New mileage standards would double fuel efficiency

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:12 am

Another word of caution when looking for TDIs. The auto transmission is junk. Do not get one with an auto. The 01M trans is a known failure point. It was on the 98.5-2003 cars. the 2004+ have the DSG and it works just fine with the TDI.

More detailed info here.

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:29 pm

speaking of GoPro...i just got my GoPro Hero 2 HD and it's pretty sweet. a few nuances with it that i'm still figuring out, but the image quality is very good.

Lmandrake · Post by **Lmandrake** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:57 pm

Another TDI caution - be careful about where you get your fuel. If you get diesel adulterated with gasoline or water you can kill your high pressure fuel pump. This will result in extremely expensive repairs or a totaled car...

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:07 pm

Not so much on the 06 and older but a definite problem for all the new CR engines.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:03 am

No problems there, the '02s are barely in my current budget.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Thu Sep 27, 2012 10:34 pm

Looks like I'm getting a 2000 TDI Beetle. Hope it's better than the rough reviews I've been seeing.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:59 am

The only problem with the beetle platform is that you have less room to work in the engine compartment. Now if you remove the wipers and take off the piece under it you gain more access to the rear of the engine. The only time you need that is if you have to mess with the EGR, intake or turbo. and the light turbo repairs can be done from under the car.

I would also recommend getting a Panzer Skid Plate for it as well to protect the oil pan. This was the second thing I bought after some gauges before winter. I can't count the number of times this thing has saved my ass.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:56 am

Well speaking of Panzer Plate... mine just saved my ass again. Just got back from the airport and on the tri-state ran directly over a wheel chock doing about 65. Just lifted up the car to see the damage because in low gears some vibration form the engine is transferring directly to the body. Looks like it just got bent up real good. Now Ill have to take it off and beat it back into shape. Ill take some pictures.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:32 pm

Damn.. After the first of the year I'll be shopping for mine.. Any reason not to get a standard Pugs? I'm hoping I can score one with between 100-150k on the clock for less than $3k..

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:01 pm

Standard as in manual transmission? That is the best. The auto sucks and blows up after 80k. Avoid the auto like the plague.

The other nice thing is if you get a fluid extractor you can change your oil with out having it get under the car. Plus with the extractor you can do a more complete change too and get all the oil out of the heat exchanger that normally would just sit there if you do the oil change the regular way. I don't have the Pella unit they sell at Dieselgeek I have the MityvacFluid Evacuator. Works great and you can reverse it and have it dispense the used oil back into the empty container.

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:30 pm

they guy who works on my house has an old 3 cyl geo metro - says it gets about 55 mpg when the weather is cool.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:07 am

Funny, it's the same ordeal to work on my Cadillac Catera. Gotta pull the wipers & the cowl to do half the stuff on the engine.

Thanks for the head's up on the skid plate. I'm not used to having a vehicle low enough to worry about it. Nice advice on the fluid extractor. I've always told myself that I should get one.

Good luck finding one under $3000, I got mine for $4500 & was thrilled. $6000-8000 seems to be the average for '00-05 models (TDI's anyhow).

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:57 pm

Well, I never got a chance to drive the car. My Father picked it up in Colorado for me & was driving it to St. Louis & smack dab in the middle of Kansas, the engine blew smoke. Odd that it ran out of oil, but wasn't smoking nor was it leaking that the mechanic could tell.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 12:24 am

Blown or bad turbo will dump oil in the intake and or the exhaust. If its going into the intake and its not allot and the engine can handle it, it will just burn it and you would seem to have more power. At that point you have can have a run away and not even know it. Have the mechanic remove the lower inter cooler pipe and see if its full of oil. If it has a little dribble that is normal. If you get much more then that then the turbo let go.