Frequently Asked Questions
Here's a list of common questions/problems related to Mk1 Volkswagens, along with suggested fixes for said problems. Check back frequently as this page will be updated on a regular basis.
Engine
Q:What is
"normal" oil pressure for a 1.5/1.6L Diesel?
A: 90-100psi (cold engine)
25-30psi (warm engine)
Q:What weight of oil should I use In my Mk1 Diesel?
A:Here is what the manual says:
| Temperature Range | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Single Grade | 0-25˚F | SAE 10W |
| 15-50˚F | SAE 20 | |
| 30-80˚F | SAE 30 | |
| 70-100˚F | SAE 40 | |
| Multi Grade | 0-50˚F | 10w-30 |
| 10w-40 | ||
| 5-80˚F | 15w-40 | |
| 15w-50 | ||
| 15-80˚F | 20w-40 | |
| 20w-50 |
Personally, I use Royal Purple synthetic 15w-40 diesel oil year round and see very little difference in oil pressure on my Sunpro gauge in the winter. Even though the car has 250,ooo+ miles, I don't loose any oil between changes.
I also highly recommend Shell Rotella 15w-40.
Important: Always use oil rated for diesel engines!
Q:What weight oil should I use in my Mk1 Gasser?
A: Here's what the manual says:
| Temperature Range | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Single Grade | -5-25˚F | SAE 10W |
| 15-50˚F | SAE 20 | |
| 30-75˚F | SAE 30 | |
| 70-105˚F | SAE 40 | |
| Multi Grade | -20-15˚F | 5w-20 |
| -5-50˚F | 10w-30 | |
| 10w-40 | ||
| 5-80˚F | 15w-40 | |
| 15w-50 | ||
| 15-80 | 20w-40 | |
| 20w-50 |
I don't have a gasser, so I don't know what works best at what temperature. I do, however, strongly recommend synthetic oil and that you stay the hell away from Quaker State and Pennzoil.
Q:Do you have any tips for starting a VW Diesel in cold weather?
A: Yes! Found the following (bolded) text on
VWDieselParts.com:
Read your manual on the Cold Start Device
Here is a MODIFIED Note I found in my
1982 Owners Manual
------------------------------
( You will also find that the 1980,81,82 & some 83
like the lever PULLED Out or They Will Not Start ! )
Starting a Cold Engine !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Before starting the engine at Outside Temps of
15 degrees (F) and ABOVE:
Pull the Cold Start Handle Fully OUT
VERY IMPORTANT
----------------------------
At Temps of 15 degrees (F) and BELOW Do Not
pull the lever out until the motor is RUNNING.
The Motor Will NOT Start !!!
At that point and until motor is warmed up
leave the lever Out."
That ^ was not in my owner's manual!
Q:Why does the alternator wobble/the mounting bolt breaks frequently?
A: The sleeve is probably seized in the alternator bracket, read this. Tis a common (and easily corrected) problem on a 20+ year-old VW.
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Heating and Cooling
Q:Is the
heat in Mk1 Volkswagens
supposed to suck?
A:No, not intentionally. Read the following sections for more
information.
Q:Why do the side
vents only blow cold air?
A: You may have noticed that the side vents blow only
cold air, this is normal. The outlets for the side vents are
upstream of the heater core and deliver fresh/air conditioned air only.
This is, however, fixable. See
this link for information on how to
get heat to the side vents.
Q:How do I get more heat?
A:Let's start with the easy stuff. Aside from low coolant
level, two things that can drastically reduce
heat output are a dirty/clogged heater core and a heater control valve
that are out of adjustment. I highly recommend flushing the
heater core! This made a huge difference on my
rabbit.
To flush the heater core:
- Remove the hose clamps from both heater hoses (located on the driver-side firewall). One of these hoses connects to the heater control valve, the other connects to a union that joins the hose coming out of the firewall to the hose that runs to the block.
- Press the spray nozzle of your favorite garden hose against one of the heater core hoses and open the nozzle. Let the water run until clear water comes out the other hose.
- Move the garden hose to the other heater hose and repeat step 2.
- Repeat steps two and three until the water coming out of the heater hose is perfectly clear.
- (Optional but recommended) take a spare piece of hose, press it against one of the heater core hoses (wrap your hand around the joint to form the best seal possible) and blow into the hose. This will expel most of the water from the heater core so that you can top off using pre-mixed antifreeze without messing up the mixture.
While the hoses are off, move the heat control lever to all the way to the right (the "hot" position" and look into the heater control valve. The it should be completely open. If it isn't, pry the clip that holds the control cable to the valve off and adjust until the valve is wide open. Then re-install the clip.
Q:Why do the vents
whistle?
A: There are foam rings around the cut off flap in each of the
vents that seal the edges of the flap to the inside of the duct. Over
time, the foam deteriorates, allowing air to slip through the gap
between the flap and the duct. Another symptom often associated with
this problem is cold hands (because the air from the side vents does not
pass over the heater core).
Briano1234 has a nice DIY article that
will show you how to make new seals
here.
Interior
Q:Will a center console from another Mk1/Mk2 Volkswagen fit my rabbit?A: Yes! The console in my 1984 Rabbit came out of an 86-ish Golf. If you know of any others, please let my know here.
Audio
Q:What size speakers fit
a Mk1 Rabbit?
A: Front: 3 1/2"
Rear: 4x6"
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