Greetings everyone.
I'm really going to show my ignorance in this posting. My 1990 td 4x4 townie is running fine ( just completed a 500 mile trip today ) but the motor is starting to run a little rough ( seems to me ). What do i need to have done to tune it up a bit. I have never owned a diesel. With my other cars I would change the spark plugs, change the rotor in the distributor cap and clean the carb. to render a small tune up. What do i need to do on the townie? spark plugs, glow plugs, cleaning ????? I recently changed air and fuel filter.

Any input would be very helpful
Mervin

- (#9343) mervin, 26 Jun 03 12:44

Glow plugs are only used for starting. Not much else to do other than oil & filter of you've already done fuel and air.
Valve clearances maybe?

- (#9344) david miller, 26 Jun 03 14:24

There’s a chance this may be fuel related.

Checkout Ace Archives under the title “Fuel system” post title “Acceleration poor, black smoke, fuel filter” The last posting describes three Wynn's products that will kill any bacteria, remove water from the fuel, and reduce smoke. Any or all of these may cause the problem that you describe. Bacteria can live in the fuel, and will cause the fuel filter to block quite quickly, so how recent is the recent filter change?

I have spoken to a number of Diesel fleet owners recently, and they all swear by fuel additives. This is largely due to the reduction of sulphur in the fuel. In order to remove it, Diesel is treated with Nitrogen. Unfortunately this also removes some of the lubricants that are needed to improve the combustion qualities, and reduce the smoke. So fuel additives seem to be the way forward. I have also checked out some Petrol web sites, and BP seem to be making the biggest boasts about their Diesel being cleaner and more environmentally sound. At least they are the only ones that say they add lubricants to the Diesel, so I am giving their Diesel a go, and I am using an additive called “Millers”.

Hope that helps
dave Bright

- (#9345) dave Bright, 27 Jun 03 1:29

I used to add a little 2-stroke oil (stihl synthetic) to a car tank with a sticky float valve in the carb - it definately helped.
Would there be any value in adding some to the deisel tank occasionally?

- (#9346) chris turner, 27 Jun 03 8:36

Hi Chris.

I’m not sure if adding 2-stroke oil would be good, bad, or indifferent. If you go to your local motorist shop, there will be a number of additives that have been specifically formulated for use in diesel fuel. The one recommended on Ace Archives is Wynn’s Diesel Power 3. My local shop didn’t stock that, but recommended Millers Diesel Power Plus, as what they use in their delivery vans.

Dave Bright

- (#9347) dave Bright, 28 Jun 03 1:31

Thank you so much for your helpful replies.

- (#9408) Mervin, 30 Jun 03 13:30