Cold starting - Diesel

[The_Burg]

Any additives worth buying to help diesel starting in this cold patch?
Both our diesels struggling one won't start at all. Both have had new diesel filters recently so shouldn't be water issue.
T5 starts on the button of course, but as it's a toy is at the end of the drive behind the non starting one .

[Hugo a Gogo]

http://www.nulon.com.au/products/Start_Ya_bd_...

edit:google start ya bd , censoring ruins the link

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Tuesday 7th December 10:58

[halo34]

Maybe time for new glow plugs and a battery?

[louiebaby]

I used to find it handy to run a the glow - plugs a couple of extra times.

When you turn on the ignition and wait for the light to go off, just turn the ignition off and on, and wait for it to warm through again. A couple extra goes have made a lot of difference in the past, but it was an olish motor...

[fatboy b]

I believe the glow plugs stay on for a bit after starting, so switching them off and on a few times doesn't do anything. Probably try leaving it a few seconds after the light has gone out before starting.

[RonJohnson]

My Ford Ranger would initially start fine this morning and then only run for 5 seconds before cutting out. Might this be due to the diesel getting too cold and waxy in fuel filter/pipes? Bonnet frozen shut so can't get in to warm anything up too easily.
Battery is strong and glowplugs replaced a couple of months ago. It is between -14 and -11 here.

[The_Burg]

Can't open bonnet, catch frozen. Left a fan heater running inside it for a bit defrosted nicely. Not a lot of heat soaking through to the engine bay though.
Turns over fine and normally starts fine, although battery getting a bit low due to the wife trying to start it for ages.
No need to leave the house today for me, (supposed to be in Tunisia but due to Gatwick being frozen at the time), so hopefully will warm up a bit later. Just wanted to know if there is anything worth putting in the fuel to help starting another morning.

[HellDiver]

When you do get it going, park with the nose towards shelter. I've had no problems for weeks, car parked with nose up against the back of the other car. This morning the car was pointing out of the drive, and it was difficult to start (and it's a petrol). Seems the snow had blown in under the bonnet, going by the gallons of water and steam pissing out from under the bonnet when I got to work.

[El Guapo]

Agree that job 1 would be to check all your glow plugs are working. Most diesels will start fine with 2 dead plugs in warmish weather but not when it's freezing.

[DemonDesign]

5% petrol in your tank, user hand books normally list this

[littleredrooster]

Don't use ether-based starting sprays (Easy-start, Start-ya-b'stard etc.)in a modern diesel, they can cause big damage. They detonate spontaneously as the piston is still waayyy before TDC and can snap timing belts, wreck tensioners or fragment injector tips.

[EDLT]

El Guapo said:

Agree that job 1 would be to check all your glow plugs are working. Most diesels will start fine with 2 dead plugs in warmish weather but not when it's freezing.

I'd go with that too. It sounds like you've got a couple of dead glow plugs (and maybe you need a new battery).

[Steve_W]

On our Land Rover the handbook suggests putting the clutch pedal in to reduce drag when starting in cold weather - no idea if that would help you? (Maybe I should check profile to see if they're automatics?!)

[TriumphVitesse]

My supposedly utterly st (cos its a Rover) Rover 45 Diesel has started first time every time over the past couple of weeks, even in -11'C!! No probs

[Marcellus]

We used to have to turn the ignition, let the glow plug light go out, turn ignition let light go out, repeating several times (5 or 6) and then cranking over on the starter motor with the clutch depressed until finally the engine coughed and caught.

That was even after all the glow plugs, filters etc etc had been replaced.... our cars were being parked in underground car parks yet the temperature was still recording -15/20 over night and we only ever filled up woth extreme low temperature diesel available in the alps.

[The_Burg]

Always start all cars and pike with clutch depressed as a matter of habit.

How do you diagnose duff glow plugs?

[sunbeam_alpine]

The_Burg said:

How do you diagnose duff glow plugs?

Difficulty starting in very cold weather!

I would think it's the most likely explanation. What I have done in the past is to use a blow torch on the exhaust manifold to get some heat into the engine. If you find that this helps starting, it's the glow plugs.

[evojeff]

It is best to remove the plugs to check them if possible, then use heavy duty leads to 'live' terminal and one to the body of the glow plug, the tip should glow after a second or two.
If this is not possible, you can have a quick check with the plugs in place.
Disconnect the wiring and touch the 'live' terminal, if it flashes that's a pretty good indication that the plug is working, as they normaly go open circuit.
Hope that helps