Anyone on here know much about diesel engines?

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board ARCHIVE' started by Farnham_Red, Feb 24, 2014.

  1. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Stupid question as I have a conflict of opinion between a main dealer and an independent mechanic

    I have a Peugeot 407 with a V6 diesel engine its now done 110 000 miles and is 5.5 years old - I had it since it was 11 months old

    I do a couple of ski trips per year to the alps first couple of years no problem to start up a mountain in the snow but last year at -10C and 1600meters altitude it struggled to start - main dealer couldnt find anything wrong - before this years trip I took it to a second main dealer who thought the battery needed replacing (original battery so believable) but last week I could barely start it when the temp was -6 and up the mountain it struggled at -1C to start ( at home there is no problem at -1C but the pressure is less up a mountiain of course )

    Chalet owner suspected glow plugs were the problem
    Starting took many tries with occasional firing until it eventually it started on one cylinder and the others gradually kicked in over about a minute

    Main dealer still cant find anything wrong and tried to blame the fuel ( filled it in Austria with Fuel specified to -35C so that ******) and also say that its not the glow plugs but in any case its too risky to try to change them as in any engine that has done 100 000 miles + they will sieze and it will wreck the engine to try to take them out. Also to change the glow plugs you need to remove the engine

    Independant mechanic says if I got more than 60 000 miles out of a set of glow plugs I have done well and they probably should be changed - he is someone I have never used but been recommended by a friend anyone have any ideas if I should trust him - or should I just change my car this summer?

    Dont want to change it if it can be easily fixed though as its really nice for long trips
     
    Farnham_Red, Feb 24, 2014
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  2. Nor

    NorfolkRed Well-Known Member

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    Glow plugs.
     
    NorfolkRed, Feb 24, 2014
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  3. mrx

    mrx Banned Idiot

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    Agreed.
     
    mrx, Feb 24, 2014
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  4. RichK

    RichK Well-Known Member

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    They take Diesel, NOT unleaded.

    Sumbdi had to say it.
     
    RichK, Feb 24, 2014
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  5. madmark62

    madmark62 Well-Known Member

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    I think your main dealer is a shyster !!
    It will not wreck the engine at all. They do need changing about every 70,000 miles or so.
    I reckon he wants to sell you a nice new shiny car !!!!

    I would have a word with the Independent mechanic and tell him what the dealer said.
     
    madmark62, Feb 24, 2014
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  6. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    Glow plugs are usually cheap and easy to change,no more difficult than a spark plug..certainly sounds like thats the problem.
     
    sadbrewer, Feb 24, 2014
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  7. wal

    walestyke Active Member

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    I have been quoted £50 to change glow plugs in my pickup so not expensive well worth changing
     
    walestyke, Feb 24, 2014
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  8. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Thanks all ( except Ponty72 - oh my sides ache at such wit)

    Will definitely have a chat with independant mechanic tomorrow - always had petrol engines until now and hadnt realised glow plugs could be changed as easily as spark plugs ( though on my previous petrol v6 peugeot changing the back 3 plugs was a problem as the transverse V meant you had to do it from underneath with a special tool) guessing thats the problem with the diesel V6 as well access to the back ones is difficult

    if Pug have designed an engine which has to be removed to replace the glow plugs I definitely wont be buying another one
     
    Farnham_Red, Feb 24, 2014
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  9. Pon

    Pontered Well-Known Member

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    I would suggest getting the resistance of the plugs checked. Also have the preheat relay checked.

    I would also suggest the Dealer is covering it's own back regarding possible engine damage as the head is aluminium and the threads may strip. Although this could be cheaply rectified by helicoiling.

    Dean
     
    Pontered, Feb 24, 2014
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  10. Hom

    Homer Well-Known Member

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    The answer may be the -10c. Diesel may be freezing in inlet pipes. One thing to do in really cold weather is to switch on and do not start when glow plug light goes off. Instead turn off and re start this then gives the glow plugs two heatings. Worked every time for me. Also is there a water trap in the fuel line, as it would be better to empty that as well when the engine does not fire straight away it can gas the cylinders with neat diesel, then when it finally starts it blows thick blue smoke out until it has burnt it off I would try the double turn on and off and I am sure it will start
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2014
    Homer, Feb 24, 2014
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  11. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    1. Almost certainly glow plugs
    2. Change them - they could be seized but a decent mechanic would know what to do.
    3. Never heard of having to take an engine out to change glow plugs.
     
    Brush, Feb 24, 2014
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  12. Jay

    Jay Well-Known Member

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    I'm currently driving a petrol. This is my first. Before that I've only ever had diesels. I did well over 300,000 miles in my first. We changed the glow plugs after 250,000. Not in a posh garage, in me dad's coal yard. Came out no bother. I've never heard of having to take the engine out to change the glow plugs. It's possible I suppose, depends on the design, but they usually sit right on top of the engine, just where you'd expect the spark plugs to be if you had a petrol.

    Tip for starting a diesel that doesn't like starting in the cold: turn your ignition until that light thing comes on telling you that the glow plugs have engaged (that's a technical term, obviously). When the light goes out, don't turn the engine over, turn the ignition off and back on so the light comes on again. Repeat if necessary. If that works, and in most cases it does, your glow plugs are wearing out, but not completely knackered. Either get 'em changed or if you can live with turning the ignition key a couple more times every time you start your car in the cold, just do that. If it doesn't work, it's probably not your glow plugs as it's very unusual for them all to go kaput at once and it would usually start if just one had failed and you heated the rest a couple of times. In this case it would more likely be the power to them, which could be owt from a fuse, to a lose connection or owt on the circuit.
     
    Jay, Feb 24, 2014
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