RichC | November 20, 2015
Yet another part to be serviced, rebuilt or replace on Encore‘s Volvo diesel. This time it’s the raw water pump dripping from the weep hole … and indication the seal is no longer keeping the water in the pump. This is a normal wear item and most cruisers not only carry a spare impeller and […]
RichC | November 7, 2015
I took “Brenda’s” car on its first road trip this week without asking while making calls in NE Ohio – whoops?!?! It sure was an enjoyable car to drive … too bad it replaces her 1998 Toyota Rav4 and not my 2006 Honda Pilot. Jealously aside, I was anxious to see just what kind […]
RichC | November 3, 2015
When there is blood in the water, it’s a feeding frenzy. Just as we Volkswagen diesel advocates were thinking “maybe” the company would come up with a fix … then the second shoe dropped. This news includes more diesel vehicles, this time the 6-cylinder TDIs adding Audi and Porsche diesel SUVs. According to earlier comments, […]
RichC | October 26, 2015
I picked up Brenda's 2010 BMW X5 35d on Friday night and started tinkering with it this weekend (yes, my wife's — bummer! — but her 1998 Rav4 needed to be replaced). She absolutely fell in love with the panoramic sunroof (see below) and didn't seem to mind the “many” creature comforts either. There were […]
RichC | October 19, 2015
While helping Taylor look for his next car, I ran across a higher mile (highway), one owner 2010 BMW X5 35d that needs a little work. I'm confident I can take care of the minor body work and paint … but nervous about the computer issues and non-working AC. After a little research on how […]
RichC | September 23, 2015
As a long time advocate for long running and efficient diesel engines, I’m appalled to hear Volkswagen purposely cheated on emissions testing. I’ve been someone who has taken pride in the huge advancements diesel engine manufacturers and fuel refineries have made in the past decade (kicking and screaming) and have regularly posted stories in this […]
RichC | May 30, 2015
My good friend Mark replaced his old Racor 500FG fuel filter on his boat last year with one of the newer versions with a heat shield around the bowl (although Mark and Dar recently sold Zola). From what I can tell the heat shield” was about the only change Parker Hannnifin has made to […]
RichC | May 13, 2015
Besides having a chauffer park your car for you, the Porsche owner above has invested in a pretty cool CarDok. Not to be out done, my friend Tim Hunter has found an even better way to park his Volkswagen … (kidding) photo right. We were both somewhat distressed seeing his old TDI (now his daughter’s […]
RichC | April 27, 2015
It’s the holy grail in energy production: produce a fuel that is both carbon neutral and can be poured directly into our current cars without the need to retrofit. There are scores of companies out there trying to do just that using vegetable oil, algae, and even the microbes found in panda poop to turn […]
RichC | April 1, 2015
For those of us who love diesels, the sweet sound of an old Mercedes Benz diesel idling is indeed a beautiful mechanical sound. Below is a very short clip of my 1982 300D Turbodiesel waking up after the winter of 2015 hibernation. Really it is just a filler post since it is a busy week […]
RichC | February 4, 2015
While walking out to the boat in the evening, I glanced down to see an odd looking object floating and then sinking in the water next to the dock. Sure enough a quick LED light from the iPhone illuminated the Manatee “sleeping” just beneath the water. The purpose of this trip was primarily to meet […]
RichC | January 29, 2015
I’m the prime example of a “hardware-aholic” because I needed to replace a couple stainless steel hose clamps and ended up buying over 3 pounds of used clamps. I know grocery and clothes shoppers do it, but my weakness is hardware … and perhaps tools. My recent eBay buy was a perfect example of single […]
RichC | January 24, 2015
The auto shows across North America are in full swing for the winter of 2015 and while keeping an eye to what is coming is always interesting, there are a few quiet stand outs that have peaked my interest. The capable and respected (AND fairly expensive) Land Rovers have always been interesting, but in the […]
RichC | January 20, 2015
Once I priced a rebuilt brake caliper the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel, I knew I would be rebuilding the the caliper this past weekend, especially since the seal kit was only $9.00 on eBay. The project was pretty straight forward, but removing the old “baked” on seals was not as easy at one might […]
RichC | December 23, 2014
A local convenient store today in Liberty Township, Ohio … December 23, 2014. As a Volkswagen TDI and Mercedes diesel car guy … there is something wrong when the spread between regular unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel is this much – over $1.50 difference! Ugh … back to driving the Honda Pilot, at least for the […]
RichC | December 11, 2014
The U.S. built 2016 Volkswagen Crossover, teased way back in January 2013, may well be the replacement for my aging 2006 Honda Pilot that already has 200,000 miles – I’m not sure I can wait or whether the styling will change by then? It is starting to look like VW may give buyers a choice: […]
RichC | December 1, 2014
After my blown tire fiasco I realized all my tires on the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel were aging and decided to play it safe and replace them. It made sense since I’ve been driving the car on longer trips than originally intended. Besides tires, I had the slow leak in the spare tire fixed […]
RichC | November 30, 2014
While buzzing up the interstate in the old Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel, I noticed a slight mushiness and then a boom. After I unloaded a full trunk of junk onto the side of the road, while the snow was blowing (ugh!), I made a tire change that would have made NASCAR pit crews proud. Unfortunately […]
RichC | November 22, 2014
Volkswagen announced their AllTrack concept to a warm reception back in early 2012, but to me they seem a bit slow in getting it to the dealerships. Finally though, we are getting closer, since it looks like the bolstered Golf Sportwagen will be in the U.S. as a 2016 model. For Subaru Outback and […]
RichC | November 14, 2014
