but I have tall rear tíres on 15s for the extra ground clearance. I'll do a 0-60 time when I get the chance and let you know how long it takes.

[@Endfloat]

I had a look at your video and commented on it. Good video and a good channel! I was surprised I wasn't already subscribed so I remedied that.

[@stevenharpervw]

Is there a Boost leak . In my videos I took the air Inlet manifold off a Audi A4 and it was blocked up with carbon. Mpg was down to 30mpg on a tdi engine. Might be worse checking. If it is the inlet blocked with carbon give me/ my channel a shout out on your channel . Hope you get it sorted

[@Endfloat]

I actually did a job on the intake manifold in a previous video. It was very bad, and the job did help the situation but it's still not right. Nasty, horrible job to have to do to be honest. I doubt there's a boost leak. It's boosting to over 1.8 bar.

[@stevenharpervw]

@@Endfloat can’t find the video, did you get to clean in where the valves open and close ?

[@Endfloat]

@@stevenharpervw a link for your viewing pleasure... 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l53ak3tpbJ1qjdk

[@stevenharpervw]

@@Endfloat thanks “lad” heehee 😉 😆🤣

[@joedemp27]

Have you a Intercooler installed ?

[@Endfloat]

I do, yes. It's in a housing beside the gearbox.

[@joedemp27]

@@Endfloat my donor car for my upcoming T4 tdi swap had similar issues turned out to be egr delete or rather disconnected valve

[@only-vans]

@@joedemp27 keep the wiring connected to the valve, disconnect and plug the vac line.

[@stevenharpervw]

At the start of the video do you have a camera on a gamble, it’s rather annoying as it tries to follow your eyes .good video, very interesting

[@Endfloat]

The camera has a built in gimbal (DJI pocket 2) but I'll have a look at the settings on it if it's annoying. I know it follows my face.

[@miketaylor6282]

Check the vacuum hose inside the ecm, it gets old and starts leaking. Leave it to VW and their farfegnugen to put a vacuum hose inside the ecm. 😂😂

[@gordonblues843]

Is this a JX engine?

[@Endfloat]

No, it's an AHU.

[@Jesus-hx5vg]

I gotta do a head gasket on my alh 1.9... Drinking or pushing out coolant

[@Endfloat]

A head gasket on one of these engines isn't a massive ordeal. Just make sure that your mating surfaces are spotless and you replace the stretch bolts!

[@Jesus-hx5vg]

@@Endfloat thanks! Already got new head bolts and gasket for it. Let us know when you figure out your problem I'd love to know what's going on

[@johnblackburn7673]

Have you done a compression test?

[@Endfloat]

@@johnblackburn7673 is that directed at me or the Jesus? 😂 If it's for me, no, but if the replacement MAF sensor doesn't do the trick, I'll be doing that.

[@stevejones8665]

@@Endfloat I haven't just been looking at MPG figures for the VW Camper with the Diesel engine and According to fuely real world mpg figures from owners, they are reporting 27 to 32 Mpg on average. Don't forget the added weight and the aerodynamics of a brick, drag coefficient isn't like a car. I remember the very 1st vehicle I ever drove a Bedford Dormobile Campervan with a Perkins Diesel engine and a 4 speed column change gearbox, 55mph was its happy spot 🙄although I did get it upto 75mph down a Welsh Mountain with a tail wind.😉😊. Very best of luck getting your camper sorted.🤞🤞👍👍

[@Mickyrst43]

Don't fit a backbox ,straight pipe her laaadddddddddd !!!!!!!!!! No smoke,no poke !!!! LOL

[@Endfloat]

I took it for a spin out to souhans in Trim today to get the exhaust sorted out and all the felt speccers had a big horn on them because of the whoosh off the waste gate. Chrisht, there was some lift off 'er laaaaad!

[@Mickyrst43]

@@Endfloat They're an expensive garage them Souhans!! Anyway,I'll never need to time a diesel engine,but that was one of the most interesting video's I've watched in a long time.I'm even curious to know why it's not performing correctly.Awaiting update's when you post them up.

[@Endfloat]

They are expensive but experience has shown me that cheap does not necessarily equal good, and the next cowboy I encounter will incur a savage beating! I have a new MAF sensor ordered for the van, so we'll see if that helps. After that it'll be a compression test and if that shows up normal, I'll be looking at the fuel pump.