while cranking to bleed air from injector lines, engine started (with no glow)

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

After finishing putting the IP back in and injector hard lines in, cranked starter for about 5 seconds to bleed air out of the lines, tightened 3 of the 4 lines nuts to crank again to bleed the last injector line and before I tightened the last injector nut, the engine started! I have manually controlled glow plugs and they were not turned on during bleeding so I was very surprised it started. Ambient temp was around 80F, engine was dead cold. I thought these idi's need glow plugs to start even in summer?

[8v-of-fury]

No. I routinely start my IDI's on compression alone in the summer time. Mainly gotta be 20* or hotter though.

[theman53]

Mine with retarded *Giles spec is a bit retarded* timing will start without GP most of the time it is over 60F like normal. When I was bleeding the air out of mine it started on 3 also.

[burn_your_money]

Mine always needs the glowplugs when the engine is cold but it's an auto and doesn't crank over nearly as fast as a manual.

[8v-of-fury]

I have started my M-TDI with only one injection line hooked up before.. not a glow plug thing, but dammn, 1 cylinder firing every other crank rotation.

[bbob203]

Ive still not hooked up glowplugs on my mtdi.. has started down to 30*f so far hasnt been exposed to lower temps. My  idi will start w/o plugs in the summer.