Glow plugs

reiny · Jan 1, 2015

I have owned my 300 tdi-engined 90 for almost 12 years. So far, I have never needed to use the glow plugs since temperatures rarely go below approx. 7 degrees C. I am currently in sicily and temperatures are below freezing and the poor girl is struggling to start. Yesterday I applied the glow plugs for about 10 seconds and cranked for 10 seconds, let starter rest for 30 seconds and repeated three times until it started. This morning, ambient temperature was about -1, 10 seconds of heater plugs and 8 seconds of cranking got the old girl going. Do I have reason to believe that the glow plugs are past their use-by date? Furthermore, I know that one of them is snapped in the head. I recall reading that snapped glow plugs can be drilled out. Could someone please give me a walk-through?

P.S. my vehicle is a 1989 90, hence the timer relay is not fitted.

Marmaduke · Jan 2, 2015

Found this after a quick search

How to remove Broken Glow Plugs

biolandy · Jan 2, 2015

I would be tempted to leave the snapped one and just renew the other 3,as long as 3 are working she will start fine

reiny · Jan 4, 2015

Thanks. I'll just change the other 3. Another question please. Since, as I said, I never had trouble starting until I got into sub zero temperatures, I think I was a bit unkind with the old girl. I don't think that I turned the glow plugs on for more than 8 seconds. Was it enough?

biolandy · Jan 12, 2015

Without the timer relay it is a bit difficult to tell.The timer relay "full on time" is driven by ambient tempreture,but once glow plug light has gone out,G/P's are still powered at say half power to help with even running and warm up,for quite a few minutes.
In your case I would power G/Ps for at least 10 seconds if below zero and then crank with G/P's still on-when you let go if engine dies or stutters pulse on a bit more too get her running even again.
A G/P relay and circuit would do all this for you!

trax · Jan 12, 2015

a decent 300tdi shouldn't need glows at that temp. you running veg?

reiny · Jan 12, 2015

No I'm running on ordinary fossil diesel. This is the first time that the vehicle has been used in temperatures below freezing, hence the reason for my question.

trax · Jan 12, 2015

sure it's not normal leak back? ie air is getting in via say the spill pipes being split and you are basically using the pump to prime the fuel in the morning.

-1 shouldn't be an issue imo. have a look at the exhaust next time you crank it from cold, see if it's chucking lots of unburnt fuel out.

biolandy · Jan 12, 2015

Yeah if it is losing fuel prime,via air leak that needs sorting first-my 300 tdi did need its GP's below 0c,but I run biodiesel,not as volatile as derv

Glow plugs

reiny

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Marmaduke

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biolandy

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reiny

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biolandy

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trax

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reiny

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trax

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biolandy

Well-Known Member

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