just bought the wagon (4 speed + OD) and I don't know much about diesels. I couldn't get any service records for it except for a retrofitted A/C and battery. It accelerates very slowly (use to own an Isuzu Pup diesel) and can barely maintain 70 mph on the freeway. I thought it would get around 30 mpg but it's probably closer to 20. Also, the engine seems to cool very quickly. If I drive it and get it to operating temp, (in California during the daytime) in about an hour, when I restart it the temp guage is all the way down and the engine has a fast idle.

Changed the oil and filter plus drained the fuel filter. Im replace the fuel filter once I can get one. Im planning on doing a valve adjustment to correct the problem.

Any thoughts on the wag? Is the diesel engine on it's last leg?

Thanx for reading,
Chrix

Also, if you don't just happen to have the stuff for adjusting the valves, take it to any VW mechanic, the shims are the same for all the old VW water cooled engines.

And it would also be a good idea to completely drain the fuel tank to get any settled junk out and refill with fresh ( your '82 may or may not have a drain plug on the bottom of the tank, if not you'll need to hook some kind of electric or drill pump on your fuel line and pump it out).

How much blow by does it have? If you pull the breather hose does it puff out hard? is there oil residue on top of the air filter element?

Also if pump timing is off( too far retarded) you won't haev any power. if it has had a timing belt done by a general mechanic, chances aer the timing is off bad..
You should really have the tools to do it right , but if you mark the position of the pump with a marker etc, then experiment with advancing the timing a small amount and se what happens, you can always put it back..
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD

Some very general ideas:

First, make sure the timing belt is ALWAYS in good condition. If it fails, the engine is toast. (Happened to a friend, broke the camshaft and twisted the crank!!)

Diesel depends on compression for ignition. Get a compression test run. I don't know the Diesel compression ratio, but it's way high for a DIY to test.
You are looking for weak rings and/or burned valves.

Be sure the fuel system is super-clean. New filters all through.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

If running right, you should be able to do 80+ although it'll be wound out at that point.
First thing to do is give it a couple of treatments with auto rx ( www.auto-rx.com ) read the online instructions for diesels. this stuf is costy, but it really works. chances are your rings are pretty gummed up or downright stuck. it's very common in these things, the auto rx wil take care of that

Sounds like you may ned a new thermostat, if you're in CA, get the lowest temp one you can find, the pars stores usually list one for an Audi 5000 diesel that is a lower temp than the ones listed for the volvo .
If the engine is running cold, the idle will stay high, there is a cold start idle control setup on the injection pump.

Do you know when the timing belt was replaced last ( may be written on the valev cover, or a sticker in the engine compartment ) 50,000 miles max on that belt or it's all over.

You might want to get on this email list for additional support http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/volvo_diesels/

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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD