The story So far: Recently serviced 98' Passat 1.8T. AEB Still love the car but..............

[poosnip]

I have a previous post made 2 weeks ago. Here is the story so far for anyone who is interested.

Crasher has been very helpful to me... Thanks

OK

Since getting got my nice "new" 84k AEB 1.8 Turbo serviced; Plugs, Oil Change (10-40w... more on this later), cam belt + tensioner, water-pump, air filter were all done. I didn't have enough to follow CRASHER's advice and change the oil pick up thing in the sump, but I will get round to that.

The results: It doesn't feel like it has had new life breathed on it. The car feels a little lethargic. Should I have put 0-40 Mobil1 oil in? Or 5- 30 like VW says . What's the Difference? Which is better for this engine?

There is a bit of a fizz (unobtrusive, but noticeable vibration running through the whole car) at standstill. Is this the engine? the engine mounts? or the suspension? I have standard 10-40 Oil in at the moment and I am planning on an oil flush + 0-40 or the best oil available.... any suggestions?
I would really like a bit more .... just a bit more power... Any suggestions? A Remap perhaps ?

Also does anyone know of a really good air-conditioning service in the Wigan Manchester Bolton Southport area? I may have mold or bacteria or something. The smell is not bad, but there is a definite whiff car's air-conditioning. It only comes in at start up and goes after 10 seconds... The weather has changed but I do have personal issues with air conditioning in general especially in my office. The air gets to dry. I actually drive this car with Climatronic switched to "Econ" most of the time.


Ok now for the Perennial VW issue:

A little clonking in the front driver side suspension The Clonking starts when i Turn Left on and incline or over rough terrain. Always on Driver's Side.

I just had a thought!!!!.. The car feels tired ...... New dampers?

.... oh the wows and joys of passat ownership!!!

[Crasher]

The car will be quite happy on a less expensive oil such as VAG UK’s own Quantum Platinum 5w/40 but use the correct large oil filter bought from a VW dealer.

The oil flush could cause you to suffer an oil pick up blockage if the engine is heavily contaminated inside. The flush releases the debris which then blocks the pickup, I have seen many engines die due to being flushed when contaminated. Take off the oil filler cap and look at the back of it and the splash guard in the head. If these have a lot of thick residue on them, I would not recommend a flush unless you remove and clean the cam cover and sump first. I think I have mentioned that I find paint stripper excellent for removing the build up from aluminium.

[poosnip]

Thanks for the advice Crasher

I investigated this (having a look after removing oil filler cap) before the oil change and compared to my other Passat this one is very clean. The Other passat's engine is definately sludgy!

PAINT STRIPPER Eh!

Interesting.

The potential Dangers of a flush do sound very painful indeed.

[Crasher]

I discovered paint stripper in desperation trying to get a sump clean on a Passat 1.8T. It was so caked in sludge it was a centimetre thick in places and so was the back of the cam cover but the owner could not afford a new sump and cam cover so I had some paint stripper and tried it. I was amazed at how fast it worked after I scrapped off the initial layer and then a quick coat of traffic film remover had both pieces a nice clean ally finish again.

[DSG4ME]

Crash, please make it clear you only use it on parts already removed, and not as a flush, you have to remember there's all different levels of knowledge on the web, and someone will come back and say...I used the paint stripper like Crasher said, and it blew the engine apart, and it was only on tickover at the time.

[poosnip]

I honestly wish I had the confidence mechanically to do this stuff.

Nxt stop.. Haynes manual

[passat 130 tdi]

Crash, please make it clear you only use it on parts already removed, and not as a flush, you have to remember there's all different levels of knowledge on the web, and someone will come back and say...I used the paint stripper like Crasher said, and it blew the engine apart, and it was only on tickover at the time.

thats very true .There's a few times i nearly threw my keyboard out the window helping people on car forums.

like the time i told this guy ,i think your head gaskets blew , he then typed back asking what colour should it be.

[Crasher]

Yes, initially I thought, no one could be stupid enough to pour paint stripper in like flush but yes it must be made clear that it is applied to the parts when they are off the engine.

[poosnip]

He He

Yes!!! I honestly never thought of pouring paint Stripper into my engine and then shaking it about a bit so that the "paint stripper can get into all the nook and crannies" I didn't think of this Crasher Honest!

I will confess to being a muppet, but not a bloody muppet though!
I am gonna let the mechanic look at my sump and tell me how contaminated or healthy the oil looks.



I want 0 - 40 in this engine soon.

[Crasher]

I think 0w/40 is a bit thin myself but that is your decision. I would go no thinner than 5w/30.