p38 diesel issues

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hendoaaron

New Member
Posts
41
alright lads!

many thanks for your help, managed to sort most of my issues out i posted a few weeks ago.
however i have a few more, i have a issue when my rover is cold, it will start but takes about three goes and a big plume of black smoke comes out ofmy exhuast, new glow plugs getting 11.4 ish at each glowplug. when its hot starts no worries! any ideas? other one is my rover always runs cold never gets remotely close to half way even when towing, my heater works a treat hot air within minutes of starting so to me that rules out open stat i think. any ideas? cause i think if i can get it running right it might improve my fuel consumpsion! is this correct plus when i went to change my glow plugs they where covered in soot running to rich cause its cold?
also can you replace bulbs on a hevac unit cause my temp control each side, fan control and heated windows front and rear lights are out. they work fine just no lights when dark.
oh and do you oil coming out of your turbo is this normal just got **** of oil in inlet manifold caked in it to be honest and gunk at exhuiast pipe on turbo as well.
 
hendoaaron said:
is this correct plus when i went to change my glow plugs they where covered in soot running to rich cause its cold?

also can you replace bulbs on a hevac unit
oh and do you oil coming out of your turbo is this normal
hendoaaron said:
Glow plugs are probrably coverd in carbon not soot as such and yes thats fine all diesels do it.
Bulbs can be replaced in havec unit, not too bad just slightly tricky, there is a link to show this on here somewhere i just cant find the link (sorry),
Oil in the turbo is normal, its best to remove intercooler and all turbo hoses etc along with inlet manifold and give them a reet good soak and a clean in a degreaser etc... Hope this helps :)

Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
hendoaaron said:
alright lads!

many thanks for your help, managed to sort most of my issues out i posted a few weeks ago.
however i have a few more, i have a issue when my rover is cold, it will start but takes about three goes and a big plume of black smoke comes out ofmy exhuast, new glow plugs getting 11.4 ish at each glowplug. when its hot starts no worries! any ideas? other one is my rover always runs cold never gets remotely close to half way even when towing, my heater works a treat hot air within minutes of starting so to me that rules out open stat i think. any ideas? cause i think if i can get it running right it might improve my fuel consumpsion! is this correct plus when i went to change my glow plugs they where covered in soot running to rich cause its cold?
also can you replace bulbs on a hevac unit cause my temp control each side, fan control and heated windows front and rear lights are out. they work fine just no lights when dark.
oh and do you oil coming out of your turbo is this normal just got **** of oil in inlet manifold caked in it to be honest and gunk at exhuiast pipe on turbo as well.
Click to expand...

11.4 volts at the glowplugs is a bit on the low side. Check earths and battery connections and the condition of the battery, put your voltmeter across the battery terminals and operate the glow plugs, if the battery drops to 11.4 change it or try charging it. Then if needed check the glowplug relay and the ignition relay in the engine compartment fuse box, while you are at it have a good sniff of the fuse box for smells of burning plastic.
It could of course be fuel run back, so check for air in the clear plastic pipe from fuel filter to FIP and check the leak off pipes.
As for the low running temperature, I would suspect that the stat is not fully closing.
Cold running will definately adversely affect your fuel consumption.
 
Dear Pete the plumber,
I am having problems with my central heating system, it was not getting warm so i changed the thermostat. Now it never switches off, is on all the time and is costing me a bomb in gas bills. Because the old thermostat got in the way i took it off the wall in the kitchen and ran a extension wire and fixed it to the wall outside. Any advice would be gratefully recieved.:D:D:D
 
Last edited:
hendoaaron said:
alright lads!

many thanks for your help, managed to sort most of my issues out i posted a few weeks ago.
however i have a few more, i have a issue when my rover is cold, it will start but takes about three goes and a big plume of black smoke comes out ofmy exhuast,
Click to expand...



