Glow plugs knackered?

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All good info, but can I ask a very specific question?

300TDi - 35000 miles

Was starting fine on dino deisel unless it's really cold
Runs fine on bio but takes about 20 secs turning over to start if engine hasn't been used for more than 4-5 hours

Is this a problem with glow plugs shown up by switching to bio?
Is it a coincidence?

Is it leak off pipes?
Is it something else?

My first thought was glow plugs - hence the hijacking of this thread.

Thanks
 
Cheers fur the other info guys;)

Ah went and took it out and found the tip a wee bit manky...

glowplug001.jpg


glowplug002.jpg


so ah gave it a wee clean and tested it with a spare battery...

glowplug003.jpg


glowplug004.jpg


Everything seems ok so ah just stuck it back in. Might do the others tomorrow to see how they are;):D
 
Tim, it may well be the plugs, thats the easy route to take first - also check that the injectors washers are doing their job of sealing - also bribing your little local garage to do a compression test for some beer tokens when he's not busy might be an interesting exercise
 
Last edited:
Sean said:
i disagree I've done many many miles on SVO in a 19J (TD) 90 and that started on the button each and every time - poor starting is mostly down to compression, plugs just help by reducing the amount of compression needed before the fuel goes bang
Click to expand...

The day that mine does that would be a first :D, and it's got good compression. It was checked about 6 months ago, each cylinder reading between 79 and 86 - is it measured in psi? Did you not have any prior heating of the fuel? The older lucas / CAV fuel pumps are also known to be quite temperamental when it comes to the cold start mechanism. Ideally there should be absolutely no tension on the throttle cable at startup, which when the engine turns over adjusts the governor to over fuel and advance the injection timing. I wonder if mine needs some attention.
 
bustersbus said:
Was tinkerin' today and noticed where the wire goes onto the glow plugs there was quite a bit of movement... ah take it they're knackered?
If so, then how does this affect the engine?

Cheers;):D
Click to expand...

They do this when the ceramic compound breaks down, often they still work as the wire is still complete.

Also in your photo how long has the glow been running for? After about 6 seconds mine are cherry red - but here, if your engine is starting no point worrying.
 
pos said:
The older lucas / CAV fuel pumps are also known to be quite temperamental when it comes to the cold start mechanism. Ideally there should be absolutely no tension on the throttle cable at startup, which when the engine turns over adjusts the governor to over fuel and advance the injection timing. I wonder if mine needs some attention.
Click to expand...

Bang on, except they are not temperamental at all, they work flawlessly 99.5% of the time, it's the incorrect setup of idle and the throttle that make them appear to be temperamental.
 
in the very early days i did lot of work with all sorts of pre heaters, electric and coolant types and found them to be on minimal use - some additional heat does help but it's not generally worth the expense and bother - that's just if your on neat WVO or SVO - thinning tends to negate the need to pre-heat
 
discomania said:
They do this when the ceramic compound breaks down, often they still work as the wire is still complete.

Also in your photo how long has the glow been running for? After about 6 seconds mine are cherry red - but here, if your engine is starting no point worrying.
Click to expand...

It took a bit longer than 6 seconds... but ah dunno what state the battery is in. Ah charged it up a few months ago and haven't used it for anything else.;):D
 
Sean said:
i disagree I've done many many miles on SVO in a 19J (TD) 90 and that started on the button each and every time - poor starting is mostly down to compression, plugs just help by reducing the amount of compression needed before the fuel goes bang
Click to expand...

You have one of the odd ones, weather is down to timing, not the original pump, the compression is higher than usual I don't know but these engines are difficult to start 12J too as they both have a precombustion chamber, the problem here is the diesel sprays into this and hopefully will start to go bang, it then blasts a fiery fuel mix into the cylinder where it should go big bang.

Trouble is in the cold this all increases the surfaces for the heat to be lost to. These engines and the older diesels NEED the glows to start. I have a 30,000 mile 15J (same as the 12J but the sherpa version) sitting out back, if I was to try and start it without glows I could crank it for near on 30seconds before it would ever start.
 
discomania said:
They do this when the ceramic compound breaks down, often they still work as the wire is still complete.

Also in your photo how long has the glow been running for? After about 6 seconds mine are cherry red - but here, if your engine is starting no point worrying.
Click to expand...

think i'd be more worried having that great big chunky vice dropping on me foot
 
discomania said:
Bang on, except they are not temperamental at all, they work flawlessly 99.5% of the time, it's the incorrect setup of idle and the throttle that make them appear to be temperamental.
Click to expand...

What are the absolute requirements in order for the cold start to work absoutely perfectly? Could you use my pic to help explain what needs to be adjusted and where!

pump.jpg


Thanks
:D
 
10 must sit against it's resting stop when the throttle is not being touched. So normal position.

Any idle speed adjustments must be made by the adjuster next to the fuel return pipe no. 7.
 
How is the old girl going now? You get your welding done? Where are the pictures of the exhaust modifications?
 
discomania said:
How is the old girl going now? You get your welding done? Where are the pictures of the exhaust modifications?
Click to expand...

Was that intended for me? I've got the welding done yes :) my local landy specialist let me do the welding myself, and considering I haven't welded before I jumped at the opportunity! They just charged me the standard rate, so in effect I did a relatively sound job, I've learned the welding basics and they got a couple of boxes of biscuits out of it. I'll post a video of the exhaust and pics of the pipe work once it's back home :D

-Pos
 
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