Diesel engine struggling to start when cold

Since diesel engines do not use spark plugs to ignite the fuel, frigid cold weather can cause issues when trying to start the vehicle. Diesel fuel thickens when it is cold, so it is essential to let your glow plugs warm before trying to start your diesel engine, or your glow plugs may need to be replaced.

Why is my diesel car hard to start when it’s cold?

Metal cylinder walls become very cold when the temperature drops, so most vehicles are harder to start in cold weather. Because diesel engines require much higher temperatures to fire the fuel, they’ve always been harder to start in cold weather than gasoline-powered vehicles.

Why does my diesel engine struggles to start?

Issues with Fuel Delivery



shortly after it starts, and then is difficult to restart. Leaks in the fuel lines or pump can allow air into the system. Clogged fuel filters. Fuel filters generally need to be changed every 20,000-40,000 miles, so if they haven’t been changed recently, you may want to try this first.

How do I get my diesel to start in the cold?

With this in mind, here are six tips for starting a diesel in cold weather and maintaining your equipment over time.

  1. Do Not Underestimate Warm-Up Time. …
  2. Consider Heating Options. …
  3. Keep Your Diesel Exhaust Fluid Thawed. …
  4. Address Frozen Fuel. …
  5. Keep Your Engine in a Warm Area. …
  6. Make Sure Your Fuel Tank is Full.


How do you warm up a cold diesel engine?

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So typically I would say wait thirty Seconds to a minute. And let your oil pressure and your oil feed all the moving components at.

How do you warm up a diesel engine?

Let your engine warm up like you warm up in the morning. Let the glow plugs and intake heater do their job. Fire the engine and give it some time for the combustion heat to warm the engine evenly. This practice is very important on extremely cold mornings.

How can I make my diesel start easier?

Change the Oil Regularly: An engine is roughly 2-3 times harder to start at 0 degrees F due to thicker oil lubricating the hard internal parts of the engine. The thicker the oil the more resistance on the bearings and moving parts.

What are the symptoms of glow plug failure?

Six signs it’s time to replace your glow plugs

  • Hard starting. A hard starting engine is the most common indicator of damaged glow plugs. …
  • Engine misfiring. …
  • Rough idling. …
  • Decreased fuel efficiency. …
  • White smoke. …
  • Black smoke.


How do I know if my diesel fuel pump is bad?

Seven Signs Your Fuel Pump Is Going Out

  1. Sputtering Engine. Your fuel pump is telling you something if your engine starts to sputter once you’ve hit the top speed on the highway. …
  2. Overheating Engine. …
  3. Low Fuel Pressure. …
  4. Power Loss. …
  5. Surging Engine. …
  6. Gas Mileage Decrease. …
  7. Dead Engine.


How long does a diesel Need to warm up?

As a general rule of thumb, if it is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, you should allow your engine up to seven minutes to warm up. If the temperature is between zero and fifty degrees, the warm-up period should be three to five minutes. Over fifty degrees will only require one or two minutes to warm up.

Is it good to warm up a diesel engine?

Modern diesel vehicles have better cooling systems than those of old and are designed to warm-up the vehicle quickly. Letting the vehicle start and idle for a minute or two will not hurt it and will only help but much more than that is really unnecessary in my opinion.

Why do diesels need to warm up?

Diesel engines are now computer-controlled and designed to warm up quickly, thus reducing the amount of time you need to idle to reach the ideal operating temperature.

What happens if you don’t let glow plugs warm up?

The longer you wait to replace faulty glow plugs, the more damage you will have to deal with. If a glow plug fails, your pickups’ combustion chamber will not receive the heat that it needs to ignite. On warmer days, you may be able to achieve ignition after multiple startup attempts.

Do you have to let a diesel run before driving?

Myth: Diesel engines need to warm up at idle for 5 to 10 minutes or more especially on cold days before driving them. Fact: This is one of the most common myths about diesel engines. Most engine manufacturers recommend that newer diesel engines idle for no more than 3 minutes before driving.

How cold does it have to be for diesel to gel?

Gelling occurs when the paraffin wax in diesel solidifies because of a drop in temperature, and the temperature of the fuel generally has to stay below something like minus 10 degrees F for extended periods, like 48 to 72 hours.

Can you put too much anti-gel in diesel?

It’s easy to overdo it with a high-quality diesel fuel additive. Overdosing can result in a slew of new fuel and engine problems, ranging from clogged filters to decreased engine performance and efficiency. Don’t over-treat if you’re losing lubricity.

Will diesel Ungel on its own?

While gelled fuel sounds bad, the good news is that diesel fuel will return to normal as soon as the temperature goes back up above the gel point. Pushing a vehicle into a garage and leaving it for a few hours is typically all that is required to fix the gelling problem.