Easier cold starting

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Kezza0 said:
Thanks for the replys.

So they go off after the engine is warm and not just after a set period of time?
Click to expand...

I understand that it is variable, from the disco workshop manual..

The length of time the glow plugs will operate is
dependent on under bonnet temperature, which is
monitored by a sensor located in the timer unit.
 
Just light a couple of small fires under the fuel tank and engine like the old Wehrmacht panzer crews of WWII during Operation Barbarossa.
 
Kezza0 said:
After noticing that glow plug #4 was pumping up and down when the engine was on I replaced 2, 3, & 4 glow plugs. Can’t get to #1 easily.
Click to expand...

What is the issue getting to number one? If I'm going to be changing mine, fore warned is fore armed and all that.
 
I'll take it for a run tomorrow and then check to see if the plugs are on after the engine has warmed up.

The compressor seems to be in the way of #1 and didn't want to remove it, so I have left changing it for a bit, although if I had put a new one it it wouldn't have made any difference, seeing as there was no voltage going the the glow plugs !:)

Will start up first thing tomorrow and should notice a marked difference in turnover time, befiore it kicks into life.

Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks once again for the help from everyone.
 
How did you get on?

Just wondering, listened carefully this morning and heard the relay click off about 10 - 12 seconds after the dash light went out. If you hear the relay click off, does that mean its working OK? Motor started after a couple of seconds this morning, but it was covered over last night and the outside temp was a few degrees warmer than it was yesterday morning.
 
Hi everyone,
well, after getting 3 inches of snow last night, the first time i tried to start this morning, it fired up straight away!! So that’s the end of continuous turning over, and then finally starting without the use of glow plugs! It’s going to start first and every time now.



I’ll have to try and find where the brown wire goes to after the snow has gone. It seems to go into a wiring loom from the relay down towards the engine under the compressor and not straight to the fuse box. So for now have jury rigged a wire between battery and the relay.


Will check the length the glow plugs are on tomorrow and report back.
 
Steviecops said:
Is there any tips people can give for easier starting of my 300 tdi Disco on these freezing mornings? I have been running on a bio/dinosaur diesel mix, but I've run the tank down as low as I dare and topped up with shells finest super duper diesel. I also covered my engine and battery with a blanket last night to keep them warm, (aah) :). But it still took a bit of starting this morning. Three glow plug heats and four or five seconds cranking with foot to the floor before it kicked into life. Once its started, it starts all day with half a turn. It was -10 here last night, but if it gets any colder, I'm nervous that it won't start at all.
Click to expand...
;)
I`m further round the coast to you Stevie,
got a 200DTi,
but got 2 "mondeo diesel" batteries linked as 12volt.
I live 10 metres from the sea, and yes, today in galeforce winds it was about - 10/20 degrees ffs!
I cover the grill with a rubber floormat held on by front grill screws to keep the worst of icy blast of the front end.
I always just open the door, put key in, switch on, wait till light goes out, count to 5 and while still fuffing about outside
NO throttle, then start.
just let it idle for a minuet to get the oil round while wiping windows/looking for anything fallen orf :)
(joking)
get in, belts on and drive orf sweet as a nut!

never fails......
 
Covering the engine up at night seems to improve things, but I'll still fit new glow plugs as they can't hurt. They can wait until after pay day now, though. :)

P.S. I looked at a 200 tdi for sale in St Osyth last year. It was at one of the caravan parks.
 
glow plugs should only stay on for less than a minute after a cold start.
tis worth replacing the fuel filter if it ait been done lately...cold start needs more diesel ... thats why full throttle helps.
cranking speed on the starter motor is a big factor....just turning over on a cold morning aint good enough it needs to spin round . check the battery to starter motor cable connections are clean and tight..
recently had to replace the earth lead on a transit cos the crimped on connecter on the starter earth was corroded., it was adequate for a warm start but not passing enough current to really spin the engine first thing in the morning.
and check the alternator is charging the battery properly...should be over 14 volt when engine is running..
 
JonnyP said:
Thought so. I always do the clutch, cos I know that one, but I have 20w 50 in mine at the mo (to try n keep my oil light off) n its a bit heavy on the cold start.
Click to expand...
:confused:
ohhh difficault choice then..
same meself as I put a can of wynns "no knocks" in mine a few weeks ago, to keep the old girl rolling till warmer weather, and even mine wiv two batteries linked dimms the interiour light on starting.
but start it does, so the no knocks stays fer a while :)

as it happens, I have given the thickness of my oil some thoughts,
if the weather got really cold, and I started not starting :confused:
I have a gallon on flushing oil in readiness for my daughters KA,
if I got in trouble, I would put just 1 litre of the sae20 grade flushing oil in mine to thin the oil down a bit,
but then my "rattle" would get worse when hot... :confused:


Roll on hot summer days of 200DTi Invasive injin doctering I think...lol
 
Putting the 20w/50 in did nothing to sort out my oil light, so I will go back to 15w/40 next oil change. I got a big new battery in it, so it is starting ok, but slower on the cooler mornings.
 
List of things I've tried over the last couple of years.......

New bosch glow plugs, new battery, foot down on the clutch and accelerator (owners manual says to do this anyway), boiling water over the fuel filter (especially when using bio).

And finally bought a charger the other day from lidl for £14 and now it just starts. I knew it was just not getting the same power when starting because it would start immediately on a jump from a tiny wee motor. The charger was a lot cheaper than a big expensive or red top battery which I was considering.
 
I think a lot depends on the quality of the fuel.. I run 100% bio all year round in my 200tdi but add a splash of unleaded when the temperature drops below 0 degrees. It starts instantly, hot or cold, but so far only seen -5 this winter.
I've noticed less diesel knock when a bit of petrol is added, not sure why.
Glow plugs are important if you're not running dino diesel. I've fitted Wellman plugs which seem fine. Avoid blue-box ones.
 
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