Cold Start Issues & Noise

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 284

Until the last week, it has been pretty warm here, so I have not had a chance to see how my CRD would start or not in cold weather until just now. What I found is I will need a new battery soon (no surprise, it is just weak after a night of 10F or lower). However even when the battery has a full charge there are still a few issues:

When it first catches, the engine makes a loud racket for a while and I usually need to press the accelerator a bit to keep it running. It didn't do this in warm weather. Hard for me to ID the noise, maybe valves or injectors or ???. There also is a bunch of white smoke at startup with this. Usually after 30 sec or so the engine quiets down and it is running normally, noise gone. On a couple of occasions I just couldn't keep the engine running even with pressing on the go pedal; I plugged in the engine heater and an hour or two later it would start no problem, and no noise.

First question is what do folks think the noise is? Since it seems to go away once the engine is warm or runs for a bit (and the white smoke) I was thinking injectors. Any variable timing on the valve train that might get out of wack in cold temps? Other things? And probably most important, is it harmful and need I do something about it?

Second Q is how do other CRDs do in cold weather. Is iffy starting at 15F common (stock GP sysytem)? How cold should a stock CRD be able to start without the block heater or other assist?

Last Q, Battery recommendations? I'd like to get the biggest battery (best CCA etc) I can fit in the available space without going to the exotic designs. What have folks in cold areas found that works for them?

TIA

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Thu Dec 01, 2016 6:44 am

White smoke, rough running, and clattering noise can all be caused by fuel aeration. If the weather has suddenly dropped, it could be due to fuel gelling. A Fuel priming pump will make this go away. The best ones are in-tank models, such as https://shop.sasquatchparts.com/products/in-tank-lift-pump-for-jeep-liberty-crd-5143160aa/, or others.

From what you describe you may also want to look for a good anti-gel additive for your current tank. It sounds like the fuel you bought has not been winterized properly for your area. Such as https://www.essentialube.com/fuel-improver.html PowerKleen Arctic or http://www.truevalue.com/product/Farm-Ranch-Supplies/Farm-Supplies-Hardware/Additives-Diesel/Diesel-Fuel-Supplement-Cetane-Boost-Diesel-Fuel-Anti-Gel-16-oz-/pc/17/c/2993/sc/330/40135.uts

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:25 pm

Are you having to add any coolant to the coolant reservoir tank?
White smoke can be an indication of coolant getting into the combustion chamber, i.e. head gasket leak... :roll:

Dent · **Joined:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:05 pm **Posts:** 275

It's just friggin cold, and you probably have the metal glow plugs. The metal glow plugs are good so you don't blow you motor, but they suck for cold starting. Plug it in on a timer.

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 284

Thanks for the replies (strangely I did not get email notification of them although I turned it on).

Could be partial fuel gelling, in that I am running ~20% biodiesel right now. I'll move to more petro diesel and some anti-gel and see if that helps.

At the risk of asking an embarrassing newbie question, when one pumps the priming pump on the fuel filter head (new version) how far out is the handle/rod supposed to go when you pull it. I had envisioned that it would come out a couple of inches, but mind does not come out at all, it will go in a bit but no outward movement. I didn't want to use too much force until I found out how it is supposed to work.

peteyz24 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:57 am

Clattering and smoking on start up when its cold out is a normal diesel thing. Doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about to me. Keep her plugged in when you can.

joe_ · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2016 6:29 pm

Steve777 wrote:

At the risk of asking an embarrassing newbie question, when one pumps the priming pump on the fuel filter head (new version) how far out is the handle/rod supposed to go when you pull it. I had envisioned that it would come out a couple of inches, but mind does not come out at all, it will go in a bit but no outward movement. I didn't want to use too much force until I found out how it is supposed to work.

It doesn't move very far at all. To pump it you just have to push on it; there's a spring that pushes it back out when you take your hand off.

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 284

Thanks Joe. That is more or less how mine works. Just wanted to be sure before I started pulling which I don't need to do.

Cold Start Issues & Noise

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