This is a recycled graphic lesson.

bottom line with nearly any engine, especially an overhead cam equipped one...
read the service manual. if you do not understand the instructions, DO NOT PROCEED!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving.

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Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

Wow, so many VW issues! Codifiex, why would swapping jug positions lead to a crack at the bottom? Just curious as an ACVW owner.

Thanks,

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Charlie

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'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

Well, as I understand it, each jug is mated with a piston and should be kept together. Also, the openings in the crankcase for the piston, jug and connecting rod are to be used with the original or a properly fitting set.

I just grabbed a jug and a piston and shoved them in the nearest crankcase hole. I got to the last jug and it didn't want to go in. Sooo, I grabbed my hammer and went to pounding. DOH I did use a soft wooden piece on the top of the jug but the jug was being compressed by the crankcase hole and cracked.

I was 18 at the time. We learn. It was an expensive lesson.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

Responses here are really encouraging to beginners in lots of different ways, but I was wondering, what would you say to someone who is just starting out who is a total n00b?

I have a list of things I want to work on on my car, but the process is painstaking and I worry a lot about doing something wrong without even realizing it. When I do things, it generally takes forever because I'm not sure I'm doing something right.

For example, I did a valve adjustment a month ago and the valve hexes started to turn! I had no idea I needed a third wrench after reading the Diesel Giant post and Haynes manual. I now have a copy of the service manual... but can I really rely on it to walk me through things I don't have experience with? I'm not an idiot and I'm capable of learning, but it seems to me a lot of the work requires experience to know what's right and what's wrong.

Did anyone here start out without someone guiding them? How'd you do it?

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

I owe my grandfather for that one. He let me destroy untold numbers of old telephones, lawn mower engines, and other mechanical things starting from before I was big enough to remember. If you lack confidence, do some simple projects to build your confidence. If you have good reasons for your lack of confidence. Start by working on things you can afford to lose, or at least be without for an extended time.

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Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

Thanks for the input! I'll continue to proceed with caution then and start saving up for the inevitable "teachable moment". Hopefully it will be a less expensive mistake! I'll also keep an eye out for random stuff I can tinker with to improve my skills and start out with maintenance jobs as much as I can. Thanks!

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."