Carbonized diesel intake manifold

[Rch]

My wife's 2001 VW Beattle with 50,000 miles on a TDI diesel started to lose power and the previous MPG of 51 on the highway decreased. She drives only 3 miles to work, so alot of short trips. Here are a series of photos that graphically depict NOT working a diesel hard and NOT letting it warm-up. This was a $476 fix. She buys fuel at a high turnover station
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[HGM]

Good points, some folks just dont understand it. Fortunatly, it should get better with the fuel quality next year. Some stations currently have the ULSD, you may want to investigate and see if a dealer in your area carries this fuel.

 

[Rch]

Here is what it should look like. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rch]

Another view of clogged intake.
HGM, btw, what is ULSD? Is there any additive to counteract this ?

 

[California]

Is there an EGR feeding exhaust into that intake?

I thought a diesel had nothing but unlimited air upstream from the intake valves.

 

[HGM]

That looks like the EGR valve assy.

ULSD is the acronym for Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel.The '07 emissions regulations are reducing the sulfer content to .005ppm sulfer alowd in diesel fuel for reduced soot and Nox emissions. It is currently selling in the "green states", and you may be able to find it in your area if you ask. Otherwise I would recomend a cetane booster to increase the efficiency of the fuel, may also help the fuel economy. Not that ist bad now, but any little bit helps. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[HGM]

BTW,

Some diesels including the '04 6.0L Ford have a throttle plate. Its sole purpose was to promote EGR flow, this was the only year Ford used it.

 

[Charolais]

I started using Lucas Fuel Treatment this year after I bought a 1987 Ford F250 6.9L. And just prior to that I had a cat. converter to get stopped up on a 1998 Dodge truck.($475) After I used the first quart I bought a 4 gal. case. Use it in everything now. After a couple of tanks with the fuel treatment it's no problem to see the difference in the exhaust pipe color. In that 6.9 there was no problem hearing the noise level go down too. Sure made the injector pump quieter.

I feed hay with my Long tractor. It's just like those short trips you wrote about. When I put that tractor to work I've seen the muffler and exhaust pipe catch fire. Haven't seen that since I started using the Lucas. Never been much on additives but this one works for me.

Anyway it's just a suggestion.

 

[cup149]

Clogging of this nature is common on this model of VW engine. Supposedly it is the EGR gases combining with the PCV vapors. Some guys are using an oil trap on the pvc line, others reprogram the computer to limit the amount of EGR gases. Check out some of the TDI forums.

 

[Highbeam]

You beat me too it. Kill the EGR and get that PCV out of the intake. Just imagine what your intercooler looks like... a slobbery tarry mess.