Diesel... In Winter.. ?

[December]

Ok, i started my car today... was pretty cold; probably -2 degrees Celsius, i raised the hood, and when i turned the key the engine started coffing and shaking very strangely as if it was having a nervous breakdown; for a short while; I braced myself and slightly pressed the acceleration pedal. After a few more seconds the engine started sounding just fine.

Is this normal in Diesel Engines ?
And also.. since i don't have a car manual..

Is that where the AntiFreeze goes ? If it is... i have plenty...

 

[RikH]

no thats your power steering reservoir isnt it
if its a diesel did you give your glow plugs time before u tried to crank the engine

 

[December]

no thats your power steering reservoir isnt it
if its a diesel did you give your glow plugs time before u tried to crank the engine

Where does the AntiFreeze go then ?
What are glow plugs ? sorry not a native english speaker .
And now i didn't wait, i just turned the key.

 

[Reg]

The thing in the picture being pointed at looks rather like a coolant bottle to me - power steering reserviors are rarely clear, and certainly not that big!

Just remember that the concentration of the coolant mixture is as important as the level (i.e. measured when cold, and it should sit in the narrow gap between MIN and MAX as marked on the coolant bottle.

Glow plugs are fitted to diesels in order to start the combustion process - they don't rely on a spark produced from a spark plug like a petrol engine, the mixture achieves combustion thought heat and pressure. Seeing as you have no heat when the engine is first switched on, the glow plug is the source of heat. On the dashboard when you turn the key so that it lights up (i.e. the position before the engine cranks), you will see a coil shaped light that will go off after a few seconds. You should wait until that light goes out before starting the engine. And don't worry about not being a native English speaker, your English is a lot better than a lot of those who are!

 

[matt_s]

The big round thing with the blue top is where the antifreeze goes. If not my power steering fluid gets very hot.

 

[matt_s]

I think the power steering reservoir is the smaller tank with the green top.

 

[December]

I think the power steering reservoir is the smaller tank with the green top.

It must be, The round thing is too big to be power steering.. besides its got a little thermometer on the blue cap so i assumed its the AntiFreeze..

 

[Andy3004]

I think the power steering reservoir is the smaller tank with the green top.

yep, small black tank with green top IIRC.

Thing circled in the pic is the coolant expansion tank (where antifreeze goes)

 

[December]

yep, small black tank with green top IIRC.

Thing circled in the pic is the coolant expansion tank (where antifreeze goes)

Good.. cause my mother.. for some reason just bought 2L of AntiFreeze and 5L of distilled for the mixture .. I don't know what got into her .


Who here owns a diesel ? i still don't know if i should start worrying over this or not.

 

[Reg]

If your coolant level is not low, you will need to take some out of the system if you are trying to increase the concentration of antifreeze in the mixture. Don't just pour a load in and hope for the best. If in doubt, take it to a garage - messing about with the coolant system could be tricky if you end up introducing air into it that locks it all up and makes the car overheat.

 

[December]

No, the coolant level is ok, about half full. Brake fluid is a little low though.. i'll have to look into that.

Any diesel owner here ? Should my engine do that when i turn the key in the morning ?

 

[Muttley]

Carpathian wrote

Ok, i started my car today... was pretty cold; probably -2 degrees Celsius, i raised the hood, and when i turned the key the engine started coffing and shaking very strangely as if it was having a nervous breakdown; for a short while; I braced myself and slightly pressed the acceleration pedal. After a few more seconds the engine started sounding just fine.

At -2°C the glow plugs will need 10 seconds or so to warm up the combustion chamber enough to make starting easy. The glow plug light on the dash panel will go out when the engine is ready to start.

Is this normal in Diesel Engines ?

Yes, if you don't give the glow plugs time to do their stuff.

And also.. since i don't have a car manual..
(Image snipped)
Is that where the AntiFreeze goes ?

Well, that's the coolant expansion tank, and the place where you add coolant if you're low. The plastic tank should have two marks moulded into it, and the coolant level should be between the two. VAG engines are usually filled with an antifreeze mixture all the year round, so it shouldn't be necessary to add any in the winter. If you need to top it up at any time, use VAG-spec antifreeze mixed to the correct proportions.

 

[December]

I see.. i'll try and be more careful in the future .

 

[heyd_romanian]

Mine did a similar thing the other morning but it wasn't anything to worry about.
The fix for this is to wait about 20-30sec longer from the time when the light for the glow plugs goes out. This usually helps the car start a bit easier.
Also it's good for a diesel to let it run for about 10 min before you drive off anywhere if it's really cold outside!
I have done this with all the diesel cars that i have had in the past and it does help prolong there life in the winter.
I hope this helps.