D24 D24T cold start revs

[Galaxie390]

Hi Folks,

My '91 D24T auto estate has been running well for ages, but I've noticed over the last few days when it's started from cold the revs are at the normal hot idle speed of about 700-750 and the engine seems to be 'choked'. Then after a few seconds running (maybe 5-7) it clears it's 'throat' and the revs pickup to the normal cold start revs of approx 1000. It drives as normal......slow...lol!

The cold start device appears to work ok.

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas where I can start on this one?

Cheers,

Rich

[ian2000t]

When was the last time you replaced all glowplugs? When I had mine it used to start a bit low on idle and splutter and hunt around the revs a bit. After about 10 seconds the revs would pick up as the idle smoothed out.

Changed glowplugs 4,5,6 (the ones no one changes) and it was much better.


Also - could be injectors getting clogged up - try an injector cleaner. Not running SVO/WVO are you? Mine hunts on the revs for 5-10 seconds when starting from cold running 50/50 on SVO/Diesel.

[Galaxie390]

Hi Ian2000t,

Thanks for the reply. It got 6 new glow plugs (Bosch duraterm) about 8 months ago.

Lol..it took best part of 3 hours on a freezing, snowy day. The back 3 took the guts of 2.5 hours, mainly because I kept dropping the stupid things. Wouldn't be in a rush to do it again!

It's funny you mention SVO. I did run in on SVO for a quite a while about 2 years ago, but gave up as I couldn't get around the Revenue Commissioners red tape to pay the fuel duty (There is no allowance for private use here in Ireland and the fines are heavy!)
The start is like it did when on SVO, except it does idle smoothly just at about 600rpm rather than 1000rpm 'on choke' as it were.

I'll try the injector cleaner.

Cheers,
Rich

[ian2000t]

I'd hope the glowplugs last longer than that. If you disconnected the busbar (I know that's half of the mission anyway) I think you can check their resistance to see if they are still working ok.

Yeh, the 2,500 ltrs allowance was brought in a few years ago for SVO/WVO here in UK. The price of SVO is more than diesel most of the time though, but I managed to get 100 ltrs Sunflower Oil through a Tesco Online offer for 70p/ltr so I'm just working my way through that at the moment. Looking to get hold of some WVO to filter/de-water.

I've read that if you change your fuel filter (have you done this recently?) that you should fill the new one with ATF fluid (non-synthetic) when you refit it to give the injectors a good clean. The car will start and run on it fine, and if you leave it running for a bit the diesel will dilute it enough so when you drive off it will drive as normal. Cheaper than injector cleaner...