smokey engine

Hi all i have a 1984 1600 gl cab im working on at present,just finished bodywork now to the engine…it sat on someones drive for 7 months prior to my purchase & still has half a tank of fuel…it seems to be rather smokey though,i have done no servicing yet,not even a air filter check,will be doing oil change ,plugs,air filter etc any ideas of what else to check to see why it smokes a bit?many thanks paddy.ps have a gti cab projecty type thing in the for sale forum,many thanks again Paddy

What colour smoke, how much, when?

Generaly

Blue- OIL
White- Water
Black- Over Fueling

TT

thanks for the reply is kinda blackish & splatters a black watery mark on the ground after,any ideas?it has  a weber carb fitted by previous owner,do i need check that was installed properly?,many thanks Paddy

Sounds like its running a bit rich and createing some soot. A proper tune up with new air filter etc will do it a world of good.

Have you actually taken it on long run or just started it up and let idle whilst parked up?

Not able to take it for a run due to mot /tax situation,car was stood for 6 or 7 months prior to me purchasing it,i noticed today the revs are at 1000 when in P or N(sorry it's auto by the way) but drop to 750 when in R or D, also does this run on unleaded? its got half a tank of something in it from when i got it,also has a weber replacement carb not sure if that was done correct.many thanks Paddy

All water cooled VWs can use unleaded. It?s the octane that matters. Normal unleaded is 95 octane, equivalent to old 2star, 4 star was 97/98 octane

Not sure about earlier carbs, but GTIs setup properly def benefit from 97/98 octane Shell Optimax type stuff. Also think later 1.8 carbs are better on it aswell?

Never had an auto but would guess that when you put it in drive the torque converter causes some drag and slows the engine, so sounds like its working as it should.

I?ve had experience of petrol ?going off? if left for a while. This was in a 1966 Beetle I bought and spent ages trying to get it to run right, changed points, condenser, reset gap, new HT leads etc etc. Eventually had to fill it up and the fresh petrol made it run like a dream.

Is it worth putting redex in to decoke with some fresh petrol at the same time?

No if it was mine I'd service it with new plugs, filters, oil etc. Try and refill with fresh petrol of whatever octane you decide on. Then take it for an 'italian' tune up, ie a long hard run.

If its still running rough get someone who knows what they are doing to adjust timeing and CO.

Many thanks will do just that,will keep you posted to see how it goes,car is starting to look sweet by the way,once finished onto my triple white gti cab….can't wait…cheers Paddy

as 1800 says its hard to tell if your engines borked until its been on a good run, using gears and revs and that. easier to tell problems when engines upto running temperature as well. you are gonna struggle tho with old fuel in it, loses its bite 8O. make sure carbs set up right (u got manual choke lead?) co mixture before tickover. get the engine red hot, turn it off, remove a sparkplug if its black or sooty then to much fuel

serviced it,plugs ,filter,oil flush & change,fresh petrol——much much better-passed the mot so well pleased just a few minor cosmetics & its up for sale,thanks for your help,Paddy
 (also had to change rocker cover gasket) was leaking