Standard servicing requirements?

Hi All,

Well, my newly acquired 300 Tdi has not, according to the paperwork, had a service for 18,000 miles!

So, I would like to know what the servicing requirements are, as I need to do this on a budget but want to do it right. Could someone please list what should be changed/replaced? I have no experience of Diesel engines, hence the question.

Thanks!

Filters and oil is a good place to start, then you could go as far as changing the diff oil, gearbox oil...

What about glow plugs? I don't know much about them or how easy they are to replace, but I presume they do the same job as spark plugs?

Any air filters that might do with a change?

All the filters and the engine oil are a must to be honest.

Make sure your swivels, gearboxes, diffs, steering system, brake fluid, clutch fluid and radiator are topped up. You can change these fluids but this is not essential.

Grease prop shafts, check UJ's for play, lots of play should be addressed.

Glow plugs don't do the same as spark plugs, when you turn on your ignition you will see the little orange coil illuminate, then when its gone off you start your engine, well when the little light goes off, thats the glows heated the combustion chamber so that when the first slug of diesel gets fired in there is more chance it will ignite on the first compression. Check these with an ammeter they should be drawing a fair current, also if the engine is a poor starter in colder weather this could be an indication to non working glows. Not an essential fix I would say.

Check your braking systems, big heavy maching, you want good breaks.

You could also do your valve clerances, if it sounds a bit tappy this should be looked at.

Check your drive belts, make sure they are not overly worn or cracked.

Thanks Wavey/Discomania,

Good gen!