engine compression or battery

My disco 1998 300tdi is starting to get a bit sluggish to start in these colder mornings.
I don't do much mileage,short trip to work and same a back.
I have searched the archives and there is mention of if the engine being low on compression it could cause the engine to need to turn over more to start.
(It has done 200k miles but very very well serviced,every 6 months all its life,at Landrover dealers,it does not lack power, smoke when starting or running,or use hardly any oil)
This has only started since the weather has got colder.
After I have charged the battery it starts on the button,but I have had the battery drop tested and they say its ok.
I still think its the battery,and will get one on the weekend,but will it make no difference if the engine is low on compression,will the engine bring the new battery down. Thanks Steve.

batt

when u say slugish do u mean it dont turnover as fast as it used to or it takes longer to start?

check the glow plugs, by taking them out and watching the tip while you have power to them - they should glow red hot very quickly - if they all do, then get a new battery

if it still struggles to start, service it

and then if it still struggles then think about getting a compression test done

discomark10 said:

when u say slugish do u mean it dont turnover as fast as it used to or it takes longer to start?

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Its a bit of both,instead of as you turn the key and bang, its going, first hit of the starter, now, you turn the key and you know the engine has turned a full cycle,and this morning it probably turned over twice before it started.
If I charge the battery, I know it will be back to the bang as soon as the key hits the starter so to speak,which makes me think its still the battery, although they tell me its fine.

2 turns isn't bad at all, especially this weather and a 200k engine - the cold will make everything sluggish

does it fire instantly when it's warm ?

Sean said:

check the glow plugs, by taking them out and watching the tip while you have power to them - they should glow red hot very quickly - if they all do, then get a new battery

if it still struggles to start, service it

and then if it still struggles then think about getting a compression test done

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I thought about the glow plugs, but when I was in the archive / search department there seemed a general thought that glow plugs were not really needed to start an engine,so I didn't think about them,But,my original thought on this was, if they are not needed, why are they there.
I plan on a battery first,as will be getting a Defender next year so will use the new calcium battery on that,so that is money not wasted.
But will work through as you say,my worry was if it was low compression would it ruin the new battery,buy over loading it.

Sean said:

2 turns isn't bad at all, especially this weather and a 200k engine - the cold will make everything sluggish

does it fire instantly when it's warm ?

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Yes,bang, going, no smoke at anytime,which I would have thought if low compression,worn rings / valves it would smoke ? on starting.

stop worrying, buy a new battery

i doubt it low on compression without other symptoms ,battery would be first thought and glow plugs as sean said ,they will start without them but take longer ,cylinder has to get up to temp ,low compression will obviously delay that and glow plugs help , but it sounds normal to me they all take a bit longer in the cold ,other factors will be that starter wont be as good as once was ,battery cables etc wont be as good either ,injectors etc but good enough not to change , generally in tdis when you strip them bores/ rings are in good condition and arent prone to wear ,if it was a turbo diesel or na then yes ,

As always thanks very much for the answers,I had a feeling it might be battery, could be the short journeys

So it turns over twice and you think you have a problem i dont think there is anything wrong with it all. When it takes 10 turns to get it going then you can start worrying