306 D Turbo rough starting

[Steve_D]

On startup I'm getting misfiring and smoke which all clears up after less than a minute.
I'm suspecting the glow plugs.

Is there any way to test them? I tried a temp gun on them with inconclusive results.

Are they known to fail and should I just regard them as a consumable to be changed like spark plugs?

Any make to avoid?

A cheap source?

Any other reason for the problem?

Thanks in advance
Steve

[porscheuro]

glow plugs yep, beru are the norm for french cars...
for the price of them i would just replace... cos you ideally would take them out to check and way.. if you do check them get some wire ,put it on the top, earth the side n live the top should start glowing in a matter of seconds.... but stick some new uns in but i know the one behind the diesel pump can be a bit of a git

[shalmaneser]

Glowplugs, or air filter (if it's dirty) Also maybe fuel filter.

Be aware they are rattly old beasts before they warm up though!

If neither of the above work, the injectors can become clogged up. Try some Redex, which should clear things up for a bit. If that does the trick then you can get some recon injectors on an exchange basis for £125 if/when you get fed up of buying redex every few hundred miles.

Don't forget to unplug that EGR valve too! Makes a noticable difference.

All info on pug306.net (use the search, so you can avoid the chavvy bks)

[lookout]

Check the glowplugs with amp clamp. If they pull around 60-80 Amps, probably ok. Tight valve clearances can make these engines run very lumpy from cold......

[That Daddy]

lookout said:

Check the glowplugs with amp clamp. If they pull around 60-80 Amps, probably ok. Tight valve clearances can make these engines run very lumpy from cold......

and to the point of non starting when really tight,you can actually here the cylinder compression bleeding past the inlet valves when cranking dont get the XUD engined cars in for this problem anymore(shame)valve clearances will normally need reshimming around the 100k mark though,bucket and shim engine valve clearances tighten in use not loosen as in a pushrod operated system,i would def check glows 1st as already mentioned though.