Russ's 2.1 SED Auto now in Mandarin

[jorgy]

Glad for your news Russ, and I hope it's been the same (or better!) since you last posted. Does it hold the pipes full of diesel now overnight?

*I* also have blue smoke in the first minute after firing up, and I know it's because I'm probably on 3 glowplugs, as one is seized and has not been changed since looong time ago. Still, almost instant firing up, even at a solid -5C.

[russ92xmsed]

Hi Jorgy,

Yes I believe it is holding the diesel overnight now. It is so much better starting, no slow cranking. But the big cloud of smoke out the back was a surprise. It did clear very quickly though. Might have been a bit of trapped wind being burped out.
Because I have been so busy recently, I just haven't been driving it. But I think I will do obvious things like changing the glowplug relay and see if that works. But yes, overall it was really worth doing those pipes. What I want now is a clear LHM tank to pump pipe so I can see the fluid.. Like Graeme's! I'm liking clear pipes!

[Dean]

I ran clear on my lhm feed pipe, it is interesting, I didn't run it the OE way though, I ran it along the top of the bulkhead wall and around over the timing cover and into the pump, didn't see any bubbles though.

D

[russ92xmsed]

That's a good idea.... With 2.1's it's buried under many many other pipes and things!

[Dean]

Yeah it is on all 4 pots, runs down the bulkhead, over the gearbox, across the front of the block under the intake manifold and surfaces next to the pump in a swan neck, which air locks.

D

[jorgy]

No news....good news???

[russ92xmsed]

Well George, you find me in the middle of changing the glowplugs. It's been starting a lot better, with the fuel staying primed and ready to go in the pipes. But a few days ago it was back to chucking out a plume of smoke, which cleared very quickly, and ran a bit rough briefly but then it was okay. It starts fantastically well once warmed up. Its instant. It's just that first cold start that's poor. So I am doing the glow plugs. I'm changing them for Beru. GKN in at the moment. So far done three this afternoon. Not bad, quite easy. I have to pop out to get a better spanner for the dreaded forth or first, what ever you call it, plug behind the pump tomorrow. And I have a feeling it's going to be a different story!

[Dieselman]

The OEM pipes are good quality and are stiff, but last forever. They are a rubber, plastic composite.

[White Exec]

There is a proper glowplug long-socket available - just get the right size for the plugs.
What you describe in the way of cold-start smoke is definitely a glowplug issue.

Clean up all the connections at both glowplugs and glowplug relay. Any swelling in the plastic cable insulation (usually near a connection) is a sure sign that something has overheated because of a poor contact. Feel free to provide a larger cable between the relay and the plugs (4mm2 or 6mm2); IIRC the original cable is only 2.5mm2, which is a bit marginal. As an alternative, run a second 2.5mm2 cable alongside and in addition to the existing one. Glowplug relay easily cleaned up, inside and out.

Good fun, innit?

[russ92xmsed]

Loving it Chris... Loving it.

Glow plug relay was swapped Friday 27 February. All contacts cleaned up and copper greased. That had made no difference at all.
Changing the glow plugs was actually okay. The worse thing is the first for obvious reasons, but it's the little 8mm nuts you have to get on which test your patience. I think on hindsight a ratchet spanner might be a good idea, or long thin sticky alien fingers! So I will invest in a set I think. You can't get a ratchet and socket for the first two plugs. It's just impossible, unless it's a Epic of course.
The wire between all the glow plugs was fine. No swelling or swollen bulges. I cleaned up all the contacts and copper greased those too. Including the glowplug threads. All had been changed previously. So it's all sorted now with fresh Beru plugs.

That's interesting Will what you say about the leak of pipes. They are stuck in place and no cracks that I can see. So they must be top notch stuff then.

I haven't started it up yet as the car is blocked in the lane. So when it's free I will move it round the front.