Spent the weekend in Jindabyne and this morning wanted an early start to drive back to Melbourne (yes a very long drive, knackered now). Overnight it got down to a bracing NEGATIVE SIX CELSIUS
I never have problems starting this car but I've never had it in such cold temps before. Big frost on everything, at least 75% alpine diesel in the tank too. It first tried to start (batteries fine) and then started coughing and conked out. Then it wouldn't start at all but engine kept trying to crank, just wouldn't fire. Thought it might be cold fuel lines or filters so poured a bit of luke warm water over the fuel filter and pump...probably completely useless, such is my mechanical knowledge of these things.
Gave it a go again and this time there was a little bit of life, so I kept cranking and it started but wasn't able to rev much although it kept going. Blowing lots of white smoke and running like absolute crap, but kept running. Had to put it in low range to get up a driveway, not very steep. Engine temp was sitting at about 6 degrees at this point and taking ages to climb, still very cold. (TM1 probe on front of engine block bolt hole)
I drove out of there, well really I "chugged" out of there very very slowly and when I tried to give it any right foot it would try to go faster but then die. Still blowing a bit of white smoke but it got better after a little while.
When it warmed up a bit more (temp sensor now reading around 50) I had driven ten minutes along a dirt road and was ready to put it on the bitumen, it actually was pretty normal by now and I drove off and all was well again...but my wife was a bit mad haha
My mechanic said it could have been the glow plugs, didn't think it would be frozen fuel, but I've never experienced anything like that before it's been pretty solid up until then but it was a very VERY cold night.
Anyone else come across similar issues in the cold?
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