Forgot to allow the glow plug light to extinguish all last week, at -3°C or so ,and there was a couple of lumpy beats as the engine came up to idle.

Today at -4°C I let the light extinguish [after ~ 2 seconds] and the very temporary lumpiness was still there. No clouds of smoke in either case.

Should I be bothered?

Knowing how cold it is, I would be happy that it started at all

Given the fact a diesel engine relies solely on the temperature of compression to ignite the diesel I wouldn't be duly concerned in very cold weather, the hulking cast iron block will draw heat out of the bores for a short time which can make a derv cough a few times on startup. There is nothing to stop you doing a few glow plug cycles on really cold mornings provided your battery is in good nick.

Agree with dstev2000, give it a couple of glow plug cycles, I find it improves starting on a cold morning.

Edited 22 December, 200916 yr by stacon

Agree with dstev2000, give it a couple of glow plug cycles, I find it improves starting on a cold morning.

What is meant by a few Glowplug cycles? does this just involve turning the ignition on till glow plug light goes out, then off and on again a few times?

If so I'll give it a go, I didnt realise this would turn the glow plugs on again as I just assumed the glow plugs went off when a set temperature war raised, but I'll definatly give it a go

What is meant by a few Glowplug cycles? does this just involve turning the ignition on till glow plug light goes out, then off and on again a few times?

If so I'll give it a go, I didnt realise this would turn the glow plugs on again as I just assumed the glow plugs went off when a set temperature war raised, but I'll definatly give it a go

I'll jump in on this one.

You are correct, once the glow plug light goes off just turn the ignition off for a few seconds and repeat the process. It'll help the car start up quicker but may not cure the odd cough here and there thanks to the stone cold engine block.

As long as the coughing doesn't get any worse I wouldn't worry about it.

Mine always sounds like someone rattling a tin of spanners, when I start it in the cold (even after a couple of hours of engine block heater). I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Forgot to allow the glow plug light to extinguish all last week, at -3°C or so ,and there was a couple of lumpy beats as the engine came up to idle.

Today at -4°C I let the light extinguish [after ~ 2 seconds] and the very temporary lumpiness was still there. No clouds of smoke in either case.

Should I be bothered?

If you start the engine while the glow plug is still heating, you will damage the plug. I made the error on a few occasions with my Golf III TDi without damage, so appearantly it should only result in damage if you do this too often.

And my garage advised me to immediately ignate after the plug-light extinguishes rather than glow multiple times. In the past I waited 5 seconds and was experiencing starting problems. I tried the advice during extreme winter cold in the French Alpes and it proved to be true, start immediately after the plug-light dims and no more starting problems.

Mine splutters and misfires a little on the initial start up in this cold weather, a few revs soon clears it up.

Edited 27 December, 200916 yr by Browny_37