Yer not usin heating oil fer fuel are ya? :eek: :eek:
 
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hi there this is for wammers!

thanks for your comment! not needed fella!

i am very aware how a stat works!

there two sensors for the coolant temp on a p38 diesel the front one feeds gauge for temp reading obviously also feeds ecu for fuel consumption to pump etc, and the rear one gives ecu a signal to turn on glow plugs depending on coolant temp.
for some reason not known to me but we do own p38 there are sent to try us! the p38 software when the coolant is hot can tell the ecu not turn on glow plugs hence no start or takes a while. i recieved this info from a colleague who knows these things well, my fuel consumption hasnt changed since ive done it and i get engine coolant temp fine on my gauge.
the reason my p38 was running cold was vicous fan permantly on so it sorted now.

but yes thanks for your smart comments!

to the other lads on here many thanks for all your help
 
hendoaaron said:
hi there this is for wammers!

thanks for your comment! not needed fella!

i am very aware how a stat works!

there two sensors for the coolant temp on a p38 diesel the front one feeds gauge for temp reading obviously also feeds ecu for fuel consumption to pump etc, and the rear one gives ecu a signal to turn on glow plugs depending on coolant temp.
for some reason not known to me but we do own p38 there are sent to try us! the p38 software when the coolant is hot can tell the ecu not turn on glow plugs hence no start or takes a while. i recieved this info from a colleague who knows these things well, my fuel consumption hasnt changed since ive done it and i get engine coolant temp fine on my gauge.
the reason my p38 was running cold was vicous fan permantly on so it sorted now.

but yes thanks for your smart comments!

to the other lads on here many thanks for all your help
Click to expand...

One sensor if for the Guage, the other for the engine ECU, so that doesn't alter the fact that if the sensor for the ECU is constantly telling the ECU it's cold, it will be over fueling. Was it not you on another thread complaining about your fuel consumption?
 
hendoaaron said:
hi there this is for wammers!

thanks for your comment! not needed fella!

i am very aware how a stat works!

there two sensors for the coolant temp on a p38 diesel the front one feeds gauge for temp reading obviously also feeds ecu for fuel consumption to pump etc, and the rear one gives ecu a signal to turn on glow plugs depending on coolant temp.
for some reason not known to me but we do own p38 there are sent to try us! the p38 software when the coolant is hot can tell the ecu not turn on glow plugs hence no start or takes a while. i recieved this info from a colleague who knows these things well, my fuel consumption hasnt changed since ive done it and i get engine coolant temp fine on my gauge.
the reason my p38 was running cold was vicous fan permantly on so it sorted now.

but yes thanks for your smart comments!

to the other lads on here many thanks for all your help
Click to expand...

One sensor feeds the gauge on the dash only, the other one, the one you have stupidly disconnected and jury rigged feeds the ECU to inform it of engine temp changes and so fueling adjustment and glow plug operation. Best thing if you don't understand something, which you obviously don't. Bettter not to mess with it. Rather like putting your central heating thermostat outside don't you think. If you do stupid things expect to have your leg pulled. Have a nice day.
 
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yeah it was

the vicous fan was on permantly so it was thats why running cold runs like a dream now. i have been told by a range rover mechanic that that sensor doesnt effect the fuel consumption. plus it didnt make any difference to my fuel economy afdter i did it
 
hendoaaron said:
yeah it was

the vicous fan was on permantly so it was thats why running cold runs like a dream now. i have been told by a range rover mechanic that that sensor doesnt effect the fuel consumption. plus it didnt make any difference to my fuel economy afdter i did it
Click to expand...

Firstly "Viscous Fans" ALWAYS run "Perminantly" (As they are turned by the god damned engine) Do you by any chance mean the front electric cooling fans ???? ....

Explain please ....................

there two sensors for the coolant temp on a p38 diesel the front one feeds gauge for temp reading obviously also feeds ecu for fuel consumption to pump etc,
Click to expand...

DEAD WRONG there Matey!!!!
 
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hendoaaron said:
yeah it was

the vicous fan was on permantly so it was thats why running cold runs like a dream now. i have been told by a range rover mechanic that that sensor doesnt effect the fuel consumption. plus it didnt make any difference to my fuel economy afdter i did it
Click to expand...

