my temp gauge on the 84 diesel manual wagon reads hotter than my other brick. The needle goes to about six-tenths of the way up, as opposed to halfway up.
Is this because the diesel engine runs hotter.?

Thanks for any help

My '84 diesel reads the same.
I put a digital temp sensor on it once to test it, and the thing was actually runing cool (hovering right around thermostat opening temp when gauge reading about 2mm above 9 oclock position)
Putting a new voltage stabilizer on it dropped it a little.
The dash gauge is the same as the gas burners , but the VW sender is just a bit off.

If you are really concerened about it, you should be able to get an aftermarket temp gauge and sender setup for it for not too much from someplace that carries a lot of vw stuff.

-----Robert

Scat: Generally, the temp gauges are calibrated for the car. That is, even if the diesel runs relatively hotter than a gas engine the gauge will hover at about the middle of the range. Any deviation then will indicate a small (or large) problem.

Brad

I am prepping the diesel for its maiden trip - 1200 miles down i95 to Disneyworld- This I will try flushing the radiator on monday and see if this helps.
I prefer the first reply that tells me this is normal for the gauge in a diesel.
I took the diesel on a test drive to finish troubleshooting the balky O/D- Usual electrical problems-The OD works about 95 per cent of the time. - Anyway the c engine runs great. It loves the hi-way. It passes, it climbs hills nicely(once going) True it may suck accelerating from a red light, but on the highway it is in its element. Plus it goes far on little gas.
For now no fear of the diesel betraying me.
As of today, one week into the diesel experience- i love it.
I love the simplicity of the engine. Keep it tuned and it will give you 259k.

time will tell.

Considering I am about to drive the diesel 1200 miles to Orlando over thanksgiving , probably need overdrive to engage a hundred percent of the time.

Could the intermittant relay become a non working relay?hould I replace the relay on the way to orlando?

Thanks again for all the diesel advice.
I am a convert- for now....

Scat: Were it me, I'd replace the relay, and change the oil in the trans., especially if you're about to embark on a 1200 mi journey. I sure wouldn't want the trans to be bopping in and out of OD...it isn't good for the trans or the engine. Plus...think about it. On the way out there, if the thing does fail in a big way, how many mechanics out in the styx are really going to know what to do with a 20 year old furrin' car...and a diesel to boot. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said (I believe) Ben Franklin about two hundred and fifty years ago. It still holds true.

Brad

Scat: Were it me, I'd replace the relay, and change the oil in the trans., especially if you're about to embark on a 1200 mi journey. I sure wouldn't want the trans to be bopping in and out of OD...it isn't good for the trans or the engine. Plus...think about it. On the way out there, if the thing does fail in a big way, how many mechanics out in the styx are really going to know what to do with a 20 year old furrin' car...and a diesel to boot. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said (I believe) Ben Franklin about two hundred and fifty years ago. It still holds true.

Brad

i changed the tran fluid. black burned any bits of steel on the magnet. The overdrive relay problem was provento be a shorting wire into he harness.
Now all runs well.

thanks

i changed the tran fluid. black burned any bits of steel on the magnet. The overdrive relay problem was provento be a shorting wire into he harness.
Now all runs well.

thanks

i changed the tran fluid. black burned any bits of steel on the magnet. The overdrive relay problem was provento be a shorting wire into he harness.
Now all runs well.

thanks