Can the need to depress the clutch to start be eliminated, just curious, I have already eliminated the stop start part

I prefer just to jump in and turn the key

Yep. There's one way that definitely works and you don't need VCDS or even to go into Maxidot.

 

Nip back to Skoda and chop it in for an automatic.

[...]

Nip back to Skoda and chop it in for an automatic.

Have you driven DSG? You need to depress brake to start it

[...]

I prefer just to jump in and turn the key

It's for your safety - and it's very good idea.

Few years back when I was at my brother's garage - someone tried to start car with feets outside of the car you can imagine what happened when car started rolling

I don't see why you'd want to do this. Aside from the safety aspect it also gives the starter motor an easier time because it's not trying to turn the gearbox input side.

Good point

Good point

it also gives a second or two for the glow plugs to work

it also gives a second or two for the glow plugs to work

 

My car will not start until the glow plug light goes out. That is if you turn the key to start, if you turn it to start and turn it back off and back to start again it will start but what a kafuffle.

I always depress the clutch in case I parked in gear which I sometimes do if parked on a hill and forget. I also use the handbrake of course but I have rear discs and they have been known to lose grip when they cool so I do not 100% trust them. It also, as reported, saves turning over the gearbox

Edited 3 November, 20169 yr by edbostan

i always leave my car in gear , living in Wales you'd be a fool to trust a little cable or wire with your whole car on some of the hills we have

.....back in the old days I used to warm up my 205GTI in winter, so I leaned inside the car, started it, then went back to the house to grab my coat and lock the door (car parked in garage off the street). If I had to press the clutch in, it would have been an additional hassle.

 

Little did I know that the Peugeot owner's manual expressly told me not to let the car idle after starting it. 

 

Its exactly the same in the Skoda manual.... "never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away" and "never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running".

 

Hope thats of some help. 

[...]

Its exactly the same in the Skoda manual.... "never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away" [...]

Why would you stress your cold engine without letting him to warm up a bit ?? Especially when it's below 0°C ??

Engines are very slow to warm up from idle so you're gaining very little. The load from actually driving the car will warm the engine up much faster. Once you don't use excessive accelerator inputs during warm up you're not going to cause any harm driving off immediately after startup. A good rule of thumb for TDIs is to stay below 3000 rpm and don't use aggressive pedal inputs until the oil temperature has reached its normal operating point.

I don't think mine has ever been to 3000rpm. Very rarely goes above two in its near 60k miles.

I don't think mine has ever been to 3000rpm. Very rarely goes above two in its near 60k miles.

I'd hate to see what state your turbo is in. You need high rpm periodically to help the soot move through the turbine and into the DPF. Gently driven cars over time suffer a buildup of soot in the control vanes in the turbine housing: this bakes hard with the heat and jams up the vanes.

I don't think mine has ever been to 3000rpm. Very rarely goes above two in its near 60k miles.

 

I'd hate to see what state your turbo is in. You need high rpm periodically to help the soot move through the turbine and into the DPF. Gently driven cars over time suffer a buildup of soot in the control vanes in the turbine housing: this bakes hard with the heat and jams up the vanes.

 

Yeah - this is what caused a big bill on my previous car (a 525d) - the owner before me had just done "motorway miles" and thought they had looked after and babied the car.

 

The problem was just as you warn about - the 6 cylinder diesel had been sitting at less than 2000 rpm for most of its "motorway" miles and the turbo was baked in crap and the actuator was gunked. Had to be replaced at 73K miles.

 

Even on my 4 cylinder 1.6 Superb,  I cruise at 120 kph in 6th gear at less than 2000. To get past this, I just use joining motorways / leaving toll booths as a fun opportunity to let her loose and rev hard (provided oil is up to temp, of course!). That, and keeping the gears low on a spirited country drive keeps you clean.

Edited 4 November, 20169 yr by TheRobinK

An Italian tune up is the best thing for diesel cars

Edited 4 November, 20169 yr by DEL80Y

An Italian tune up is the best thing for diesel cars

Easiest thing I find to ensure you give your car a good thrashing is to sleep in so you have to rush to work 

Another vote here.

 

I always fill up at the same fuel station. On leaving the forecourt there is a 2 mile arrow straight stretch of dual carriageway.

 

Red lined in third and fourth then into 6th and roll off the accelerator back to 80mph.

 

Does the old girl the world of good.

With my driving style - there is no way anything will build up anywhere ;)

Of course nice and gentle when engine is cold. And always let it cool down before turning off - old habit from Dodge Omni 2.2 GLH Turbo petrol

Edited 4 November, 20169 yr by jafo

I've never revved any of my diesels more than 3 k  you don't need to , max torque is only 1750

I've never revved any of my diesels more than 3 k  you don't need to , max torque is only 1750

You do if you want to make the stated 0-60 time, or get onto the A1 at Darrington on the worlds smallest slip road.

Edited 5 November, 20169 yr by SuperbTWM

you're not supposed to "never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away" as it takes a long time to heat the engine  otherwise  so in effect you're running it cold for longer

I've never revved any of my diesels more than 3k you don't need to, max torque is only 1750

You need if you want to keep your engine healthy

My previous Seat Leon 2.0 TDI FR 170 - until I've done trip Manchester - London was sluggish like hell with poor mpg :(

Current Skoda - the same :( after a long trip - much better