erratic RPM

[sbeashwar]

Today I had to hold the ignition key at the crank position for a little longer than normal to start the engines. As soon as it started the RPM meter shuttled between 1000 and 700 RPM, was not sure what was going on so stopped the eingine and tried after about 3 minutes. THis time it started and held still at abt 1000RPM. I checked the oil level and was near the low mark. Did an oil change roughly a month back at firestone, the guy didn't change the oil filter saying the he didn't have the VW version.

When I bought the car couple of months back, I got the car checked at firestone, report said there was a heavy oil leak, ignored it for I coukd not find any trace of oil at the places where i parked. I am wondering if low oil could cause this kind of behaviur. Should i top up oil and do some test to detect if there is indeed a leak ?
What oil should i ask for ? unfortunately i don't have the user manual, please bear with me for askin such silly questions.

[suj]

RPM thing: What was the weather like? Your choke could be ill if thats at all possible..... did it fix it self after a few mins? How did it drive? Did it just start today?

The oil leak thing i have no idea about. Im not even sure this is related but check the oil filler cap for a white substance. Also whilst the engine is idling check to see if there is any bubbling...

White substance - Headgasket failure - could be big bucks to fix, but you should get it done asap and not drive the car too much.

Sory i cant be more help!

[sbeashwar]

thanks suj,
I didn't drive the car, I am still wondering if I can drive it. I don't want to get stranded somewhere in the middle.

I will have to figure out to get to the oil filter

[das boot]

Erratic rpms in that range sounds like a vacuum leak in the throttle body. I had that problem, but only when I had the AC on. It turned out to be a vacuum leak from a crack in that little brass fitting on the TB. After I got a new TB it was fixed.

[onebadassgti]

how long was it befor you started the car? and i see it is a VR so how was the weather the coil packs get cracks in them and is there is any water in them it can cause a slight missfire and if i let my car sit for a while it will idle rough at first its a VR thing all of mine have done that and yes check the vacum lines all thou if it didnt do it on the second start i dont think it is a vacum leak i would drive the car and see if the car runs smooth let us know

[EvilVento2.oT]

the other thing it could be is a lot of cold oily goo in the throttle , and the motronic brain has "adapted" the throttle as far as it can go so the idle is hunting to ballence the fuel, in short clean th throttle, and maf and grease ( with dielectrode ) the tps sensor

[onebadassgti]

yeah he is right about cleaning all of that make a check list and go down it untill the problem goes away get your trouble shoot on good luck

[sbeashwar]

sorry, folks for this late response. The car just seem to be doing fine after that initial problem. The oil level, I think was my mistake, the car was not on a level surface when I checked the level

One question if there is a heavy oil leak I should see oil spots at the place I park the car for a long time, right ? hope leak doesn't get collected somewhere else.