Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

Posted video here with my commentary towards the later half.
Francis as I call her started up after 5 seconds. Overnight block plugged in.
Air between injectors. No air in inlet IP or output IP line. There is air at the double barbed OUT bolt line between injector and barb. It seems to be just hanging out there. And the air between injectors is stuck just jumping up and down.

I have only idled Francis for 15 minutes total. So maybe just more time idling?
I don’t like smoking out my neighbors....in that way.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SC1mFOlLhrI

I didn't see any problems with air in the lines.
Have you adjusted your valve clearances?

Valve Clearances. I know next to nothing about them.
I will see what I can absorb from the Bentley manual and this forum.

Air situation looks ok to me too

At one point I read this whole thread but I forgot everything now.... maybe that will help.

At a glance, fuel appeared to be moving through system ok. Have you done bottle feed?
Compression test?

Correct me if I'm missing something, but the very first post mentioned a head gasket change. I'm thinking now that maybe that gasket didn't seal correctly.
Compression test would 100% be my next move.
I have a compression tester you can borrow for the price of shipping if you want to PM me. Same goes for exhaust gas detector for coolant res., but for that you'd have to buy some test fluid too.
I wouldn't think valve clearance, just because of decent running condition before all this work, unless Fatmobile is thinking of some angle I'm not, or if I'm misunderstanding the history

No gasket work during my ownership, I’m unsure of previous owner.
I have not bottle fed yet, I need to get an inline filter first.
If I can not borrow my buddy compression test kit I wil PM you about yours. Thank you for that offer.
I have a feeling the compression may be low. When the car was running better before the IP change and subsequent problems. When the engine would cooled off and I would try to restart after about 45min to 1 hour. It would need to crank a lot longer in order to fire up. About 20-30 seconds.

After compression test, assuming it’s too low what are my next steps?/options?

Have you tried to turn the engine over by hand?
You can tell how good the compression is that way.

I haven't read back through this post but is it possible the injection pump is 180 degrees out?
Have you turned the pump to see when it sprays?
It's possible to rebuild a pump and make this mistake internally.

Valve clearance might not be the problem but I have seen them adjusted so badly that the exhaust manifold filled with carbon and clogged.

I have turn the crankshaft sprocket Several rotations. It roatates fairly easy at first then gradually builds up resistance to the point I have to pull a bit hard on the long handled socket in then it becomes easy again. I assume this is the cam building up pressure via compression of the pistons.

Is this normal or should it be more consistent throughout the rotation since different pistons are firing each cycle.

I really need to study diagrams and watch graphics of how they work.
Engines aren’t my fortae. But I have enjoyed learning more about them.

That's how it works.
If the engine tries to go backward when you get near the peak;
compression is over 375.
If it's hard to turn but doesn't try to go backwards compression is about 350.

At least this is how I remember it.
I've posted it here before, back when my memory of the results were better.

You mentioned head gasket in very first post but it sounds like you meant valve cover gasket... damn that made sense in my brain for a minute.

Bottle feed, compression.... make sure you turn for 4 compressions to hit every cylinder if your going by hand.

Have you tried loosening injector lines one by one to see if any of them don't really make a difference in how the engine sounds? If so there's ways to go.... swap injector to see if problem moves with injector.
At this point i would focus on what you can do to 100 percent rule out some things.
Have you swapped injectors with your other ride to see what happens?
Broad strokes and ruling things out 100 percent.

Injectors definitely good thing to think about too. You could put the injector lines on backwards, crank and spray them upwards against some cardboard. Won't tell you breaking pressure, but can get a feel for spray pattern and basic functioning