VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G Owners Manual

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VEHICLE CARE
FUEL SUPPLY
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter and requires unleaded fuel.
For maximum engine performance, un­
leaded fuel with an octaine rating of 91
RON,
which corresponds to an anti-knock
index (AKI) of 87, is recommended.
Do not use leaded gasolines.
Deposits from leaded gasolines deacti­
vate the catalytic converter and thus
defeat its purpose to control exhaust emis­

sions.

Unleaded fuels may not be available
outside the continental USA and Cana­

da.
Therefore, we recommend you do not take your vehicle to areas or coun­
tries where unleaded fuel may not be
available. Octane rating
Octane rating indicates a gasoline's ability to
resist detonation. Therefore, buying the cor­
rect octane gas is important to prevent en­
gine "knock", which reduces performance and may cause engine damage.
Under high load operating conditions, un­
leaded premium gasoline may be used.
The 91 RON octane rating which you will find above the filler neck is based on the re­ search method. The AKI octane rating unsu-
ally displayed on USA gasoline pumps is
calculated as follows: Research octane number plus motor octane number, divided
by 2.
Regular fuels have an octane rating ranging
from 91 to 95 RON (Research Octane Number) or 87 to
91
AKI.
Do not use any fuel with octane ratings
lower than 91 RON or 87 AKI.
Gasolines containing alcohol
Gasoline containing alcohol is available at
gas stations in some areas. The gas pump may not be labeled to identify that alcohol
is present in the gasoline. If it is labeled, it
may not identify what amount and type(s)
of alcohol are used. We recommend you
use quality gasoline that is NOT blended
with alcohol. The use of fuel containing alcohol can cause loss of fuel econorr
and driveability and performance pre:

lems.
If these problems are experience:
we recommend you switch to anothe brand of gasoline.
Seasonally adjusted gasoline
Many gasolines are blended to perfor-
especially well for winter or summer drl
ing.
During seasonal change-over, wl
suggest that you fill up at busy gas statior I
where the seasonal adjustment is mo-r likely to be made in time.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among many aut: manufacturers is carbon deposit build-i:
caused by the type of gasoline you use.
Although gasolines differ from onr manufacturer to another, there is a cor-
mon thread. All gasolines contain props'
ties that can cause deposits to collect ad essential engine components, specificali
fuel injectors and intake valves. Althoug- most gasoline brands include additives tc
keep engine and fuel systems clean, the;,
are not equally effective.


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VEHICLE CARE

Injector
| |
Fuel
Injector
Good
Spray Pattern

Intake
Valve

-fter
an extended period of using inade- :uate fuels,
built-up
carbon deposits can

Bb
your engine of peak performance. And :arbon deposits like those in the illustra-
ron can lead to other engine performance
Droblems
such as:
• unstable idling
• surging
• misfiring
• power loss
• engine run-on
• engine pinging or knocking
if these problems continue over a long
oeriod of time, engine damage can be a re­
sult.
Intake
Valve

Free
from
Deposits

Damage
or malfunction due to poor fuel
quality is not covered by the Volkswagen
New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Recent
fuel developments

Over
the past few years, more manufactu­ rers have been advertising detergent addi­
tives in their gasoline. These additives are primarily intended to keep fuel injectors

clean.

However,
they are not all equally effective
in reducing carbon deposit build-up on
intake valves. We are aware
that,
as of the

time
of printing, some manufacturers advertise and sell gasoline
that
contains
the proper deposit control additives
that

will
keep intake valves and injectors
clean.

To
assure the long
term
performance of your car's engine, you should use gasoline brands
that
include these deposit control

additives.

If gasolines
with
additives are not
avail­

able,
contact your Volkswagen dealer
about proper fuel additives.


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VEHICLE CARE
If wrong fuel was
put
into your tank

Premium gasoline instead of regular

Your engine runs equally well
on
premium
gasoline, however neither fuel consump­
tion
nor
engine output
are
likely
to be af­
fected.

Regular gasoline with RON/AKI rating
(lower than
91
RON or 87 AKI)

Your engine will
run but
avoid full power
as
engine
can be
damaged. Fill
up
with cor­rect fuel
as
soon
as
possible.
Diesel fuel instead of gasoline

Your gasoline engine must
not be
started
with Diesel fuel
in the
tank.
In
such case
the fuel tank must
be
drained while observ­ ing
all
environmental
and
fire hazard pre­
cautions.

Leaded instead of unleaded gasoline

Do
not
drive your car. Have your fuel tank
drained immediately
as
otherwise
the
emission control system will
be
damaged.
The fuel system must
be
drained while
ob­
serving
all
environmental regulations,
it is

best
to
have this performed
by
your Volks­
wagen dealer.


