Will it run?

[julianf]

This engine has been out in the rain since 2019 (less the injector pump which was removed without setting to TDC)

Im not a mechanic. Ive done a fair few 300tdi belts in the past, but not for a good number of years, and my memory is rubbish. Even the aux belt idler took about 30 mins to move!


As a side note, before this was parked up (running when last run...) one of the glow plug tips was stuck in the head. I think id already tried running it to see if it would shoot it out, and it didnt.
Any ideas? (although at present, it will be a bit of a red herring, as all i really want at present is an MOT so as i can move it)

 

[Barking Mat]

Head off, tap the broken glow plug in, fish it out, rebuild.

Having said that it'll start with three glow plugs. Live with it ?

 

[mtt.tr]

This will start without glow plugs, tdi's need to be really cold before it's an issue

 

[julianf]

Yeah, it will start fine (well, if its going to start at all) without the plugs, but, still, im not keen on the idea of a tip lurking about in there.

Before it was parked up, i screwed the top of a broken plug into the top - i wonder if i filled it with penetrating oil before - that would have been the smart move.

Im unsure if its best to run it without the "stopper" screwed in, and accept it being shot out at some point, and then having to deal with loosing compression on one cylinder, or keep the "stopper" in and it maybe rattle into the cylinder. I mean the first option is clearly better, but neither is good!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

It’ll go no problem.300 Tdi doesn’t really need glow plugs until -10 or so.

Presumable you’ve had a bar on the crank to see if it turns?

 

[julianf]

It’ll go no problem.300 Tdi doesn’t really need glow plugs until -10 or so.

Presumable you’ve had a bar on the crank to see if it turns?

Yeah, id stolen the IP off it for another motor some time back, but did it without thinking, and, although l locked the sprocket, id not set it to tdc before hand, and my attempts at turning the job to time it up without the IP attached ended in failure, so ive had it all spinning independently before timing it up (hence the photo below, and, yes, i took the rocker shaft off *before* spinning it : )

Im not convinced the compression is even through me just turning it over by hand, but that could just be as the brake vac pump only engages once per cycle, and its confusing me, but i guess ill know soon enough. Ive got another 300tdi on the floor, so ill get there one way or other.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Your overthinking it. It’s a tdi, as long as it bars over without clattering valves, put a battery on it and a sniff of ether and see what happens

 

[julianf]

What, over thinking it wanting to take the rocker shaft off before turning it over with no belt attached?

(im not overthinking the timing - im just wondering how to get the stuck tip out at some point in the future)

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The compression being even etc. Just plumb it in and fire it up

 

[julianf]

The compression being even etc. Just plumb it in and fire it up

Fair enough : )

I forgot id mentioned that - again, i forget things!

 

[julianf]

This is how it stands currently -

Id even bought a load of that 3m 2pack underseal stuff for the footwells (more as a sound proofing agent than much else) but the bulkhead finally sat right, and i didnt have the motivation to take it off again.

It will probably need a new chassis in a couple of years, so maybe ill do it then.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

How much of the glow plug is stuck? Is the whole body out and just the heater tip stuck in the bore?

 

[julianf]

How much of the glow plug is stuck? Is the whole body out and just the heater tip stuck in the bore?

My memory from around 2018 was that it was just the ceramic tip.

I've not looked this time around. I was reminded by the fact that I'd wrapped that plugs bit of the loom in a load of insulating tape.... I spotted that and realised that I never dealt with it at the time.

 

[Dave-sparks]

It'll run.

My 300tdi still runs with one of the pistons having a chunk out of it.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

To be fair mine still ran with most of the crown of number 3 melted after I got a bit too happy with the fuelling. It finally expired when it melted an inch wide by 1/4” deep groove between 2 and 3

 

[8ob]

Looks like you have knocked off/lost a couple of caps off the tops of the valves, best get them back on before you refit the rockers. Not uncommon for loose carbon to get between a valve/seat on an engine that been lying about, this loss of compression can make them a pig to start, dont be scared of using a drop of easy start just to get it to fire up, emphasis is on a bit.

Bob

 

[Agroshield]

I'm unsure if its best to run it without the "stopper" screwed in, and accept it being shot out at some point, and then having to deal with loosing compression on one cylinder...

What does 'deal with' involve? Can it be done at the roadside on a rainy moonless night? If so, perhaps prepare for it by carrying the tools and parts in the vehicle with you. If there is a way (part or tool or combination of both) that will make the roadside repair much easier, that might be a good way to invest your time.

 

[julianf]

Simple enough in theory - screw a glow plug in. Patch the hole in the bonnet later.

 

[Melvyn Best]

You can get a kit for removing broken glow plugs that work well

 

[julianf]

You can get a kit for removing broken glow plugs that work well

I've got one, but it doesn't deal with the situation if only the tip is stuck down the head.