Diesel acceleration (such as it is) stumble

        OK, here’s the problem.  My ’82 diesel Rabbit has developed a sort
of a "stumble" under hard acceleration.  The engine begins to accelerate,
then sort of "hesitates", there is a momentary loss of power, and then
everything is fine.  It seems almost as if one or more of the cylinders is
failing to fire.  It’s not especially cold out, and I haven’t put any
treatment into the fuel.  It could be just a bad tank of diesel, but it’s
beginning to worry me.  (I’m going to be relying on that car a great deal
over the next several months to go on some fairly long trips).  Any ideas?
Bad fuel?  Sudden, unforseen injector troubles?  (It just started happening
all of a sudden.) Serious internal problems?  Clogged fuel/water seperator?
Anyone?  Thanks in advance…


|Tom Guptill           | tgpt_…@uhura.cc.rochester.edu  (internet)  |
|CPU Box 277445 U of R |  "    " @db1.cc.rochester.edu (alt internet) |
|Rochester, NY 14627   |  "    " @uordbv (bitnet)                     |
|(716) 274-0156        |                                              |

3 Responses to “Diesel acceleration (such as it is) stumble”

  1. admin says:

    In rec.autos.vw, tgpt_…@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Tom Guptill) writes:

    >OK, here’s the problem.  My ’82 diesel Rabbit has developed a sort
    >of a "stumble" under hard acceleration.  The engine begins to accelerate,
    >then sort of "hesitates", there is a momentary loss of power, and then
    >everything is fine.  It seems almost as if one or more of the cylinders is
    >failing to fire.  It’s not especially cold out, and I haven’t put any
    >treatment into the fuel.  It could be just a bad tank of diesel, but it’s
    >beginning to worry me.  (I’m going to be relying on that car a great deal
    >over the next several months to go on some fairly long trips).  Any ideas?
    >Bad fuel?  Sudden, unforseen injector troubles?  (It just started happening
    >all of a sudden.) Serious internal problems?  Clogged fuel/water seperator?
    >Anyone?  Thanks in advance…

    I had a problem with misfiring with my diesel Rabbit, but it was only at
    high revs, and would continue so long as I stayed at high revs.  Thus my
    suggestion is a long shot, but it is easy to check.

    My problem was that I was getting air into the fuel system.  Once was due to
    a faulty fuel filter.  The second time was due to leaving the air bleed screw
    open.  Since there is a clear fuel line running from the fuel filter to the
    injector pump (at least in my car), I could see the fuel.  When I reved the
    engine and watched the line, I could see the fuel turning into pure foam.

    Hope this helps.

    Donald Borowski    WA6OMI    Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
    "Angels are able to fly because they take themselves so lightly."
                                           -G.K. Chesterton

  2. admin says:

            Thanks for the responses…I found my problem.  A line had ruptured
    in the fuel system, and it was spraying diesel all over the block!  (That
    could have gotten _really_ unpleasant.)  Of course, my friend who borrowed
    the car didn’t notice and drive it for 10 hours like that.  Oh, well.
    Thanks!


    |Tom Guptill           | tgpt_…@uhura.cc.rochester.edu  (internet)  |
    |CPU Box 277445 U of R |  "    " @db1.cc.rochester.edu (alt internet) |
    |Rochester, NY 14627   |  "    " @uordbv (bitnet)                     |
    |(716) 274-0156        |                                              |

  3. admin says:

    In article <31170…@hpspkla.spk.hp.com> borow…@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Don T. Borowski) writes:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >In rec.autos.vw, tgpt_…@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Tom Guptill) writes:

    >>OK, here’s the problem.  My ’82 diesel Rabbit has developed a sort
    >>of a "stumble" under hard acceleration.  The engine begins to accelerate,
    >>then sort of "hesitates", there is a momentary loss of power, and then
    >>everything is fine.  It seems almost as if one or more of the cylinders is
    >>failing to fire.  It’s not especially cold out, and I haven’t put any
    >>treatment into the fuel.  It could be just a bad tank of diesel, but it’s
    >>beginning to worry me.  (I’m going to be relying on that car a great deal
    >>over the next several months to go on some fairly long trips).  Any ideas?
    >>Bad fuel?  Sudden, unforseen injector troubles?  (It just started happening
    >>all of a sudden.) Serious internal problems?  Clogged fuel/water seperator?
    >>Anyone?  Thanks in advance…

    >I had a problem with misfiring with my diesel Rabbit, but it was only at
    >high revs, and would continue so long as I stayed at high revs.  Thus my
    >suggestion is a long shot, but it is easy to check.

    >My problem was that I was getting air into the fuel system.  Once was due to
    >a faulty fuel filter.  The second time was due to leaving the air bleed screw
    >open.  Since there is a clear fuel line running from the fuel filter to the
    >injector pump (at least in my car), I could see the fuel.  When I reved the
    >engine and watched the line, I could see the fuel turning into pure foam.

    >Hope this helps.

    >Donald Borowski    WA6OMI    Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
    >"Angels are able to fly because they take themselves so lightly."
    >                                       -G.K. Chesterton

    On another note, after changing my air filter on my ’84 turbo-diesel I
    started getting terrible mileage. Well terrible by diesel standards. My
    mileage went from about 5-6 l/100 km to 8.5 l/100km. What was the problem?
    I forgot to tighten the large clamp that attached the air filter box to
    the air intake hose. After tightening the clamp all was well.

    Rob Silcher d…@mc4adm.UWaterloo.ca

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