Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) "Fixed" my dead pedal

[jtaylor]

It was pretty bad after a Memorial Day weekend trip pulling our TT. If I let it slow down in 4th or 5th for a few seconds and stepped on it, the engine would slowly climb to about 1500 rpms. I could push the clutch in and rev it up for a second, then it would run fine- if I didn't slow down.

This happened a couple times over the winter. But after I bought some biodiesel, it never did it again. Coincidental, I thought, because my lift pump got replaced the next week, under warranty, and she ran fine until Memorial Day.

So, I was out the following Sunday, driving my poorly running truck and I said "WTF, I'm only a few miles from the place that sells the B20. " I put 12-13 gallons (whatever $30 bought), and it hasn't missed a beat since.

The temp had been in the 90's all week, and I was pretty low on fuel, so I thought just putting some cool fuel in the hot tank made something in that VP work right again. But the whole month of June was pretty darn warm here, and I'm not really good about keeping my tank full. I've filled up with biodiesel twice since then, haven't had any problems at all.

My friend, who is a tech at the local dealer, told me I was nuts and that shouldn't have anything to do with anything. I agree, at least on the second part, but I'm just telling it like I see it.

I know the VP is probably on the way out. The codes and symptoms are there. It's probably just giving me a glimmer of hope before leaving me stranded.

Does anyone know enough about biodiesel to tell me if there is any good reason for my experience?

Jeff

 

[jtaylor]

Okay, this has happened too many times to be coincidence. Every time I run enough #2 through it (either bio not available or I'm too lazy to drive to get it), I get the dead pedal, dying VP thing. Fuel level, ambient temp, load or no load, it's all the same. Soon as I get some some b20 in it, it runs great. Maybe it's the extra lubricity or something.

My warranty will be gone next April, so I plan on making it last as long as I can, then jumping up and down Oo. and stomp my feet until I get a new VP

 

[Walt-L]

Just got off the phone with my salesman who Im guying a 05 VW TDI Passat from and we got talking how VW is stoping alot of Diesels for US sales in 06. He said VW hates the idea of running their TDI cars here because the pis* poor cetane rateing of 40 means the cars have to be in perfect tune to run right. European cetane is set at 50-52 at the pump!! He said the Bio thats making its way to the pump here rates about 46 cetane. Try a hi cetane enhancer and see how it goes, I think I might shop for some good additive once again since Bio is not in the North East.