Slow to start up first thing then fine

Starting procedure - turn key to heat plugs - turn over engine - keep it turning over - bit more - nearly there - yey it’s started - cloud of poisonous smoke - off we go !
It takes a long time turning over to get the beast to start, but once it’s going it’s fine, then subsequent starts it will start like a normal engine no smoke etc and runs great when it’s going.
Apparently it’s always been like this, battery fine, new glow plugs.
Any tips? Most vehicles I have owned start quite quickly what’s wrong with this one ? (First Landrover!) 1988 turbo, as standard

Mine had that, turned out to ve the beginnings of a blowing head gasket between two cylinders.

Could also be the injectors not spraying correctly. Worth having them reconditioned anyway as they've probably never been looked at.

Mr G Imp said:

Starting procedure - turn key to heat plugs - turn over engine - keep it turning over - bit more - nearly there - yey it’s started - cloud of poisonous smoke - off we go !
It takes a long time turning over to get the beast to start, but once it’s going it’s fine, then subsequent starts it will start like a normal engine no smoke etc and runs great when it’s going.
Apparently it’s always been like this, battery fine, new glow plugs.
Any tips? Most vehicles I have owned start quite quickly what’s wrong with this one ? (First Landrover!) 1988 turbo, as standard

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What engine?
If not sure stick a pic of the engine up and someone will know.

That should be a 19j turbo diesel. With them and previous Land Rover diesel's a quicker start can be to turn motor for two seconds before giving the normal heat time and then going for start.

Not the same engine, but my 300tdi did this when the tappets needed adjusting.

What colour is the smoke?

It could be fuel leaking back into the tank over a longer standing period, due to an air leak in the fuel line.

tottot said:

That should be a 19j turbo diesel. With them and previous Land Rover diesel's a quicker start can be to turn motor for two seconds before giving the normal heat time and then going for start.

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Yes 19J - I will try this today!

mick 1986 said:

What colour is the smoke?

It could be fuel leaking back into the tank over a longer standing period, due to an air leak in the fuel line.

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Smoke is white/light colour presume un burned fuel

Mr G Imp said:

Smoke is white/light colour presume un burned fuel

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I’m not familiar with that engine, but putting a piece of clear pipe in the fuel feed line will show if it is fuel leaking back to the tank.

I know you said glow plugs are new, but have you confirmed they are working? Could be a wiring problem to them

Kev12 said:

I know you said glow plugs are new, but have you confirmed they are working? Could be a wiring problem to them

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I have not confirmed they are working..Just changed them for new ones - the previous owner said it’s always been like this for the 6 years they had it ! Didn’t seem to bother him as it always starts in the end, doesn’t seem normal to me, but I read that the old turbo engines can be like this....

Did try turning over for a couple of seconds then heating after - definitely started quicker than the previous day but will try again tomorrow! It was warmer today

Try a bigger battery, it will turn over a cold engine fast enough for instant start. Slow turn over and engine takes a while to catch, also an old battery does the same.

Still think the valve clearances need checking,
Seems like something that gets neglected quite a lot

It’s going to the garage next week for mot and an oil change so might get them to look at it if it’s not failed too badly ! Sounds like it could be a lot of things causing this - wouldn’t hurt to do everything but would hurt my wallet hehe

My 19J N/A wouldn't start for ages if I put my foot on accelerator, if I left pedal alone and heat for 5 or 10 secs it started immediately, almost first turn even in the frost.

landowner said:

My 19J N/A wouldn't start for ages if I put my foot on accelerator, if I left pedal alone and heat for 5 or 10 secs it started immediately, almost first turn even in the frost.

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You shouldn’t touch the acclerator on the 2.5NA - it mucks up the cold start fuelling mechanism in the pump and that’s why it takes ages to start if you have the pedal down. Or press the pedal then try to start.

Correct procedure for the na and 19j is no pedal, 10-15secs if glows then it should start fine if all is well.

landowner said:

My 19J N/A wouldn't start for ages if I put my foot on accelerator, if I left pedal alone and heat for 5 or 10 secs it started immediately, almost first turn even in the frost.

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That’s how it should be I imagine ! Ive only had a few diesels in my time but they all fired up without a fuss - Japanese engines mind you !

Mr G Imp said:

It’s going to the garage next week for mot and an oil change so might get them to look at it if it’s not failed too badly ! Sounds like it could be a lot of things causing this - wouldn’t hurt to do everything but would hurt my wallet hehe

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Sadly you will find a lot of garages are reluctant to work on old land rovers as they see them as bits of cr ap, which to be fair they are! plus theres also a lack of knowledge unless they are specialists, for example very few cars still need their tappets adjusting as they tend to be hydraulic, so at the very least anyhting in the last 20 years.

They will liftt he bonnet, see the oil leaks and clobber everywhere, shudder and look at each other and agree it needs a speciailist to fix it

lynall said:

Sadly you will find a lot of garages are reluctant to work on old land rovers as they see them as bits of cr ap, which to be fair they are! plus theres also a lack of knowledge unless they are specialists, for example very few cars still need their tappets adjusting as they tend to be hydraulic, so at the very least anyhting in the last 20 years.

They will liftt he bonnet, see the oil leaks and clobber everywhere, shudder and look at each other and agree it needs a speciailist to fix it

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Yes a lot are like that, luckily the garage down the road from me specialises in old stuff and land rovers so knows what’s what - they fitted the clutch servo device recently and welded an outrigger on.