Hi all.

Never owned a diesel before this, so sorry if its a silly question.

When the start the car in below freezing temperatures, I get some funny noises from the engine for about 5 seconds after starting.

They are what I can best describe as knocking noises, like steel under stress or such like.

The car drives normally and when warmed up is fine.

Is this normal for a diesel in these temps?

I think you will be glad to hear this is perfectly normal

Partly due to increased fuel detonation when the glow plugs are on, and partly due to PD injectors causing cam lobe hammering.

On really cold mornings, it can sound like the death rattle you get when big ends have gone on a petrol engine.

i sometimes get the same, sounds like death rattle from a petrol as moggy said,

Same here, It was - 5 this morning

I find it is lessend on really cold mornings by giving the Glowplugs a 2nd Glow before starting Etc.

Cheers

Dean

Also found that a bit of Millers in some quality diesel like Shell, helps in winter to lessen the effect of the cold.

Edited 31 December, 200817 yr by Zebra
Extra info

I also get ths too.What a noise as well

It can be best described as the noise the Titantic made just before it let on water.

try leaving it an additional few seconds AFTER the glow plug light goes out before you turn the ignition. This morning the light stayed on for a lot longer than it has before.

My petrol sounds like a diesel on cold starts, probably an element of oil needing to get circulated around the head/valves. I always leave mine to idle for a bit before pulling a away to reduce engine wear.

I hate the noise when you start them up cold sounds so wrong but is all normal lol

mine wakes up the street when starting at 6am. As said I found using some good desial helped, if i use V-power the noise is less then normal shell fule. Don't know if it is me being paranoied but if i use ASDA desial it sounds worse.

Mine blue smokes for about a second when I start first thing in the morning

Yeh that sounds normal to me, I have noticed its a fair bit noisier on really cold mornings.

Blue, black, and white (condensation) smoke is all usual too, why I like my vRS even more! haha

Well I have the Pd130 in an Octy, high mileage, -8 here this morning, Tesco cheapest fuel, no strange noises today, or ever? Takes half a second more cranking when cold (as opposed to being an instant start) and sounds slightly more like a diesel, but thats it?

Another funny one today.

-3 celcius started the car.

turned the sidelight on and the rear foglight icon blinked on?!

Then the bulb out warning came on, turned all the lights on and got out for a look. All Ok.

Turned all lights off and sidelights back on and all back to normal...

strange.

Me thinks me car be haunted.

Another funny one today.

-3 celcius started the car.

turned the sidelight on and the rear foglight icon blinked on?!

Then the bulb out warning came on, turned all the lights on and got out for a look. All Ok.

Turned all lights off and sidelights back on and all back to normal...

strange.

Me thinks me car be haunted.

Sounds like low voltage at the battery, It can spuriously illuminate warning lights. When your battery has settled for a few hours get a battery/voltage tester across it to see if it is starting to age.

Dean

Yeah I think its on its way out.

I have a volt meter installed, and when turning the ignition on on cold mornings it only reads around 11.5v, when its -3.00 it reads about 10.

Alternator is fine as when the engine is running its a steady 14v.

Do you think now is a good time to replace the battery?

If so what are the best ones to go for? Oem? How much do they retail at?

Come to think of it, I have had an intermittent fault code for months now.

"Intermittent - Drive Battery Voltage Too Low"

Car is about 4 1/2 years old now, and I run aftermarket ICE so I suspect a new battery may be in order.

I would replace it, After all, it will probably get colder before it warms up any

I put a Banner Heavy Duty Battery on mine & got it for £59 from my local motor factors with a 4yr Defect Gaurantee Etc.

Cheers

Dean

Does anyone know what rating I need?

Ross mentioned in the other thread that something like a 61ah battery should suffice for TDI engines.

Does anyone know what rating I need?

Im sure from Memory, Mine was a Banner Power Bull 75 ah..

But looking from the below chart (Choose, Cars Etc- Manufacturer) the Uni-Bull appears to hava a Larger Amps Hour :confused: Yet the Power Bull is supposed to be more powerful...

Banner Batterien > Products > Product finder

Cheers

Dean

Edited 5 January, 200917 yr by dfullb