Hi Andy,

The diesel has lots of low end torque, as you probably know.  I don't know what
your gear ratios are on that van, but 2nd gear starts from a standing stop
require a fair amount of clutch slippage for a start.  Rolling starts however
are another matter; I do this all the time and it makes for much quicker starts
and less shifting.  As a matter of course, if I am stopped on a down slope, I
let the van start to roll, then start in 2nd, works great.  I would worry about
premature clutch wear if done too many times from a standing start.

Out of curiosity, where are you located?  Diesel transporters are rare in North
America.

Andy Chiu wrote:

> Hello List,
>
> This is my first post to the list.  I drive a 97 Transporter with a 2.4
> liter diesel engine.  My question concerns using the second gear from a
> standing start.  Is this advisable and are there any disadvantages to doing
> this?  Where we live, we see a lot of diesel vans such as Fords and
> Mitsubishi.  My brother-in-law has a Ford van and I'm told that the 2nd
> gear is often used and the first gear is used only occassionally (for
> example on inclines and with a heavy load).
>
> Andy Chiu
> '97 Transporter Diesel

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____________

Diesel John     Southern Ontario, CANADA

'83 Vanagon GL Diesel  "The Smoking Tortoise"
'71 S-Cab Pickup  "Ole Blu"
'83 Audi 5000TD
'84 Audi 5000 Avant
ex '71 Super Beetle
   '71 Type II  "Ole Red"
   '76 Scirocco
   '77 Diesel Rabbit
   '78 Diesel Rabbit

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