Starting GTI after a long time

[bootz]

Hi All,

Great Forum, wish we had it 20 years ago. Speaking of which, I wish to fire up the old GTI after a rest of approx 5yrs. Where would I post a plea for advice. Oh Yeah, shes a MK 1 slowly rusting away at the moment.

[gerhard]

Short of pulling the engine down and lubricating all the bearings, etc, manually, I'd be doing the following

Oil and filter change
Fuel tank drain and new fuel, renew fuel filters, bleed the system so new fuel is at the engine.
Remove spark plugs, spray some upper cylinder lube into the engine.
Make sure the fuel system is properly primed with fuel to lubricate the pump and injectors.
Finally, crank the engine over with plugs removed until oil is fed throughout the engine. Use an extra battery if required.

Replace spark plugs (new ones would be good) and she should fire up and run with everything nicely lubricated.

Gearbox oil should probably also be changed and when driving take it very easy for a few ks to get the gear oil nicely circulated.

I'm happy to be corrected by the more knowledgeable on this subject, though.

[bootz]

Thanks Gerhard,

There was not much fuel in the tank when she was put out to pasture so hopefully the fuel pumps not stuffed. All you say is very straightforward. How do I bleed the fuel system though? Thinking about it maybe just unhook the fuel line at the filter until the pump blasts it out?

Sigh, if you guys were around maybe sho would never have left the road. Must organise pic of baby.

[Jace]

Thinking about it maybe just unhook the fuel line at the filter until the pump blasts it out?

Yep. After draining the tank.

Must organise pic of baby.

Yes, you must!

And welcome!

[roccodingo]

K jet pump and the internal plumbing in the tank has a chance of being gummed up from the old fuel sitting for that long, One of mine had sat for approx 6 years and the pump was dead + the feed line inside the tank was solid

Good luck

This car a black one by any chance ???

[bootz]

True that's what I might be afraid of, however she was almost out of fuel when I 'parked' her. Not a black one, the colour was 'guards' red (see who remembers that one - hint another kraut colour), now a faded red with tinges of primer.

One query, does gearbox oil go sour? Have never bothered changing gearbox or diff (na for golf) oil in my life.

[WABIT]

would also be wise to replace any rubber hoses, those badboys get brittle and usually split and potentially create some damage
everything else people have posted it spot on!

dom

[bootz]

Heres the problem child again