Slow when cold

Started the old auto tdi yesyerday .She started first time as usual but pulling away was like a one legged donkey! Once Id gone down the road afew hundred yards it seemed a lot better and when it was warm I was Popping wheelies Is it just the diesel being cold and gelling abit that causes this.

I would think it's the cold weather. I suspect you didn't start the engine the day before, I don't use mine every day so it's better if I leave the engine running just a short while before moving off thats summer or winter. Are you using the correct grade of oil or perhaps try a lighter grade for the winter ie. instead of 10w-40 go to 5w-40.

Thanks for that Discool.Just did an oil change .After much debate I settled with Partco own brand 10/40 £14.00 5ltr suitable for petrol and diesel.Trying to save a bit here and there.

its cos its auto mine is the same till the engine and oil in the box warms a little.
its a lot better now with the performance mods but you can still feel it when cold

rollin danny said:

Started the old auto tdi yesyerday .She started first time as usual but pulling away was like a one legged donkey! Once Id gone down the road afew hundred yards it seemed a lot better and when it was warm I was Popping wheelies Is it just the diesel being cold and gelling abit that causes this.

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Hiya RD and Happy New Year to you.

As you know I have a '98 Tdi300 auto also. Mine did the same and I reckon it has something to do with the EDC system and it's innability to operate a cold-start program correctly.

Don't get me wrong, mine always starts, first time after a bit of cranking, but it used to be quite sluggish for the first minute or so until I replaced the catted downpipe for a non cat one. Now it's much better.

This has made a disproportionate improvement to overall performance and economy at a costs of £21.25+vat - why wouldn't you try it??

We are having quite cold weather now and she runs really quite well from startup.

Good luck

Dave

Hello Biglad .Seasons greetings.My auto is a 94 model without edc 112 bhp I believe.Ive been running without viscous fan on to help it warm up ,but still takes about four miles before I can get any warm air from heater.

All the best for the new year to you all.
Just to let you know my 04 TD5 auto is the same. I have got a de-cat pipe just waiting to fit it so hoping that will make a difference.

Ive got the de-cat pipe on me tdi so I wouldn,t get yer hopes up too much

rollin danny said:

Hello Biglad .Seasons greetings.My auto is a 94 model without edc 112 bhp I believe.Ive been running without viscous fan on to help it warm up ,but still takes about four miles before I can get any warm air from heater.

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Hi RD, the '98 manual Tdi300 I just bought for Wend was also slow to warm up, heater and engine-wise.

I put a new thermostat in and the difference is like Night & Day - heater starts to warm within 1 minute and the engine is showing nearly half on the gauge within 2-3 miles.

Much nicer to drive now that she warms up quicker.

Thermostat was £3.50-ish+vat from Paddocks.

Good luck

Dave

I think the auto box could be a likely cause. My V8 Auto is sluggish as hell for the first mile or so, then its all fine. I did have a blocked cat and removing them both helped a lot on the overall power but it still sluggish when cold.

Hi all,

My 95 manual 300TDI is the same, sluggish as hell for the first 1/2 mile, fine as she gradually warms up, thermostat ok but they still take a while to heat up

Pete

as i said earlier its cos its auto too.
the tdi engines are all the same from cold but worse with the auto box as the oil in that is cold and thick and trying to circulate, hence when warm it thins and they move smoother and quicker

thebiglad said:

Hi RD, the '98 manual Tdi300 I just bought for Wend was also slow to warm up, heater and engine-wise.

I put a new thermostat in and the difference is like Night & Day - heater starts to warm within 1 minute and the engine is showing nearly half on the gauge within 2-3 miles.

Much nicer to drive now that she warms up quicker.

Thermostat was £3.50-ish+vat from Paddocks.

Good luck

Dave

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how hard was it to fit?

matt harvey said:

how hard was it to fit?

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It was a piece of cake - took about 5-10mins if I remember right.

You need to take off the top hose from the thermostat housing, remove two bolts, take off the housing cover, remove and throw away the old stat and put in new one and re-assemble.

10 mins tops. Make sure you have some spare coolant available as you WILL need some.

then do it all again coz yu forgot to get a gaskit, and it leaks like buggery.

The Mad Hat Man said:

then do it all again coz yu forgot to get a gaskit, and it leaks like buggery.

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Mine didn't need a gasket - it came with it's own rubber seal. No leaks whatsoever.