The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the 2015 Green Truck of the Year announced by the Green Car Journal. It is the most fuel-efficient truck in the U.S. beating out four other trucks, including another Ram – the 1500 HFE. The other finalists included Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and the Ford F-150. The magazine made the […]
RichC | November 5, 2014
Diesel exhaust treatment technology has vastly improved diesel engine emissions over the past decade along with ULSD fuels, but the technology is costly primarily due to rare earth metals. According to a press release yesterday, Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc $CDTI announced new proprietary Spinel™ technology will replace the use of platinum type metals in catalytic […]
RichC | October 23, 2014
After our 16 hour drive on Wednesday from Cincinnati to Florida, Brenda and I were welcomed by our liveaboard friends Mark and Dar with a cold drink. They had already turn on our refrigeration making it convenient to repack a few items from our cooler box into the galley. I sure appreciate them keeping an […]
RichC | October 1, 2014
RichC | September 8, 2014
New York Times auto guy Lawrence Ulrich seemed to be please with Volkswagen’s new 2015 Golf TDI … But no crossover, and no hybrid for that matter, can do what I managed in the new diesel-power Golf TDI: 60.6 miles per gallon over 75 highway miles along the Jersey Shore. That’s my personal highway m.p.g. […]
RichC | August 11, 2014
One of the small projects this past weekend was to replace the plastic disposable fuel filter on my John Deere 330 a new inexpensive diesel fuel filter (less than $10). The new filter has a glass site tube and fits my modified fuel lines. The element inside this small filter is replaceable (3 for […]
RichC | July 14, 2014
As hinted a few times before, Volkswagen has now officially announced that it will be building the new “yet to be named” seven passenger CUV in Chattanooga, TN. The attractive American-sized crossover will help VW compete in the popular SUV/CUV market come 2016. Many VW enthusiasts (and potential new customers) with growing families have […]
RichC | July 8, 2014
Although it may seem as if our garage of family Volkswagens has dwindled in recent years (we’re down to Taylor’s GTI), I’m still thinking “seriously” about the new Golf Sportwagen IF it comes equipped as rumored in early 2015. Hopefully decision-makers are paying close attention to about every VW TDI enthusiast that I know (including […]
RichC | June 19, 2014
My old Mercedes Benz will never be a show car, but it never fails to attract looks or comments whether I’m traveling the interstates, filling up at the diesel pump or just running errands around town. It still has a couple scratches, a few bubbling rust spots and several minor leftover hail dimples on the […]
RichC | June 8, 2014
I was planning to just work on yard and home chores Saturday while Brenda was working, but got completely distracted by a thought that a 2 gallon fuel container would fit under the hood of the Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel nicely. Hmm, looks like it might even work if I plumbed a secondary fuel line […]
RichC | May 30, 2014
The weather was nice for driving this past week for a Memorial Day trip to Atlanta, so instead of taking the Honda Pilot, we opted to take the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. I’ve been driving it regularly on trips to and from NE Ohio (500 miles rt) and to visit my daughter and her […]
RichC | May 30, 2014
Q: What’s interesting about this list? A: Half are clean diesels! 1) 2013 Tesla S P85 (Electric) 2) 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV (Electric) 3) 2014 Audi A7 TDI Quattro (Clean Diesel) 4) 2013 Lexus GS 450h (Hybrid) 5) 2013 Nissan Leaf (Electric) 6) 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid (Hybrid) 7) 2014 Audi Q5 TDI Quattro Tiptronic […]
RichC | May 11, 2014
It has been slow progress, but since my wife “sort of” gave me Mother’s Day off (Happy Mother’s Day to moms, BTW), I took advantage of some time to finally finish up and put the trim back on the repaired body rust and the newly Miracle painted rocker panels (yes, that is Miracle Paint I […]
RichC | April 18, 2014
Let’s call this a follow up post on tracking fuel economy (or “non-economy”) as I took the opportunity to fill the 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel with B-20. My station of choice between Mansfield and Columbus Ohio is a Sunoco at the I-71 exit 151 and has carried a variety of domestic renewable fuels including […]
RichC | April 13, 2014
According to the folks at Autoguide, Volkswagen will be following the VW Jetta Sportwagen with Golf SportWagen in 2015 and is teasing us with a diesel variant. The new TDI concept proposes an all-wheel drive 2.0-liter powerplant called the EA288 diesel. This new diesel would offer 10 more horsepower over the current diesel and could […]
RichC | March 3, 2014
The snow has returned again to stretch out this already long and cold winter. March has always been one of those questionable months, but one I generally associate with “spring” … so far not this year. Katelyn and Drew were home for the weekend and we had a great time together as usual. Besides talking […]
RichC | January 21, 2014
It is well into car show season, but I have not been paying all that much attention. There have been a few high profile concepts (that will never get built) and smattering of diesel teases that have peaked my interests. Here’s one from Nissan reported on in the Detroit News and elsewhere regarding the introduction […]
RichC | January 10, 2014
If you are thinking about a new 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI this year the entry point just got a few dollars cheaper … thank you Chevrolet Cruze diesel for the competition — $22,115. For an economy special, the Jetta TDI Value Edition actually includes quite a bit of kit, like heated cloth seats, satellite radio, […]
RichC | November 19, 2013
It is about time Volkswagen diesel vehicles demonstrate what is in store for their new TDIs. (European story) Frugal hatchback travels 995 miles from Nantes to Copenhagen without refuelling On a 995-mile test run supervised by German inspection company DEKRA, the Golf TDI BlueMotion has returned an incredible 97mpg. The feat was achieved on a […]
RichC | November 14, 2013
Nice Jeep project with a Volkswagen TDI diesel for someone with the time and money. It’s not cheap, but well designed and something most VW TDI advocates have thought about. Check out COTYbuilt and their step 1,2,3 components … I particularly like their 2010 SEMA project (video).
