[Genus Coffea]

I've noticed recently that when driving for 15+ miles at a time I get a strong burning smell in the cab, it gets really bad if the heater goes on. The temperature gauge itself usually stays at the quarter mark and the engine isn't guzzling coolant. My rocker cover is definitely leaking but I can't see any leaks around the head area. Is it likely to be a head gasket and if not is it worth changing it anyway? The engine only starts first time in the cold if the glow plugs are on for 20-30 seconds, so I'm wondering if I have poor compression as well, (I'm very confident the plugs themselves are fine). I've heard head gasket changes can make big differences for the higher mileage engines, it is a model 12j btw. Thanks

 

[cowasaki]

Could the rocker cover be leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold? Have you got a pressure tester?

 

[top drive]

The engine only starts first time in the cold if the glow plugs are on for 20-30 seconds

every 12j ive had the misfortune of being near has this issue.

my mates old MOD one you could listen out for the individual cylinders catching it was so bad.

my 19j was the same.

never did open it to look.

 

[zeaphod]

20 secs on the glow plugs from cold is normal for a 12j. They have lower compression that TDi engines, and need the extra heat to start. What does the burning smell of? If it's oily, then it's probably just oil on the exhaust manifold. The rocker cover gasket is an easy fix, and cheap.

 

[lynall]

20 secs on the glow plugs from cold is normal for a 12j. They have lower compression that TDi engines, and need the extra heat to start. What does the burning smell of? If it's oily, then it's probably just oil on the exhaust manifold. The rocker cover gasket is an easy fix, and cheap.

Actually the 12J is higher compression than the tdi, the reason the tdi engines start better is they are direct injection.

 

[Genus Coffea]

Its an oily smell and oil consumption is a bit high, will definitely replace rocker cover gasket, am still debating if the head gasket is worth replacing, just to see if the dreaded cold start improves as I already have a decoke kit. Is the cokd start mechanism solely glow plugs? I heard somewhere after cranking you shouldn't rev the engine as it interferes with starting, so wondering if there is anything else knocking around there I'm not aware of or if I just heard bollox.

 

[lynall]

On my much older 2.0 litre diesel I glowed for 20 secs foot to floor and cranked it over, it would start pretty much straight away and just kept it above normal idle for a few seconds and then left it to its own devices.
The 2.0 litre is even higher compression ratio than the 12/19j engines.

 

[flat]

On my much older 2.0 litre diesel I glowed for 20 secs foot to floor and cranked it over, it would start pretty much straight away and just kept it above normal idle for a few seconds and then left it to its own devices.
The 2.0 litre is even higher compression ratio than the 12/19j engines.

With the 2.5na 12j engine the fuel injection pump has some sort of trickery built in for cold starts - do not push the accelerator pedal before or while starting as it will make it harder to start.

My 12j took about 10-15 seconds in the glows in summer and sometimes 2 x 30seconds on the glows in winter. It's due to the indirect injection that they need heat.

A tdi starts much easier as its direct injection and the swirl pot is built into the piston head rather than off to one side in the head. Also a tdi is lower compression than an NA 12j engine so that the turbo boost can
'fit in'

 

[lightning]

My TD5 seems to start instantly hot or cold whether or not you wait for glow plugs.
If you put the key in and turn it straight to "start" the engine fires within one revolution and runs normally except for a slightly high idle for the first minute or so.

When does the TD5 need its glow plugs, in sub zero places such as the Arctic?
Unless the glow plugs are very fast heat up ones!

 

[flat]

A good tdi should fire instantly aswell.

 

[lynall]

My TD5 seems to start instantly hot or cold whether or not you wait for glow plugs.
If you put the key in and turn it straight to "start" the engine fires within one revolution and runs normally except for a slightly high idle for the first minute or so.

When does the TD5 need its glow plugs, in sub zero places such as the Arctic?
Unless the glow plugs are very fast heat up ones!

TD5 as far removed form an early diesel as you can get

 

[lynall]

[QUOTE="flat, post: 3631273, member: 98673"0

My 12j took about 10-15 seconds in the glows in summer and sometimes 2 x 30seconds on the glows in winter. It's due to the indirect injection that they need heat.

A tdi starts much easier as its direct injection and the swirl pot is built into the piston head rather than off to one side in the head. Also a tdi is lower compression than an NA 12j engine so that the turbo boost can
'fit in'[/QUOTE]


See post no5

 

[Genus Coffea]

With the 2.5na 12j engine the fuel injection pump has some sort of trickery built in for cold starts - do not push the accelerator pedal before or while starting as it will make it harder to start.

My 12j took about 10-15 seconds in the glows in summer and sometimes 2 x 30seconds on the glows in winter. It's due to the indirect injection that they need heat.

A tdi starts much easier as its direct injection and the swirl pot is built into the piston head rather than off to one side in the head. Also a tdi is lower compression than an NA 12j engine so that the turbo boost can
'fit in'

Thanks for fuel pump info, good to know that long a wait for glow plugs is normal. Would you say tinkering with the head gasket is unnecessary and my only issues are a leaky rocker cover and worn piston rings, leadi g to oil on the exhaust manifold?

 

[flat]

Change the rocker cover gasket anyway.

It may be leaking because the top end is over pressurised, is your breather clear and does it breathe heavily when you take the oil filler off?

 

[Oldseadog]

Why does everyone always assume that the slightest niggle requires an replacement head gasket?
If it needed looking at, there are generally some warning signs, like custard in the rocker cover, coolant blowing out of the expansion tank, usoing a lot of oil, oil level in the sump getting higher and custardy, etc.
So go ahead, don't bother looking for the obvious, just wait and find out after you've changed it, that it wasn't the head gasket at all, so you are back to square one!