new member in los angeles - desperately needing help please!!

[ngoma]

Originally Posted by jonwaltermoceyhanton

may i ask what you mean by "study the sticky on hard starting"??
is there a thread somewhere on this forum with a checklist of things to check??

Yes, look in the "Diesel Engine and Drivetrain" section.

Originally Posted by jonwaltermoceyhanton

i do not know the specific details about how the compression test was run or its readings
but i will inquire next time i speak to my mechanic
if i have him run a compression test again is there a preferred method?? wet/dry?? how long or little to have the engine sit before testing??

Test dry first, then pour 1/4 teaspoon motor oil in each cylinder, retest "wet," compare. GET THE NUMBERS FOR EACH CYLINDER FOR EACH TEST.
If the engine has been sitting several months or years (looks like may be your case?) the piston rings can dry out and not seal well until oil is introduced to help them seal again. Results in (dry test) low compression.

Originally Posted by jonwaltermoceyhanton

i am very limited in my mechanical skills
the most "advanced" thing i have tackled on this car was replacing the windshield wiper motor myself
i have no real experience under the hood with the exception of checking and maintaining fluids
i hope that is not too blasphemous of me to admit to here on this forum
but i am eager to learn!!

We will try to help as much as possible. WARNING: Major time and effort investment!

Originally Posted by jonwaltermoceyhanton

but the first step has been to have the engine running consistently and smoothly on real diesel first

Yes that is the correct expectation, glad you recognize that!

General Observation: You mention your mechanics. Do they have plenty of experience on these D24 engines? Or (2nd best) on VW diesel engines from the 70s-early 90s? Otherwise, we can almost guarantee they will destroy the engine, lacking the necessary (and getting harder to source) special tools, and equally necessary special knowledge. Sadly, have seen it happen too many times.

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

Originally Posted by ngoma

Yes, look in the "Diesel Engine and Drivetrain" section.


Test dry first, then pour 1/4 teaspoon motor oil in each cylinder, retest "wet," compare. GET THE NUMBERS FOR EACH CYLINDER FOR EACH TEST.
If the engine has been sitting several months or years (looks like may be your case?) the piston rings can dry out and not seal well until oil is introduced to help them seal again. Results in (dry test) low compression.


We will try to help as much as possible. WARNING: Major time and effort investment!


Yes that is the correct expectation, glad you recognize that!

General Observation: You mention your mechanics. Do they have plenty of experience on these D24 engines? Or (2nd best) on VW diesel engines from the 70s-early 90s? Otherwise, we can almost guarantee they will destroy the engine, lacking the necessary (and getting harder to source) special tools, and equally necessary special knowledge. Sadly, have seen it happen too many times.

thank you very much ngoma for all this helpful informative advice
i think a major part of my problem over the ten plus years that i have had this car is that i have not been bringing it to mechanics with d24 experience
i really hope that the engine has not been destroyed
but i guess thats really what i am desperately in search of by coming here to this forum....
really hoping that there might be someone on here located in los angeles that could work on my car or that someone can recommend a good mechanic anywhere in the los angeles area that has the experience and speciality tools necessary to get this car back up and running well

keeping my fingers crossed that someone on here sees these posts and can offer some assistance