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VEHICLE
CARE

.EANING PRODUCTS

.
automobile is
subjected
to
abuse
from
atrial
fumes,
corrosive
road salt,
aban-

-ed
lollipops,
muddy dog feet, etc.; to

ne
just a few. A well
cared
for
Volkswa-
-
can look like new many
years
later,
gular
and correct
care
will contribute to
ntaining
the beauty and the
value
of
far
Volkswagen.

jr
Volkswagen
dealer
has a number of
-care
products and can
advise
you
ch
ones
to use for
cleaning
the exterior

d
interior of your
vehicle,

"ether
you use
Volkswagen
recom-
nded
products or other, commercially

lilable
cleaning
agents,
make
sure
first
heir
correct
application.
WARNING

•
Cleaning agents may be poisonous.

Keep
them
out of the reach of children.

•
Observe all caution labels.

•
Always read directions on the
con­

tainer
before using any product.

•
Most chemical cleaners are concen­

trates
which require dilution.

•
Only use spot removing fluids in

well
ventilated
areas.

•
Do not use gasoline, kerosene,
naphtha, nail polish remover or other
volatile cleaning fluids. They may be
toxic, flammable or hazardous in other
ways.
89


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VEHICLE
CARE

EXTERIOR

Washing
and
waxing

The
paint on your Volkswagen is very dura­ ble but must be protected
from
losing its
luster due to outside influences. There­
fore, wash and wax your Volkswagen
often. The longer the
dirt
is
left
on the paint, the greater the risk of damaging the

glossy
finish, either by scratching if the
dirt
is
rubbed
into
the paint, or simply by the

chemical
effect
dirt
particles have on the paint surface.
Do not
wash
or wax in
direct
sunlight,
or

when
the
sheet
metal
is hot. Do not use hot
water.
Lukewarm
to cool
water
is

kinder
to the
paint.

WARNING
•
Do not
wash,
wax or dry the
vehicle

with
the
engine
running.

•
Do not
clean
the
underside
of chas­

sis,
fenders,
wheel
covers, etc.,
without
protecting
your
hands
and
arms.
You
may cut
yourself
on
sharp-edged
metal

parts.

•
Moisture,
ice and
road
salt
on
brakes

may
affect
braking
efficiency.
Test
the

brakes
carefully
after
each
vehicle

wash.
Do
not aim the water jet directly at door,
hatch or rear lid locks. Tape the key holes
to prevent water
from
seeping
into
the lock

cylinders.
Water in lock cylinders should be removed
with
compressed air. To pre­
vent locks
from
freezing in the winter, squirt glycerine or lock de-icer
into
the lock

cylinders.
Do not use any
solution
that
can
damage
the
body
paint.

Use
plenty of water, a car-wash and wax
solution and a soft sponge or hose brush.
Begin
by spraying water over the dry sur­

face
to remove all loose
dirt
before apply­ ing the car-wash and wax solution. Use
plenty of water to rinse the vehicle off.

Wipe
everything dry
with
a chamois to avoid water spots.

When
having your vehicle washed at an automatic car
wash,
be sure to observe all
the precautions suggested by the
esta­
blishment.
The
underside of the vehicle picks up d ~
and road salt. To guard against corrosic it is important to remove mud, debris a":
road salt
from
the underside
with
i
powerful jet of water. Be sure to include t"
wheel housings, bumpers, muffler, tailp :- and brackets. This should be done twice

year
and is best accomplished after the \ hide has been driven through a hea

rain.
Let engine and exhaust cool do,"
before washing.

Waxing
is not really needed when y:.
have
used a car-wash and wax solution
you do not use a car-wash liquid
with
wa^ apply wax to preserve the natural shine :
the body paint. To obtain a long last-:
finish,
apply hard wax. Wax again whe
water remains on the surface in lar:-
patches
instead of forming beads a": rolling off.

This
will
make
dirt
easier to remove e :
will
prevent the paint
from
being damage:

from
industrial dust, tree sap or bird drz~-
pings.

Use
a polish when it becomes evident tha:
waxing no longer accomplishes the jot
the polish you are using does not conta
wax, apply hard wax after polishing.


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VEHICLE CARE

V
or oil

Z:
not allow tar or oil to remain on the
Remove
as soon as possible
with
a
i soaked
with
a special paint cleaner. It do not have a tar or oil remover, you
=/ substitute
with
turpentine. After apply-
a
cleaning fluid, always wash
with
a
- • ewarm soap water solution and apply a
~e,v wax coat.
-sects

Remove
as soon as possible
with
a
. soap water solution or insect re-
rover.
"•ee sap Z p not allow tree sap or bird droppings to
-arden on the paint. Remove
with
a -kewarm soap water solution. Touch-up
paint

Your
Volkswagen dealer has touch-up paint for minor scratches and stone chips.