RichC | October 17, 2013
A sad, sad day for this little Volkswagen TDI diesel engine transplanted in a VW bus. VWWestyman posted a couple photos of his “toasted” engine on TheSamba.com forum and explained that this is what happens when the engine loses all the coolant but keeps chugging along … well, until it doesn’t. VW TDI toasted engine […]
RichC | September 12, 2013
For my small part in handling the finances for the TDIClub.com, Fred sent me a carry-on bag in appreciating for a very successful TDIFest 2013 in Maine (photos & great TDI history breakfast presentation-PDF). Also below the break is a video uploaded by TooRoundTDI of a roof cam look at climbing Mt. Washington in VW […]
RichC | September 3, 2013
Labor Day was great! I was home alone and able to work around the house, although accomplished very little. Most of my time was spent in the garage sanding and adding body filter to the Mercedes Benz 300D. Since the temps were warm, I regularly cooled off in the pool and pretended to be cleaning […]
RichC | August 27, 2013
Rust repairs continue along the rocker panels and jack points on the Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. The passenger side (photo left) wasn’t too bad so I opted to take care of that first. It is now under primer and ready for final sanding and eventually the black “chip resistant” paint. No that I’m on side […]
RichC | August 8, 2013
It makes me nervous when major changes are made to Volkswagen’s TDI engines, but according to a NYTimes Wheels blog article there are new efficient diesel power plants planned for Golf, Beetle, Passat and Jetta models next year. A few years the Pumpe Düse unit injector PD engine displace VW’s ALH motor which was one […]
RichC | July 17, 2013
With the heat in the 90s and humidity high this week I noticed the driver side and rear passenger floor in the Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel soaking wet again. A few weeks ago I thought that it might be due to a leak in the windshield gasket or possibly the drain in front as mentioned […]
RichC | July 16, 2013
Most car guys (and gals) know that the Mercedes Benz nameplate represents a high quality vehicle, but also a higher price. Some might argue that there is worth in a vehicle designed for longevity and safety and that it makes for repeat customers? I sold my first Mercedes, a 560 SEL, back in the late […]
RichC | July 13, 2013
I’m getting creative while addressing a few more rust spots while still keeping the dollar investment to acceptable levels in my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. In most areas I’m a proponent of grinding and replacing metal with metal (TIG welding new material) … but I noticed some rust on the inside of the doors […]
RichC | July 4, 2013
I purchased a new latch opener for the driver’s side door of the Mercedes Benz 300D and was depressed to see how poor the quality of the aftermarket part was. The castings of the new part is so poor that I’m embarrassed to put in on the car.
RichC | June 30, 2013
Click for larger panarama at Aaron’s (Growler) VW TDIClub GTG on Saturday Owning a diesel car again after a couple year hiatus (Katelyn’s doesn’t count) was a weak excuse to go to a TDIClub GTG in Millersport, Ohio on Saturday, but took the Mercedes Benz 300D to the Volkswagen diesel gathering just the same – […]
RichC | June 26, 2013
Drivers Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger set a new Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption by a non-hybrid during their 8,000-mile trek across 48 states in a 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesel. Gerdes, a practiced “hypermiler” who runs the online community CleanMPG, and his co-pilot Winger averaged nearly 78 miles per gallon during […]
RichC | June 23, 2013
Since I’m on a car repair roll at the moment, I’ll continue to update the condition of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. It has come apart this weekend primarily to set the clearances for the valves, something that has to be done regularly and manual as this is a pre-hydraulic valve adjusting kind of […]
RichC | June 22, 2013
Besides spending the day at home catching up on pool cleaning and some minor yard work, I spent the day in the garage working on the Mercedes 300D’s valve adjustment and glow plugs (more on this tomorrow). The more obvious update was installing new Bosch headlight doors I found on Ebay. They look just like […]
RichC | June 22, 2013
While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her […]