andrew strasfogel wrote:
Do the glow plugs play a role in keeping a 1983 300TD running after it starts? Mine starts but stalls until it has warmed up.
What you describe is common in many older 61x engines if everything isn't working exactly as it was designed to work, but finding what's wrong can be a chore! The easies solution is to allow the plugs to glow for 10-20 seconds after the dash light goes out - and if that doesn't help, try raising the idle to 800+ rpm.
In older engines without "afterstart" glow function, the only effect that plugs have after the engine starts relates to the temperature within the prechamber. The temperature within the prechamber DOES influence how complete combustion will be. If it's cold enough, the engine will not start. The glow plugs raise the temperature enough to permit the fuel to be sufficiently atomized for compression to start the engine. If the spray pattern of the injectors is less than ideal, the minimum start temp will rise. If the valves are tight (so compression is low) minimum start temp will rise. If one glow plug is out (the dash light signal that preglow system is faulty may NOT be activated depending on which plug is out) or if the plugs are fatigued, minimum start temp will rise. If the glow plugs reach only 800-900 deg (that's about when the dash lamp is programed to go out) before the engine is started (rather than the maximum of 1180 that requires about 30 seconds of glow plug activation) then the engine may stall after it starts in very cold weather. It may also stall if the fuel isn't winterized and temps get below about 25-27 deg. C. If the rack damper screw is not properly adjusted, the engine may not start when cold or may stall after starting.
For reliable cold weather starting, EVERYTHING must be working correctly. Marshall -- Marshall Booth Ph.D. Ass't Prof. (ret.) Univ of Pittsburgh School of Medicine [EMAIL PROTECTED]