Scratches
should be touched up soon
after they occur to prevent corrosion. If cor­
rosion formation becomes visible, how­
ever, a simple touch-up job will not suffice.
The affected surface must be smoothed
with
sand paper and covered
with
an anti- rust primer, before restoring the painted

finish.

The number for the original vehicle paint
can
be found on the vehicle identification
label.

Windows
Clean
all windows regularly to remove
road
film
and car-wash wax buildup. Use a
lukewarm soap water solution or an al­
cohol base commercial window cleaning
agent. If a chamois is used for polishing
the
glass,
it should exclusively be used for

that
purpose.

Also,
be sure to clean all windows regularly on the inside.

Use
a plastic scraper to remove snow and

ice
from windows and mirrors. To prevent

dirt
from scratching the window, always

scrape
in a forward direction - never back
and forth.
Wiper
blades

Always
loosen frozen wiper blades from

glass
otherwise they may tear.

Clean
wiper blades regularly
with
an al­
cohol base solution. If necessary, use a
sponge
or a brush to remove accumulated road film. To assure good visibility, replace
wiper blades at least once a year, or more
often when wiping becomes streaky. For instructions on replacing wiper blades,

see
page 113.


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VEHICLE
CARE

Weatherstrips
Keep silicone sprays
off the
windshield
to avoid wiper smear
in
rain.
To seal properly, weatherstrips around
hood,
hatch, windows, doors,
etc.,
must
be pliable. Spray with silicone
or
coat with
talcum powder
or
glycerine
to
retain
flexibility
of the
rubber
and to
protect against freezing
in the
winter.

Sliding roof quide rails

To assure that
the
sliding roof* function properly, clean
the
guide rails
and
lubri­

cate with silicone spray
at
least once
a

year.
See
your Volkswagen dealer
for
cor­ rect procedures
and
lubricant.
Dull finishes and plastics

Plastic parts, such
as
light bulb lenses,
decorative stripes, panels, bumpers,
etc.,

will come clean with regular washing. Should additional cleaning
or
spot
re­
moval
be
necessary,
use a
soft brush
or

cloth soaked with
a
mild detergent
solu­

tion.
Then rinse thoroughly
and im­
mediately with clear water.
Do not use anything which could mar the
plastic
or
dull finished surface, such
as

wax, polish, abrasive detergents
or
chemical cleaning solvents.

Sliding door

The sliding door mounting points,
the
guide tracks
and the
roller guides should be lubricated regularly
and as
often
as
necessary.

Bright metal trim

Bright
or
black anodized trim will come
clean with regular washing.
To
protect metal
trim,
use car
wax. Remove spots
or

dirt from chrome
and
stainless steel with
a

chrome cleaner. Apply
a
chrome polish
for

continued luster and protection.
Steel wheels

Always include
the hub
caps
and
whee rims when washing your vehicle
to
remove
road dirt, salt sprays and brake dust.
If
nec
essary,
use a
commercial wheel cleaner
t:
remove accumulated brake dust. Pain:
scratches should
be
touched
up to
prever

corrosion.

Light alloy wheels

To preserve
the
decorative appearance
c-
the light aluminium cast, some specie
care
is
necessary.
In
addition
to
road
dr
and salt sprays, brake metal dust
is
alsc
corrosive.
If
left
on too
long,
brake meta
dust
can
cause pitting. Wash
the
wheels
with
a
sponge
or
hose brush every othe-
week. Road salt should
be
remove:
weekly with
an
acid free cleaning solutior Every three months (after regular clear­
ing)
the
wheels should
be
coated
wit-
petroleum jelly
or car
wax.
Rub it in
firml.

with
a
soft cloth. Never
use
abrasive
c
metal polishing cleaning agents.
Remember that moisture,
ice and
roac
salt
on
brakes
may
affect braking
eff

ciency. Test
the
brakes carefully afte'
each washing. Heed warning
on
page
29.

92
*
where applicable


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VEHICLE
CARE

MERIOR

3 ass

.5=
the
same cleaning agents
as for ex-
f
-
or
and polish
dry.

:abric

Lse
a
vacuum cleaner
or a
soft bristle
brjsh
to
remove dust
and
loose dirt from
ri'peting,
upholstery, headliner
and
other r
Ti.
Dirt stains
can
usually
be
removed :h
a
lukewarm soap water
or all
purpose
: eaner solution,
or a
dry foam cleaner.
For

reasy, oily and other stubborn stains,
use

= spot remover.
Do not
pour
the
liquid
on

~e fabric. Dampen
a
clean cloth
and rub
rarefully, starting
at the
edge
and
working
ward.
Plastic, vinyl and leather/leatherette
Use
a
clean, damp cloth
or
sponge
to
keep
this trim free from dust.
For
other soilage, use
a
lukewarm solvent free
all
purpose
cleaning solution
or a
mild saddle soap
for

vinyl and leather
trim.
Remove water spots and soap traces with
a
clean, damp cloth
or sponge.
Use a
clean, soft cloth
to rub
dry.
Grease,
tar or oil
stains
can be
removed
with
a
clean cloth
or
sponge soaked with all purpose cleaner
or
with
a
solvent type
vinyl
or
leather cleaning agent.
Occasionally apply
a
colorless vinyl
or
leather preservative
to
retain
the
material's
luster
and
pliability. Safety belts

