poor starting, diesel.

[tim]

Here's one for the diesel experts. I know the Red One is a 'poor' starter because I've got the white one to compare it with. That one will start when warm or hot without any preheat needed at all. The Red One doesn't and needs a little bit of heat at al times. So what are we looking at? There's no history on the injectors so it could be them - or possibly a leak in the leakoff pipes? It isn't a major problem but knowing it could be better makes me want to get to the bottom of it.

[citsncycles]

Once it's up and running, what's the power like, and is there much smoke on startup?

Sorry to come over all doom and gloom but when Timex was like this, ut turned out to be the head!

[tim]

No, this isn't anything new and I wouldn't have known there was anything wrong without a comparison right next to me. The car just did a week down Dorset and up to Wales, nearly 1000 miles. It's just a niggle! But presumably there is a logical explanation. And it is only the starting. Although the car needs the full preheat in really cold weather.

[citsncycles]

Hopefully the head's OK then.

Might be worth trying to find somewhere to check the injectors - my dad had them rebuilt in has Golf last year and it transformed it apparently.

[mat_fenwick]

This is purely speculation, but are both injector pumps the same make? I've got two vehicles (one the BX) with Bosch pumps which both only need glowplugs when cold, but all the Lucas equipped XUDs I've had or worked on tended to need them whether hot or cold. Could be completely coincidental though.

[tim]

yep, both Bosch. Same year.

[mat_fenwick]

Rules my speculation out straight away then

[citsncycles]

Timex still needs glowplugs when warm, but with the lashup of an '88 engine and Bosch pump fitted with a square port head made out of 2nd bots from at least 6 different engines, it's hardly a surprise!

[Mothman]

Funny thing really, my TZD needs the glow plugs warm to start which she does easily but after a few turns.
The TXD starts every time on half a turn of the engine, always has done, i dont know why but always better than any of my other BXs. However, all start ok so i wouldnt be too worried Tim, as long as she goes.

Andy

[Kitch]

What fuel primer has it got?

[Thread Bear]

Clear candidate is injector / fuel delivery performance. Bit of jollop or some veggie before it gets cold might clear that out. Filter? Though diesels are sensitive to the turn over speed of the starter. A good swing and snappy compression makes all the difference. More often than not a 'dead' diesel battery will continue to run a petrol car for another few years before finally becoming to degraded to be unreliable. A lazy starter means more churning before action. Dare I mention the exhaust and the fact that there are some real crappo pipes out there restricting the breathing, particularly the second section where the pipe bending is poor. Homer had this issue and the engine starts perfectly with no pipe on. Probably a reason the front gasket failed leading to that being botched up. So clearly it was restricting performance and a bigger or uniform diameter pipe will offer a dividend.

[BX Bandit]

Rules my speculation out straight away then

And to add insult to injury I always thought the opposite, always found Lucas good little starters! What do we know eh?

[BX Bandit]

Tim, there will be always small differences between like systems. E.g your harder to start one could be just slightly out of timing, slightly lower compression, pump slightly more worn etc etc. I always found a Bosch cold start to be good (except in colder weather) but needed a couple of more turns on the starter when hot. It's probably accumulation of things and not to be concerned over. Are the mileages and histories the same?

[tim]

The better starter has done nearly 300,000 miles! Mine has done 140,000. Having the injectors 'overhauled' is an obvious one but I am reluctant to spend this kind of money if it makes no difference. Hence this thread! It's an option but given that the older car is better I suspect that it's some other factor.

[BX Bandit]

300k! Cool. Here's an example, my nearly 200k tgd used to start hot with no preheat with a Lucas.
The same pump with the timing unadjusted (as it was swapped on its cradle) would always need preheat on its recon engine. Who knows?