Difficult starting (300 tdi)

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RichM

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,840
Location
UK
Still having problems starting my 300 tdi in the mornings. She's running mostly on SVO.

So far I have done the following:

- Changed 3/4 glow plugs (will do the awkward one during the weekend but I doubt it's the culprit)
- Put 2 litres of petrol in the tank with approx 88 litres of SVO
- Changed fuel filter

I also live in the warmest part of the UK. (South) so I'm quite confused why it takes a little effort to start in the morning. I always have to cycle the glow plugs twice and wait twenty seconds or so in between (I've been told that the glow plugs carry on heating for a while even after the light goes out?) Usually the car will start at this point but when I've got to use it to get to work, I can't be doing with the uncertainty.

I know many people run it on 100% SVO during the summer with no problems at all so that's kinda what I'm aiming for. Any ideas what I should do next?
 
youll need to check all pipe work from tank to pump including sedimentor ,clear plastic pipe helps in between filter and front banjo on injector pump
 
Reduce the amount of svo and add diesel.
You will need a two tank system for high svo amounts.
If I was you I would remove the injectors and clean the carbon that's built up on the injector tips from start from cold on svo.
Two tank system or less veg oil that's it in a nut shell.
 
You'll want to get all that grease out your tank mate. Got a transit here that I forgot I'd filled up ready for mixing then filled up again with veggie oil. Now the dam thing keeps blocking every 50 miles :( Will need a good flush through then I'll resume my pattern!
 
The heater plugs do indeed carry on for a while.You might want to look at getting a tre heater from Greentech or similar which in the basic model uses a glow plug and a thermostat, on a relay.Very simple.Have a look on e bay.

Spencer,how do you personally approach cleaning injectors ?

But,before adding anything,OP,do as JM says and make sure the whole fuel supply system is good,top of tank,sedimentor,lift pump,filter and all unions.
 
The heater plugs do indeed carry on for a while.You might want to look at getting a tre heater from Greentech or similar which in the basic model uses a glow plug and a thermostat, on a relay.Very simple.Have a look on e bay.

Spencer,how do you personally approach cleaning injectors ?

But,before adding anything,OP,do as JM says and make sure the whole fuel supply system is good,top of tank,sedimentor,lift pump,filter and all unions.

From my experience of wvo, wmo the injector tips get a build up of carbon on them, this makes the engine smokey and sound and run lumpy.
This has happened to a whole host of different types of diesel engines I've used.
I remove the injectors and use a wire bush to clean the tips up to a clean finish, this always restores the engines good running, but wmo causes this carbon problem to happen on a weekly basis so I don't use wmo any more.
Any one who thinks you can run 100% SVO in a 300 tdi and start from cold has not done any research on the web as they would have seen it's ridiculous to try to do so with out a two tank system :doh:
 
Spencer, I have always been a little shy of brushing injectors and so use a cheap ultrasonic for the job.Good to hear that theres an easier way !

I agree, 100% VO in the cold is a non starter,literally.
 
Spencer, I have always been a little shy of brushing injectors and so use a cheap ultrasonic for the job.Good to hear that theres an easier way !

I agree, 100% VO in the cold is a non starter,literally.

Hi, yes wire brush the tips , but when I have dismantled injectors and removed the elements I all so used a ultrasonic cleaner, but have never had needed or bothered to dismantled my 300 tdi injectors, just cleaned off the lump of carbon off the end
I used to dismantled my generator injector very 3 months as I ran that 8 hours a day on wmo until the wmo killed it.
I have also got a injector pop tester which has been very use full.
 
Not had the chance to look at it, had a busy week at work. Funny thing is I come on ere, and what do I see? Bloody adverts for the company I work for!

One thing I've been wondering about though. Say the car is full with SVO and the temps suddenly drop right down (in the autumn) to the point where the car won't start. What would be the solution? Would undoing the fuel filter and filling it up with diesel or petrol do the trick? Just wanna prepare myself really because I do tend to live life on the edge!
 
Not had the chance to look at it, had a busy week at work. Funny thing is I come on ere, and what do I see? Bloody adverts for the company I work for!

One thing I've been wondering about though. Say the car is full with SVO and the temps suddenly drop right down (in the autumn) to the point where the car won't start. What would be the solution? Would undoing the fuel filter and filling it up with diesel or petrol do the trick? Just wanna prepare myself really because I do tend to live life on the edge!

I'd guess you'd be pumping the **** out. But if it is virgin rape oil, it should go down below freezing.... might not combust like that but it shouldn't "freeze" gel being the preferred word ;)
 
Some kind of heat to the filter would help...maybe put it in a tin of hot water and pour some over the supply pipes. I wouldnt want to have that much pure petrol going in to the pump etc,maybe some warmed up fresh diesel. Electric filter head or heater block is your friend here. Im going to fit one when I put in a new cabin heater for the winter.
 
If using SVO in the winter you would need a pre-heater and tank heater to get it to a point where it can cumbust found out the hard way with my old disco. The SVO thickens when cold and becomes a pain for the lift pump I ended up going 50/50 diesel SVO mix
 
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