Keep belts clean. Dirty belts may not re­
tract properly. Do not remove belts from
the vehicle. Do not use chemical clean­ ing agents, bleach or dyes. They contain
corrosive properties which will weaken
the webbing. Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before they are
completely dry.

For cleaning,
use a
mild soap water
solu­

tion.
Let
belts
dry out
thoroughly and away
from direct
sun
light.

Use the opportunity to inspect the belts
for damage. If you discover damage, see your dealer.


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VEHICLE CARE

CORROSION
PROTECTION

The transmission,
front
and rear axle
assembly
surfaces have been treated at
the factory
with
a wax based coating for protection against corrosion. However, we
recommend to have the and the underside
inspected twice a year for any damage to
the protective coating preferably before and after the winter
season.
Have
neces­

sary
repairs done as soon as possible.
See
your dealer for correct procedures
and materials.

WARNING
Do not
apply
additional
undercoating

or
rustproofing
on or
near
the
exhaust
manifold,
exhaust
pipes,
catalytic

converter
or
heat
shields.
During
driv­
ing, the substance used for
under-

coating
could
overheat
and cause a

fire.

Engine
Compartment
When washing the engine compartment, only use commercially available grease
cutting solvents made especially for this
purpose.
Carefully follow directions
print­

ed
on the container by the manufacturer.
WARNING

Never
use gasoline,
Diesel
fuel
or sol­

vents
which
could
damage
rubber
parts
or
painted
surfaces and could
cause a
fire.

Chassis

The lower body shell of your Volkswagen
is
thoroughly protected against corrosion. However, it is recommended to have the
underside inspected twice a year. Any de­
tected damage to the undercoating, due to road hazards, should be repaired prompt­
ly. Oil based protective sprays must not be

applied.
Only tar or wax based anticorro-

sion
protectors are compatible
with
the
factory applied undercoating. Before ap­ plication, road
dirt,
salt spray deposits and
oily substances must be removed.

Whenever
the lower body
shell,
axle, transmission or engines assemblies have been repaired, the lost anti-corrosion
coating of the affected surfaces should be
reapplied.

Your
Volkswagen dealer has the appro­ priate materials, the necessary equipment
and is familiar
with
the application proce­
dure. Therefore, any additional corrosion protection work should be performed by a

Volkswagen
dealer.
Body
cavity sealing

All
body cavities which could be affecte: by corrosion have been given a thorouc"
protection at the factory.

This
sealing does not require any inspe:
tion
or additional treatments. If any wa should seep out of the cavity when tN
ambient temperature is high, it can M removed
with
a plastic scraper and -.
suitable solvent. Be sure to observe a
safety and environmental regulations.
94


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AINTENANCE
VEHICLE CARE

Ibur
vehicle has been designed to help «eep maintenance requirements to a mini--jm. However, a certain amount of regu­
lar maintenance is still necessary to as­ s-re your vehicle's safety, economy and re- ability.

Maintenance
Service is
required
every

12
months
or
every
15,000
miles
(24,000

kilometers),
whichever occurs
first.

I addition, it is necessary to perform an oil

nange
6 months after each Maintenance

Service,
or after each 7,500 miles (12,000
•: (ometers) whichever occurs
first.

"he
first
oil change must be performed 6 ~ionths after the delivery of the vehicle or
after 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers).
Under
difficult
operating
conditions, for

example
at extreme low outside tempera­
tures or in very dusty regions, etc., some
service
work should be performed bet­
ween the intervals specified.

This
applies particularly to: • oil changes, and
• cleaning or replacing the air
filter.

The
maintenance work should be per­ formed by Volkswagen dealers because
they have the expertise, the workshop facilities and the special tools required. It is important
that
this work is per­
formed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Proof
of servicing in accordance
with
the
maintenance schedule may be a condition
for upholding a possible warranty claim
made
within the warranty period.
Safety
and
environmental
concerns

place
very strict limits on the nature of re­

pairs
and adjustment on engine and trans­
mission
parts which an owner can per­
form.
Tampering
with
safety-related
parts
can
endanger
you as
well
as
other

motorists.

Always
observe environmental regula­ tions when disposing of old engine oil,
used
brake fluid,
dirty
engine coolant,
spent batteries or worn out tires.

95


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