Author Topic: glowplugs needed? (Read 4340 times)

dillenger1 · « **on:** February 16, 2009, 06:01:39 pm »

How cold can you guys get them to start without the plugs?Im wondering about my compression now.I cant even get a cough after some fast cranking w/ 1000amp battery without glowplugs.My dads cummins will start without the grid in like 35-40f.

truckinwagen · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:05:21 pm »

I have never been able to start without the plugs when the engine is cold, even after a rebuild I needed a few seconds of glow plug to get it to start in the summer time.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:36:00 pm »

Indirect injection diesel engines, like ours, have very different cold starting habits than their direct injection cousins, like the Cummins and VW's TDI designs.

the caveman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:58:29 pm »

Pretty hard even in summer, almost impossible when winter comes.

Dakotakid · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:35:21 pm »

The same as above, Ben. Maybe in super hot weather....but, not otherwise.

jtanguay · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:44:25 pm »

Quote from: "dillenger1"

How cold can you guys get them to start without the plugs?Im wondering about my compression now.I cant even get a cough after some fast cranking w/ 1000amp battery without glowplugs.My dads cummins will start without the grid in like 35-40f.

unless your compression is 500+ psi, you won't be able to cold start it. its in the design of the swirl chamber. the the swirl chamber has to be a certain temperature to properly ignite the diesel, and that is why the glow plug is necessary. higher compression numbers will help elevate the air temps though, maybe enough to start the car below 0 deg C.

cummins motors, while being direct injection, also have intake air heaters (maybe not all models) which greatly enhance the cold starting/cold running. i'm personally a fan of the intake heater system, but it will draw quite a bit of juice from the electrical system...

AudiVWguy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2009, 12:23:17 am »

Okay, about the hot air theory. Say you have a heat gun, blow some hot air into the intake for a couple of minutes. Engine should start right up. (try to not melt anything)

Disclaimer:
-some assembly required
-your milage may vary
-don't eat yellow snow
-nine out of the ten voices in my
head told me to stay home and
clean my guns today

jtanguay · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2009, 01:47:39 am »

Quote from: "AudiVWguy"

Okay, about the hot air theory. Say you have a heat gun, blow some hot air into the intake for a couple of minutes. Engine should start right up. (try to not melt anything)

Disclaimer:
-some assembly required
-your milage may vary
-don't eat yellow snow
-nine out of the ten voices in my
head told me to stay home and
clean my guns today

getting the glow plugs to work would be far less hassle for the long term :lol:

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:34:08 am »

yeh my new build will start, angrily, without glow plugs only when it's above 0. I tried 1 cold start WITH glow plugs and i knew it would not have started without them. You can almost always roll start though.

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2009, 05:42:27 am »

Quote from: "Smokey Eddy"

yeh my new build will start, angrily, without glow plugs only when it's above 0. I tried 1 cold start WITH glow plugs and i knew it would not have started without them. You can almost always roll start though.

You cannot, however, roll-start a Volvo 240 diesel. Ask me how I know. :roll:

AudiVWguy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2009, 08:20:43 am »

Okay, how do you know?

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:40:18 pm »

Quote from: "AudiVWguy"

Okay, how do you know?

Because we attempted to do so when I was much more diesel-stupid. It wouldn't start, bad plugs and a cold NC spring morning, and we pushed it down a small hill. Still no start... and we had to push it back up the hill! :x

Volvo diesel sedans are heavy, dagnabbit!

jtanguay · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:51:43 pm »

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"

Quote from: "AudiVWguy"
Okay, how do you know?

Because we attempted to do so when I was much more diesel-stupid. It wouldn't start, bad plugs and a cold NC spring morning, and we pushed it down a small hill. Still no start... and we had to push it back up the hill! :x

Volvo diesel sedans are heavy, dagnabbit!

in that situation... bust out the brake parts cleaner!!! :lol:

the caveman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:14:25 pm »

"Volvo diesel sedans are heavy, dagnabbit!"
You got that right. I had one last spring that had broken the cam. With an automatic. With a 60 liter WVO tank [of course it was full] . My shop had enough of slope that it took 6 of us to push it into the shop. Even on a level surface it 2 of us could barely move it.

Rabbit on Roids · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2009, 02:07:36 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

Quote from: "Turbinepowered"
Quote from: "AudiVWguy"
Okay, how do you know?

Because we attempted to do so when I was much more diesel-stupid. It wouldn't start, bad plugs and a cold NC spring morning, and we pushed it down a small hill. Still no start... and we had to push it back up the hill! :x

Volvo diesel sedans are heavy, dagnabbit!

in that situation... bust out the brake parts cleaner!!! :lol:

brake parts cleaner? for what? starting your engine? or?

Author Topic: glowplugs needed? (Read 4340 times)

AudiVWguy

AudiVWguy

Rabbit on Roids