something in my tank

[mudbitz123]

cold weather playing havoc with the diesel
any suggestions what i can add to perk the fuel up so on cold mornings it fires up a bit quicker
thanks

[TurboDieselWeasel]

How cold is it? Still runing on summer diesel?? Winter diesel shouldn't flock to -18-20°C. You'r rning on dino-diesel or SVO? With SVO, add diesel! 30-40%.

Glow light stays off during driving? Glow plugs are OK? No air in the fuel lines? Is the top of the pump, where the fuel lins run to the injectors, dry?? If not, it needs new seals and the fuel lines draw air (resp. run dry) over night...

[mudbitz123]

thanks
running winter diesel no veg oil etc
bit wet round pump not excessive though
merc c250 turbo diesel
once started first turn of key all day

[TurboDieselWeasel]

Ok, so that'S two possibilities: glow plugs, or air lock. If the pump's wet, I suspect the latter. Is it a inline or distributor pump on these? Not too familiar with newer Mercs... But the problem is basically the same; air gets in the fuel lines and you need to crank until all air is out.

Try to park her nose down - is that helps it's air due to leaky pump

[deano123]

your based in the UK, i cant see it being an issue with the diesel freezing and turning like parafin

check glow plugs, just changed mine in my truck and its fires straight away now

[rodney]

ignore the glow light and listen to the relay click off after 5-8 seconds, then try start it,.

[composimmonite]

Do you have a manual primer on the fuel filter or maybe an in-line type ? If so try priming first thing in the morning to see if that eliminates any air as an experiment to confirm if that is the cause of the starting problem or whether to look elsewhere.

Paul h

[dodgerover]

Hello mate - i think there's something else going on here besides the cold weather, its not really been that cold to affect starting to a significant degree if the battery/ engine/ starter isn't knackered, have you tried the primer trick as above?
Does it try to start instantly on ether/ lynx/ wd40?

[TurboDieselWeasel]

Those pumps are self-priming. If air is the lines, you need to crank the engine untill the starter burns out or the pump is vented ;D

If the top of the pump is wet, it draws air there. Knackered o-rings is the cause. Comon fault on these. And cheaply to repair... But needs special tools and care.

Those buggers where the injector lines attach are sealed with rubber o-seals...


retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=readersrides&thread=90559&page=1#1172089

They leak, air comes in - pump needs venting/priming via the starter.

[dave21478]

Feb 19, 2012 20:05:31 GMT @mudbitz123 said:

...
any suggestions what I can add to perk the fuel up so on cold mornings it fires up a bit quicker
thanks

You need to fix the problem rather than treat the symptoms. You were talking about it being slow to turn over before and messing with booster jump packs etc...that combined with a weeping pump mean it just needs some maintenance rather than trying to get around the problems with additives. If you don't sort these problems properly, they will only get worse. You live in suburbia, not Siberia and no matter how much people moan about cold snaps, it is nowhere near cold enough in UK to affect a normal car in good working order.

[kevfromwales]

boil the kettle, pour it over the pump, lines and the inlet manifold

hot air FTW when starting cold diesels - worked all last winter, and I was using the truck (with an iveco in it) daily

- kfw
ps - 2 kettles may be recquired when snow is on the ground...