Hi! Would be v grateful for any advice anyone can give... I've tried searching forums but haven't been able to find enough info on the below.
I've got a Ducato Maxi 3.0 from 2008, with about 60k miles (yes, 60k, an old council vehicle bought through auction..). I've put a lot of work into converting it into a camper (a few year ago now) and it gives me some well-needed space that I'm lacking at home. I'd like to maintain it in a way that keeps it running a long time (also in a financially economical way).
It's been slow starting over winter, and worse when colder (and faster starting when I've driven, stopped, and then started again). I had a broken engine mount a few months ago, so got that replaced, and I also stuck a new battery in it. The starter motor is about 4 years old now. I got a full service and was told the van is in very solid condition. I also asked the mechanic to check the glow plugs and yep, none of them were working. Also yep, all of them stuck. He managed to drill two out and then asked me if I wanted him to try to get the next two out or to essentially cash out at that point and stop there, with now two working glow plugs. He suggested I could try the van for a bit and see how it starts and that if it's ok starting then maybe it's better to leave the other two (not working) glow plugs in there (to avoid the risk involved in trying to get another two glow plugs out, with the worst-case scenario being one of them snapping and having to take the head off the engine). From reading other forum threads, I think maybe the glow plugs he's left in there are the ones that people say get more of the rainwater coming under the bonnet through the dodgy scuttle on Ducatos (I worked this rainwater issue out myself a couple years ago and tried to seal it all properly, but I'll definitely be checking/re-doing the silicon again soon!).
My knowledge of engines is fairly limited (trying to learn!), so I'd really appreciate some other opinions/knowledge... Particularly these two things (but please say if there's anything else important)...
1) The van is Euro 4. I think this means that glow plugs aren't used to regenerate the DPF in this model, so only having two working glow plugs out of four shouldn't affect the DPF in the long-term?
2) Only having two plugs means that only those two cylinders will fire at first, when starting the van, but that the other two cylinders will then be warmed up / moved (?) so that they also fire? It's not clear to me how long this delay would be in the other two cylinders firing, or how much of a problem this is in potential wear to the engine or other parts? Would it mean that fuel being injected into those two cylinders would not be getting burnt properly at first, and if so could this cause an issue over time?
3) In general, is it alright to stick with only two working glow plugs if the van isn't taking too long to start now?
I've picked up that it's good to turn the key until the glow plug light comes on and the off, then turn the van completely off, then turn the key again so the glow plugs come on a second time, to try to get a bit more warmth from the two glow plugs before cranking the engine. And also to let the engine tick over for maybe half a minute to let all the cylinders get going before driving off.
I know some of the general advice is to get all glow plugs replaced at the same time, but I'm wondering if the less common situation of having a 17 year old engine that's only done 60k miles might change anything?
Crossing my fingers some clarity on the above!!
I've got a Ducato Maxi 3.0 from 2008, with about 60k miles (yes, 60k, an old council vehicle bought through auction..). I've put a lot of work into converting it into a camper (a few year ago now) and it gives me some well-needed space that I'm lacking at home. I'd like to maintain it in a way that keeps it running a long time (also in a financially economical way).
It's been slow starting over winter, and worse when colder (and faster starting when I've driven, stopped, and then started again). I had a broken engine mount a few months ago, so got that replaced, and I also stuck a new battery in it. The starter motor is about 4 years old now. I got a full service and was told the van is in very solid condition. I also asked the mechanic to check the glow plugs and yep, none of them were working. Also yep, all of them stuck. He managed to drill two out and then asked me if I wanted him to try to get the next two out or to essentially cash out at that point and stop there, with now two working glow plugs. He suggested I could try the van for a bit and see how it starts and that if it's ok starting then maybe it's better to leave the other two (not working) glow plugs in there (to avoid the risk involved in trying to get another two glow plugs out, with the worst-case scenario being one of them snapping and having to take the head off the engine). From reading other forum threads, I think maybe the glow plugs he's left in there are the ones that people say get more of the rainwater coming under the bonnet through the dodgy scuttle on Ducatos (I worked this rainwater issue out myself a couple years ago and tried to seal it all properly, but I'll definitely be checking/re-doing the silicon again soon!).
My knowledge of engines is fairly limited (trying to learn!), so I'd really appreciate some other opinions/knowledge... Particularly these two things (but please say if there's anything else important)...
1) The van is Euro 4. I think this means that glow plugs aren't used to regenerate the DPF in this model, so only having two working glow plugs out of four shouldn't affect the DPF in the long-term?
2) Only having two plugs means that only those two cylinders will fire at first, when starting the van, but that the other two cylinders will then be warmed up / moved (?) so that they also fire? It's not clear to me how long this delay would be in the other two cylinders firing, or how much of a problem this is in potential wear to the engine or other parts? Would it mean that fuel being injected into those two cylinders would not be getting burnt properly at first, and if so could this cause an issue over time?
3) In general, is it alright to stick with only two working glow plugs if the van isn't taking too long to start now?
I've picked up that it's good to turn the key until the glow plug light comes on and the off, then turn the van completely off, then turn the key again so the glow plugs come on a second time, to try to get a bit more warmth from the two glow plugs before cranking the engine. And also to let the engine tick over for maybe half a minute to let all the cylinders get going before driving off.
I know some of the general advice is to get all glow plugs replaced at the same time, but I'm wondering if the less common situation of having a 17 year old engine that's only done 60k miles might change anything?
Crossing my fingers some clarity on the above!!
- Model
- Ducato 35 Maxi 3.0 160 Multijet
- Year
- 2008
- Mileage
- 60000
