Must have/must do on pd tdi.

[tinky]

Ok guys. Being new to tdi thing, after getting one i realized that it requires fair bit of attention, special oils, dos and don'ts, mods and so on.
Sooo, i decided to make a little list of a must have/must do.

It looks like one of the most important things to have is a oil catch tank. I've come accross many setups and tanks, so i recommend doing fair bit of research before fitting one.

Another important thing to do seems to be EGR valve cleaning (i'll have to do as my broken turbo pumped fair bit of oil through it).

Also using good diesel or additive seems to be very important thing. Mine is quite smokey, i filled up at murcos, so not sure if it's fuel quality, got some millers, will use it on next tankfull, will post if there are any improvements.

Any other suggestions?

Not sure if i should have posted it in TDI subforum, but it seems that most of alteas here are diesel, so it's quite relevant to us.

 

[ben_cade]

The catch tank seems to be something i also need to do, has anyone posted a 'how to' thread? could do with some pictures too, as i'm not the most technically gifted person

 

[tinky]

The catch tank seems to be something i also need to do, has anyone posted a 'how to' thread? could do with some pictures too, as i'm not the most technically gifted person

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227491

There you go mate, can't get more clear than that. Once you take your cover off, you will see what goes where.

As for catch can itself, it looks like you need to either get a proper one (like mann) or modify basic ebay one.

Ebay catch cans don't make ANY sence to me. As i understand, to get oil particles out of vapor it needs to condensate, hence it needs to stay in catch can at least for a few seconds which is not happening in ebay catch can, as both in and out are next to each other, and as you know from school hot air floats. So all vapor which has come in to the can is leaving it straight away. So i think that all oil found in catch can is only a small amount of oil passing through it. Anyway, that's my theory. Any thoughts on that anyone?

 

[ben_cade]

Thats ideal thanks for that.

So on reading that, it says if i got one from ebay it would need modifying to work properly? or spend a lot more on a much better one? Think it could be one of the things not to cut cost on!!

Anyhow, off the top of my head, i can't think of anything else to go on your list. You going to change any styling etc?

 

[tinky]

I didn't say ebay catch can MUST be modifyed, i just said that from the knowledge from school, vapor needs more than just to pass through A can to condensate. Anyway, that's only my theory. I'm researching at the moment.

 

[CrispDust]

Its quite simple, you put a tube on inlet of catch tank reach base of the can and put something like stainless steel "wool" scouring pads things in to aid condensate/slow down airflow. Most of the "vapour" is water vapour with some oil in it.
My catch can just vents to outside via a pipe that runs down the exhaust heat shield to back of car. Pretty much just water vapour that comes out and oil collects in can. Sometimes not much, occasionally more. Think this depends on style of driving.

 

[tinky]

Well, catch tank on the way. 20 quid of ebay, polished allu round can. Wanted black and square really, but not paying 10 for the colour and shape. Will put it in as it is for now, modify later. So at the moment it will only collect liquid oil, not vapour (if it does collect vapour-it's a bonus). Reason for rush is, that i took breather pipe off few days ago, it was oily, wiped it clean, checked again yesterday, and guess what-oily again. After just replacing turbo, i want to keep new one as clean as i can.

CrispDust, as oil will start to buid up, tube will end in the oil, hence more pressure on the engine to blow gases out (not sure if it would affect it, but better be safe than sorry.

Next in line-intercooler piping cleaning, and intecooler itself, unless it's a massive job to get it off ( anyone could help here with information please?). After that EGR and intake manifold cleaning. After that, millers in the tank, turbo warm up cool off waiting with patience and a decent blast now and again. Hopefully this will help me to keep intake clean for the rest of my ownership of the car.

 

[tinky]

Right....
There we go again...

While driving to Stansted on m11, after about 50mi of approx 70mph (apart from bloody ROADWORKS at 50mpg) car lost all the pull. No acceleration, but no fault lights. Stopped, restarted car, good as gold again.

To be honest, i sort of expected that to happend after turbo failure and all that oil in the induction. Got a feeling that it's egr valve playing up. I can see major clean up job coming sooner than expected.

Anyone has any ideas? Am i wrong in assuming that it's egr?

 

[pdh 14a]

Any write ups on removing the agr valve.as my car stutters if i try to keep a steady speed,murder in slow moving traffic!

 

[tinky]

I have trouble finding one myself. Had a look around engine, doesn't look too difficult, as it's right in front of you. When i get to it, i'll try to take some pictures, but it's not going to be easy with sooty/oily hands.

 

[pdh 14a]

I'll have a good look later! Thought it was at the back of the bay though

 

[tinky]

Yes, on 1.9. On 2.0 it's at the front, near radiator.

 

[pdh 14a]

Yes, on 1.9. On 2.0 it's at the front, near radiator.

Excellent,thanks!

 

[Toxic]

it might not be the EGR valve but the anti shudder valve. these after a while become oily and this then gets into the circuit board. Also the teeth on the plastic wheels become worn due to the flap getting harder and harder to close/open.

i noticed mine stopped working, as when you turn off the engine the engine took approx half a second longer to stop and it rattled quite noisily. the flap is just below the egr valvle on the 2.0 tdi PD engines.

Also Fuel performance went down to approx 35mpg...

 

[Toxic]

egr cleaning is shown here afaik:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189903

Flap on the 2.0 is shown here:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showth...fold-Flap-EGR-Valve...How-do-i-solve&p=685653

 

[pdh 14a]

Thats Awesome mate,cheers.catch can is just about in,about to start on cleaning the above,wish me luck!

p.s the amount of oil in the intake pipes is scary!

 

[Toxic]

the amount of oil in my catch tank alone tells me there is a serious flaw in the design of the top breather pipe.

glad it is of you to you anyway. good luck

 

[pdh 14a]

Yep,been brilliant,would have been lost without your links!
All done,only been out for 2 miles,but feels smoother to drive already!
Out of interest is there any difference in which way you need to run your pipes? i'm looking at yours and was thinking that the vapour would be better going into the side and up to the top pipe? my one they are side by side!
Cheers.Paul

 

[tinky]

Yep,been brilliant,would have been lost without your links!
All done,only been out for 2 miles,but feels smoother to drive already!
Out of interest is there any difference in which way you need to run your pipes? i'm looking at yours and was thinking that the vapour would be better going into the side and up to the top pipe? my one they are side by side!
Cheers.Paul

Maybe placebo effect?

Don't think it would have made any difference to smoothness, not yet at least. Waiting for my pipes to finish off my installation, can is already in place. Got some clear pipes coming, so will see exactly if that oil is going anywhere before and AFTER catchtank.

What tank did you go for? El cheapo or branded? I went for cheap one, as it's liquid oil which worries me, you can clearly see it after disconnecting breather pipe. So i think it's more of actual oil, not the vapour going through induction. Regarding pipes, i'll do same as Toxic , steal his idea and claim it's mine.

Toxic, thanks a lot for the links. Hope it's jus a one off in my case, just cannot afford to spend any more money on the car.

 

[Toxic]

just letting you guys know the best way to clean the catch can if it is a sealed unit like mine. i use parafin (Kerosene) in a basin and also from a 5 litre container and a hand pump that fits onto the container.

like so:

you then squirt the kero into the can and give it some good shaking. it will lossen up all the gunge and clean it as new..