Fever
Member
Hi all-
Have a 1999-1/2 VW Jetta TDI with 280K miles, manual trans.
This issue started probably 60K miles ago, but is now so bad, it's embarrassing.
When cold starting, the engine cranks and cranks, tries to fire and then eventually fires after probably 10 seconds. Huge cloud of smoke. Smoke smells like diesel, not motor oil. Slightly rough idle for a few seconds, then all is well. If I try re-starting while engine is warm, no problems at all.
Glow plugs replaced a while ago for this, but didn't make any difference. Glow plug light comes on and goes off quickly down to approx 40F weather.
It is interesting that down around 30F or colder, the glow plugs stay on to warm the cylinder, and the engine fires when cranked and no smoke. In my opinion, in cold weather, engine cold start behaves as expected.
Was wondering if at this age, the injectors are dirty and spewing too much? fuel when starting. Really not a diesel guy, but love this jetta and want to keep driving up and down the freeway as long as I can. Still getting 47-48 mpg and power seems sufficient. Haze of smoke when accelerating down the on ramp, otherwise, none.
Where is a good place to start? I've done the hard starting tips on this forum and it didn't help.
Thanks,
Mike
Have a 1999-1/2 VW Jetta TDI with 280K miles, manual trans.
This issue started probably 60K miles ago, but is now so bad, it's embarrassing.
When cold starting, the engine cranks and cranks, tries to fire and then eventually fires after probably 10 seconds. Huge cloud of smoke. Smoke smells like diesel, not motor oil. Slightly rough idle for a few seconds, then all is well. If I try re-starting while engine is warm, no problems at all.
Glow plugs replaced a while ago for this, but didn't make any difference. Glow plug light comes on and goes off quickly down to approx 40F weather.
It is interesting that down around 30F or colder, the glow plugs stay on to warm the cylinder, and the engine fires when cranked and no smoke. In my opinion, in cold weather, engine cold start behaves as expected.
Was wondering if at this age, the injectors are dirty and spewing too much? fuel when starting. Really not a diesel guy, but love this jetta and want to keep driving up and down the freeway as long as I can. Still getting 47-48 mpg and power seems sufficient. Haze of smoke when accelerating down the on ramp, otherwise, none.
Where is a good place to start? I've done the hard starting tips on this forum and it didn't help.
Thanks,
Mike