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Thread ID: 74167 2006-11-13 18:28:00 Diesel Ute Won't Start in Cold pctek (84) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
498793 2006-11-13 18:28:00 Husbands ute doesn't like to start when its a cold morning.
Its not parked in a garage.
He changed the glow plugs, bought a new battery.

Its fine once its going, its fine when its warm.

He had a compression test done, and it is an old ute - 1986..........they were lower than the results of a new one but pretty even and not hugely lower. Garage thought they were ok.


Any suggestions - not involving throwing it out and buying a new one?
pctek (84)
498794 2006-11-13 19:14:00 Park it on a slope at night, in the morning run it down the slope to start it. zqwerty (97)
498795 2006-11-13 19:20:00 I don't know much about diesel engines, but I do know that they require a heck of a lot of pressure in the cylinders to cause combustion. So a compression test is probably the first place to start checking.

[edit] oops - sorry. I see you covered that point.

Also, as far as I'm aware diesel fuel has a higher freezing point than gasoline, which will of course exacerbate the problem in cold weather.

Have the injectors been checked? And another thought... try changing your fuel supplier? I guess it's a remote possibility that different suppliers have slightly differing additives in their fuels. Or even different quality storage conditions for it, eg imperfectly clean tanks.
Greg (193)
498796 2006-11-13 19:38:00 Has he checked to see if the glow plugs are actually working. You said he changed them but is the glow circuit OK?? paulw (1826)
498797 2006-11-13 20:20:00 Has he checked to see if the glow plugs are actually working. You said he changed them but is the glow circuit OK??

Yes.

Before he swapped them.
After he swapped them.

They don't last long, damn things. Damn expensive things.

Injectors are the one thing that haven't been done - don't have a spare $400 at present.

Neighbours diesel ute starts OK whn husbands doesn't. Then again his is a new company one.....
pctek (84)
498798 2006-11-13 21:55:00 You guys haven't had a lot of luck with cars lately.

Perhaps he could flog the thing off and get himself whatever petrol equivalent - they're a lot easier to work on.
Greg (193)
498799 2006-11-14 01:22:00 You tried diesel in a petrol car; have you tried petrol in the diesel? :D Graham L (2)
498800 2006-11-14 03:20:00 How's the anti-freeze?

(Or is that irrelevant?)
Laura (43)
498801 2006-11-14 03:35:00 Cold Weather Diesel Engine Starting Tips

bioengr.ag.utk.edu
zqwerty (97)
498802 2006-11-14 04:17:00 You tried diesel in a petrol car; have you tried petrol in the diesel? :D
Yes, my dad's friend did this accidently, and it broke it! It cost lots of money to fix! (About the price of half an Alienware PC :D)
pcuser42 (130)
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