Your mechanic is wrong, god help his customers. The ECU engine temp sensor, along with inlet air temp sensor and fuel temp sensor pass information to the ECU. The ECU then computes that information and instructs the fuel pump to deliver differing amounts of fuel for a given engine, inlet air, fuel temp. The throttle position sensor, and engine speed sensor along with the number four injector control injection and injection timing over the rev range, via the ECU. The MAP sensor adjusts fueling via the ECU for differing manifold pressures. If the ECU temp sender is constantly cold the engine will run at cold start settings all the time. If the ECU temp sensor fails and the ECU thinks the engine is hot all the time you will have trouble cold starting. But from your other posts it would seem you have a problem with the glow plugs. The glow plugs should not work when engine is hot unless you have the hot start fix fitted. When the engine is cold you should be able hold the viscous fan with finger pressure whilst the engine is started. But not be able to when the engine is hot. A rolled newspaper maybe better than your fingers if you don't know what your doing.
 
Last edited:
hendoaaron said:
yeah it was

the vicous fan was on permantly so it was thats why running cold runs like a dream now. i have been told by a range rover mechanic that that sensor doesnt effect the fuel consumption. plus it didnt make any difference to my fuel economy afdter i did it
Click to expand...

So, just how many (or how few) miles to the gallon do you get? You have to remember the LR skimped every penny they could on production, no way would they fit a sensor that was not needed.
 
I`ve nothing to add to the comments about the temp sensors. Wammers & Datatek have covered that well, and Hoodie is being his normal laid-back self with his comments on the fans, (they are vicious if you try `n` stop one with your fingers tho`).
I would like to add a comment about the OP query about turbos tho`. As Mike says SOME oil is blown from the turbo into the intercooler, but excessive oil in the inlet can be a warning of problems.
If the engine is using oil with no visible drips then investigate further.
With warm engine let it tickover for 10 mins, then boot it, blue smoke? Investigate.
With cold engine take pipe off turbo insert finger.(Warm hands so as not to make her squeal) If you can fell any play on the turbo shaft/vanes or any roughness is evedent on edges (small mirror helpful here); investigate further.
If you`ve all the above symptoms you have a shot turbo.
Turbos can fail in different ways, but if you`re unlucky they can take out the whole engine with them. (bits of turbo sucked thro intercooler into pots, and/or a runaway situation as the engine runs out of control on lube oil). That`s a worst case scenario but be warned.
That`s me off my hobby-horse again.

PS Always use good quality oil ETC ETC and you don`t say what milage the engine is on?
 
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gtland said:
I`ve nothing to add to the comments about the temp sensors. Wammers & Datatek have covered that well, and Hoodie is being his normal laid-back self with his comments on the fans, (they are vicious if you try `n` stop one with your fingers tho`).
I would like to add a comment about the OP query about turbos tho`. As Mike says SOME oil is blown from the turbo into the intercooler, but excessive oil in the inlet can be a warning of problems.
If the engine is using oil with no visible drips then investigate further.
With warm engine let it tickover for 10 mins, then boot it, blue smoke? Investigate.
With cold engine take pipe off turbo insert finger.(Warm hands so as not to make her squeal) If you can fell any play on the turbo shaft/vanes or any roughness is evedent on edges (small mirror helpful here); investigate further.
If you`ve all the above symptoms you have a shot turbo.
Turbos can fail in different ways, but if you`re unlucky they can take out the whole engine with them. (bits of turbo sucked thro intercooler into pots, and/or a runaway situation as the engine runs out of control on lube oil). That`s a worst case scenario but be warned.
That`s me off my hobby-horse again.

PS Always use good quality oil ETC ETC and you don`t say what milage the engine is on?
Click to expand...

Yeah just to add to the fan stopping thing. I did say they can be held when cold by finger pressure whilst the engine is started. I would not recommend sticking your fingers in there with the engine running, in particular if you've never done it before, were getting the rotation wrong can be a little painful. That's why i mentioned the rolled newspaper. Less blood that way.:D:D:D
 
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