Diesel engine start...

[tomsneade]

Hi,are there any mechcanical people out there that could tell a NON mechcanical person if pumping the gas peddle a couple of times before attempting to flash up the enigine, has any effect? And when the mannual talks about a "cold engine", do they mean "cold" as in winter, or "cold" as in staring up for the first time in the morning?...Thanks for any comments in advance. Tom.

[dearjohn]

Hi,
You can pump the trottle all you like on a diesel engine before cranking it, wont make a bit of difference. The injector pump needs to be rotating before any fuel moves anywhere. same with a petrol engine if its fuel injected.
Nigel in Cavan

[dugwiththevwbug]

diesel engine start from cold 7oC and below pull out cold start lever as this advances the timiming on the diesel injector pump and turn key until the glow plug lights wait until glow plug light goes out and turn key to start. once you have warmed engine whilst running, push in cold start lever/handle.
7oC and above start engine only by using the glowplug part of the start.

If it has troble starting then your glow plugs are likely to be nearing the end of life and time for new ones. They preheat the bores to help with the compression detonation of the diesel and once running the engines own heat does the job.
regards doug