Gutless when cold TD4

Strange issues with my TD4 - got very little power for first couple of minutes from cold. Seems worse in the recent cold whether. Could this be the MAF or normal for the TD4?

My Td4 has no different (or just very little) behaviour whether it's warm or cold. This morning I started for a 500 km roundtrip and it ran ok from the start during the whole journey. The MAF gives you an hard time to get it revved up but once it reaches the 2.000/2.500 rpm range it was as if the turbo kicked in and kicks you in the back (at least that's what mine did), no linear power output, but as far as I can remember the temperature didn't matter to behave like that?? Is your oil of the correct thickness ? (I drive it with 10W/40).

mines the same when on morrisons finest but is alot better with shell still a bit sluggish though until it starts warming up would be intresting to hear if it is a fault or crap diesel

Mine is the same although to be fare has been giving low power below 2500 for the last month , deffo worse in the cold and that is on shell vmax . Has new MAF , all hoses , pipes , filters , valves , turbo ok and still like a wet weekend . Goes in for the last time next week to see if they can sort it ! Keep you posted how I get on .

atvb Paul.

Shropshire Hippo said:

Mine is the same although to be fare has been giving low power below 2500 for the last month , deffo worse in the cold and that is on shell vmax . Has new MAF , all hoses , pipes , filters , valves , turbo ok and still like a wet weekend . Goes in for the last time next week to see if they can sort it ! Keep you posted how I get on .

atvb Paul.

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This ones surtainly got me thinking..

I would think it be fuel related... waxing? different fuels.. different performances!

I'll have a look at the last oil at service - but it just the first 30 secs or so. Wife pointed out she needed to "floor it" in reverse to get up a kurb when it had been sat all day. I'm running Millers4 in the diesel to that outght to help in this cold weather. Fine after the initially start - almost like there is no turbo for first minute or so. By the time I get to the bottom of the roads it's fine. Not know this before in a diesel.

If she has to floor it in reverse to get up a kurb isn't it the known fact of the FL's vcu that in reverse it seems as if the brakes are locked ??

always used to use bp diesel in mine, for the nectar points. But changed fuel card companies and now always use shell. it does seem to run differently, but I can't put my finger on it, some how smoother, maybe just in me noggin

Hi all I have had 2 TD4 FL now and they have both done this however, the first one (2001 on a y) was fine once it had a leaky injector fixed, the second one which I own now is an 04 SE this one is worse in the cold, I get more punch from my 2.5 NA transit than the FL when it is cold!!! pehaps I should get this one checked as well!!

Glad i'm not alone. Feels in mine like the turbo aint there initially. Quickly clears up though.

oh well it old and slow in the mornings like me!

I aint got no cold start issues at all, but you guys have got me thinking, its possible that the fuel heater td4 only 2000-2003 its a ceramic fuel heater that lives after the second fuel pump ,in my case in the filter fuel pack rhs of engine bay, this kicks in if tempriture is around the +3 deg C and helps to prevent the dreaded waxing [desiel can go like butter at -1]. . . . . . worth a check

I am so glad! Has been happening to me as well. Was sure it was the Turbo as just seemed to lack any Umph. Been struggling to reach 'higher speeds' on the motorway as well when really cold.

I gets this too - only for the first minute or two after starting when really cold- after that she's fine, but during this stage I have to give it a bit more throttle.
I just thought it was how things were - didn't realise this was a problem as such.

I had the same problem with my 2005 TD4. I have been told by my brother who is in the trade to put Red X for diesels in the tank. I have been doing this and there is a big improvment when cold. You can purchase Red X Blue from Halfords About a £1 to a tank.

Yup, same 'problem' with my TD4 too when cold. Saying that, I don't really see it as a problem and thought it was perfectly normal - simply waiting for the engine to get up to temperature?

I'm not fussy about it at all, but should I be......?

Norbet said:

I gets this too - only for the first minute or two after starting when really cold- after that she's fine, but during this stage I have to give it a bit more throttle.
I just thought it was how things were - didn't realise this was a problem as such.

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I'm the exact same & have had this with all my previous diesel cars as well. Just needs a bit more throttle first thing & as you say after a couple of minutes warming up all is ok. It's never been a problem in any of my cars.

chromiumuk said:

I'm the exact same & have had this with all my previous diesel cars as well. Just needs a bit more throttle first thing & as you say after a couple of minutes warming up all is ok. It's never been a problem in any of my cars.

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Must be a TD4 thing!! mines exactly the same, even stalled the bloody fing twice in this cold weather ...roll on summer....

I run an 05 TD4, and have had this before, whilst under warranty had 2 injectors and fuel pump replaced, and only in the last month started happening again when starting from cold, cloud of grey smoke would appear and the engine would rev very erratically and the whole car would vibrate at around 1500 rpm whilst stationery.When warm it wasn't to bad, noticed fuel economy was rubbish lately.
Anyway has been in the garage today, and 2 more injectors are in need of replacement / refurbishment, so is going in on Monday.

Cheers

Keith

schuee said:

I run an 05 TD4, and have had this before, whilst under warranty had 2 injectors and fuel pump replaced, and only in the last month started happening again when starting from cold, cloud of grey smoke would appear and the engine would rev very erratically and the whole car would vibrate at around 1500 rpm whilst stationery.When warm it wasn't to bad, noticed fuel economy was rubbish lately.
Anyway has been in the garage today, and 2 more injectors are in need of replacement / refurbishment, so is going in on Monday.

Cheers

Keith

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That's nothing like the quirk of my car, mine starts first time idles smoothly, isn't overly smoky, it's just needs a little more throttle for the first couple of minutes or so when very cold. Every diesel car I've had has been like this & mostly I don't even notice it, but it does sometimes catch you out if you've just started up first thing & need to make a quick nip across the road to avoid the rush traffic & before you all say it I know we're not supposed rev too high just after starting, but we all do it sometimes at busy junctions.