How to start an engine in winter

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"Turn the key to so that the glow plugs light up. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. the spark plugs are raising the temp in the bore. when the"


obviously knows what hes talking about
 
''Once running then turn your lights on and every thing''

Good advice, i drive everywhere with lights, windscreenwipers, rear fog lamp, radio, hazards, spotlights and heater on. This gives me advance warning if something fails so that i dont get a surprise if, for example, it begins to rain.
 
how would a blanket keep me injun warm?
It might work for 2 hrs, wont work for a week.
Complete bollocks.
 
glad i read this. very helpfull. Not had my Landy long but i have had no idea how to start it until now. It came with this strange key shape thing and didn't have a clue what it was.
Also where is the "hood" i have checked under the BONNET but couldn't find it.
 
Let's be fair to the guy..........he wasn't addressing the majority, just those who complain......... that that their Die's won't start;)
 
trucker5774 said:
Let's be fair to the guy..........he wasn't addressing the majority, just those who complain......... that that their Die's won't start;)
Click to expand...

I doubt the information on this thread would help anyone in that situation :rolleyes:

We're gonna have an influx of noobs making threads now about how they've put blankets on their engines, heated up the spark plugs as much as they'll go, been pumping their accelerator pedal, and yet their knackered diesel STILL won't start!

N.b. I especially liked the part about the 'spark plugs' heating up the bores. :p
 
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One wouldn't mind to much if he was right.

There are different strategies for starting different types of engines, especially diesels.

TD5 says NO THROTTLE when trying to fire up from cold.
2.5NA and 2.5TD say the same - their "cold start" device will NOT work unless the throttle pedal is all the way up - NO throttle.

But other engines say DECK THE THROTTLE for starting up.

It is well worth finding out which plan applies to YOUR engine. It boils down to this - Throttle UP or Throttle DOWN, for starting?

It is all a matter of how the makers of the Engine (and / or the injection pump or fuel system) set things up to get the engine running. Starting a diesel from cold is always a dodgy business, and the fact we all have so little trouble doing it (relatively speaking!) is a tribute to the designers.

Petrol engines are an entirely different matter.

The advice was too vague, too general, and inapplicable to many or most Landies.

I expect he meant well, and was passing on something he had read recently.
 
dave18 said:
the spark plugs are raising the temp in the bore. when the light goes off turn the engine over,
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This is the best line ever!

I've been waiting 4 hours on my TD for the light to go off - it's dimmed a bit, but no sign of going off - what should i do? Do i have to keep waiting - can't i even turn the radio on to alleviate the boredom?

I have to say whilst you might have meant well, this is the least useful thing i have seen on here since BoB was giving advice!
 
Oddie said:
This is the best line ever!

I've been waiting 4 hours on my TD for the light to go off - it's dimmed a bit, but no sign of going off - what should i do? Do i have to keep waiting - can't i even turn the radio on to alleviate the boredom?

I have to say whilst you might have meant well, this is the least useful thing i have seen on here since BoB was giving advice!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need new spark plugs:hysterically_laughi
 
well, on a more serious note:
I know that people in Siberia (and even in Moscow in severe winter) heat up their engine with a butane torch, or camping stove...
But that's for really cold weather, and in Siberia they even have to warm up the tank sometimes, especially if they forgot to put something in the tank with the diesel (petrol, vodka...)

But that's for cold weather. Never had a problem starting any diesel in western europe...
 
philvy said:
well, on a more serious note:
I know that people in Siberia (and even in Moscow in severe winter) heat up their engine with a butane torch, or camping stove...
But that's for really cold weather, and in Siberia they even have to warm up the tank sometimes, especially if they forgot to put something in the tank with the diesel (petrol, vodka...)

But that's for cold weather. Never had a problem starting any diesel in western europe...
Click to expand...

In places like Canada they use electric block heaters which are plugged into the mains overnight, so when they come to start the vehicle in the morning it fires first turn :)
 
Langers said:
In places like Canada they use electric block heaters which are plugged into the mains overnight, so when they come to start the vehicle in the morning it fires first turn :)
Click to expand...
Same in Sweden.

I have Thwaites Nimbus dumper. 510 cc single cylinder direct injection diesel.
NO electrics of any kind - but it has a self-starter, ME and the starting handle!

On a cold morning, the way to get it running is to use a big kettle-full of boiling water over the engine, paying attention to the aluminium cooling fins on the injector - plenty hot water there. The hot water trickles down among the fins on the cylinder barrel, and heats it up a treat. It fires up really well after that.

The real trick to starting diesels from cold is HEAT. You must get the compessed air in the cylinders hot enough to cause ignition.

Our Glow plugs do several things, heating the air in the pot, radiating heat to the walls of the combustion chamber, but mostly by being hot enough to start the fuel burning. People with 2.5NA engines and 2.5TD will know all about trying to start those on cold days if the glow plugs are out of action.

My tractor uses a flame plug, and that is amazing!
 
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