300TDI Head gasket = bad cold start?

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G223

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Hi, Im hoping someone can help me, Ive got a 97 300TDI, always started no problem, would wind for about 10 seconds but would always start but now...

a few weeks ago the head gasket went, its been replaced and now the disco winds over and fires on two cylinders for upto a minute before she will start, regardless of how many heats the glow plugs have, checked the glow plugs are getting power, theyre brand new Breu ones, checked the injector lines are all blead and tight, wondering if the leak of lines are at fault?

Also once she finally does start she will run very smokey for about 5 minutes until shes warmed up a bit but once shes warm she starts and runs perfectly

Any one any ideas?

Thanks, Will
 
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Well I reccon you had a starting problem before the headgasket was done, my 300Tdi fires up instantly no matter what the tempreture, winding over for ten seconds before yours fires up is way too long. Have you checked all the glow plugs.??
 
didnt check valve clearances, although the head was lightly skimmed- why the perfect running when warm though if theyre out it should be all the time shouldnt it?

I was thinking about the leak off lines could be leaking, someones changed them in the past but im not really impressed with their job, its not great, think I wil probably change them tomorrow and see how that goes

Starting after 10 seconds never bothered me, atleast it started :)

the smoke is black/dark grey

Thanks for the quick replys guys
 
still important to check them and set them right,too wide a gap retards valve timing amongst other things too small a gap can lead to valves burning out
 
Ill have a go at setting the valve clearances probably tomorrrow then see if that helps any, thanks
 
Well, moved the disco to the workshop today, took about 5 minutes of winding and had to jump the battery to get her to start, cracked all injectors and diesel was flying out so no shortage of diesel and pulled out the glow plugs and checked them again, perfect, so next step is setting the tappets on monday morning now shes in a dry location.

Anyone got any tips or thoughts on anything?

once she was running she is way down on power and very very smokey, Im fairly confident if I had warmed her up she would have ran perfect again though... If setting the tappets on monday doesnt work I really am completly out of ideas...
 
G223 said:
Well, moved the disco to the workshop today, took about 5 minutes of winding and had to jump the battery to get her to start, cracked all injectors and diesel was flying out so no shortage of diesel and pulled out the glow plugs and checked them again, perfect, so next step is setting the tappets on monday morning now shes in a dry location.

Anyone got any tips or thoughts on anything?

once she was running she is way down on power and very very smokey, Im fairly confident if I had warmed her up she would have ran perfect again though... If setting the tappets on monday doesnt work I really am completly out of ideas...
Click to expand...

When you checked the glowplugs, did you just give them a visual, or did you leave them connected up, and actually try them with the ignition on to test they are working, and the circuit/relay is working?

Have you or anyone else done anything to the timing belt or pump?
 
I pulled the glow plugs out and connected them to a battery and checked they get electric with a multimeter, usually after she has been running for 2 minutes she starts instantly but even after running for 10 minutes today she needed glow plugs and time to start again

Pump hasn't been touched, timing belt was done a month ago and went without a hitch, problem only started after changing the head gasket and skimming the head.

Here's my list of things I did that changed anything
Head off and skimmed
Head gasket changed, blowing between cylinder 2 or 3 and a water jacket
Rocker cover seal
Inlet/ exhaust manifold seal

Week before that I checked/ changed
Thermostat changed
Water pump pulled off an checked new gasket on it
New header tank as old one was split

I'm still thinking that it has got to be the tappers are holding a couple of valves open a tiny bit, that would explain the hard to start (low compression on 2 cylinders) and smokey running, then when she warms up she somehow seals it up again
 
G223 said:
I pulled the glow plugs out and connected them to a battery and checked they get electric with a multimeter, usually after she has been running for 2 minutes she starts instantly but even after running for 10 minutes today she needed glow plugs and time to start again

Pump hasn't been touched, timing belt was done a month ago and went without a hitch, problem only started after changing the head gasket and skimming the head.

Here's my list of things I did that changed anything
Head off and skimmed
Head gasket changed, blowing between cylinder 2 or 3 and a water jacket
Rocker cover seal
Inlet/ exhaust manifold seal

Week before that I checked/ changed
Thermostat changed
Water pump pulled off an checked new gasket on it
New header tank as old one was split

I'm still thinking that it has got to be the tappers are holding a couple of valves open a tiny bit, that would explain the hard to start (low compression on 2 cylinders) and smokey running, then when she warms up she somehow seals it up again
Click to expand...

I have done the same as you recently - HG went, head off and skimmed. I had the valves re-cut as well, cos the head had been off before, and I didnt know if it had been machined before (I re-set the valve clearances when assembled)..........If too much is skimmed off the head, in relation to the valve seats, then you are basically moving your valves closer to the pistons (as I'm sure you know). If you didn't re-gap your clearances, then it sounds like your valves may not be opening properly/fully, as the the top of the valve stems are further away from the rocker arm now in effect (cos your pushrod length don't change)

And I'm guessing that you did your head gasket AFTER doing the work on the water pump etc..........did you drive the disco without bleeding the water system properly and cook the head?...........thats what I did :eek:
 
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tappets need setting as priority ,glow plugs test by removing and with jump leads hold thread with neg lead and touch top with pos ,should glow quickly
 
Glow plugs in confident are working without fault, I'm really hoping it has to be tappets but I'm a bit worried that she's bent a pushrod or a valve now :(

Reason for all this heartache is, could never keep more than a dribble of water in the header tank so I gave up trying, first sign of trouble was heaters stopped working, topped up water and she blew it out a few times, gave in and admitted I needed a head gasket due to my own stupidity to not notice the header tank was cracked and she lost water constantly and run dry then started pressurising the coolant system... Lesson sorely learned. If your landy shows signs of faults, don't ignore them...
 
Problem solved! Tappets were miles out holding the valves open, after resetting, 1/2 a revolution and she was running perfectly again :)

Thanks for all your help guys
 
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