Could the exhaust of the Aux Diesel Heater be rerouted to pre-warm the
engine?

----- Original Message -----
From: <KENWILFY@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 1999 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: need cold weather tips for diesel Vanagon

Having owned more diesel VWs than I would care to name at the moment here is
what I have found to help with cold starting:
1. Good set of glow plugs
2. Good 10w-40 oil
3. Be sure the wire to the glow plugs is a large diameter one with good
connections.
4. Be sure that your Battery is at least 850 cca (you could probably fit a
1000 cca battery in a diesel Vanagon battery tray).
5. Be sure that your starter is working properly and doesn't have a ton of
miles on it (I just replaced the starter on three of my diesels and all
three
started so much easier after installing the Bosch rebuilt starters that I
was
shocked).
6. Be sure that your fuel lines between the injectors (the rubber lines) are
in good shape and not cracked or leaking (this will allow air to get in the
lines and cause hard starting).
7. Every 1000 miles add a quart of Type F Auto Tranny Fluid into your diesel
fuel.  This acts as a injector cleaner and works just as well if not better
than any more expensive diesel-specific injector cleaner.

If you are still experiencing hard starting or you live in very cold weather
then I would suggest a block heater.  These are installed in your freeze-out
hole in the back of the diesel block.  You simply remove one of the steel
freeze-out plugs and install the heater.  Then you plug it in at night or 30
mins before starting and it helps alot.

Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Phone: (856)-765-1583
Shop:   (856)-327-0027
Fax:     (856)-327-2242