Coughing on startup, bad fuel?

[Renasc]

Hello folk.

When I first bought my Bravo, I didn't notice any coughing on startup. Now it seems to cough and chug for about 10-15 seconds and I'm wondering if it's just bad fuel, or if there's something else going on.

I've been getting my fuel from the local Caltex/Woolworths servo. I'm going to stick a new airfilter in it tomorrow. Might start using that Low Sulphur Diesel from BP (about 5c more) to see if it's any different.

[Shonky]

Could be a fault in the glowplug circuit not heating the bores before starting, this will lead to chugging when starting from cold, does it cough still once the engine is warm?

If it's still coughing when the engine is warm the first place I'd be looking is at the fuel filter.

[BEU77Y]

Sounds like glow plug issue.
Try waiting for glow plug light to go off... turn ign off and on again to heat plugs again... maybe do it a third time just for fun... then start it.
If it starts fine then you may need to look at your glow plugs or timer circuit.
It's getting colder now and will show up problems quicker.

[bendobinson]

same thing happened with my td42t gu patrol never used to but cough only during winter and now it does everytime i start it but only for about 20 seconds if i rev it

[Courierman]

Renasc, you have to check if you are using anywater at all as the wlt motors have a minor problem and get a cracked head in the number 2/3. you pretty well know if you have a cracked head cause it coughs a bit even when you start it when it is warm.

if the coughing is only happening in the morning or when it is sitting a long time them it might be a glow plug.

anyway monitor the water to see if you are using any at all if so get it checked out for a cracked head.

[Pumbaa]

My troopy does the same. It starts fine, but coughs a bit after that for 20 seconds or so. Took it to Sydney diesel centre and they checked glowplugs and circuit, timing, injectors etc and all looks good. No problems anywear...It still does it though...

I'm a bit baffled at the moment, and a bit worried as well. We will be loading the troopy soon to start our rtw trip and it will be bloody cold where we going...

[Renasc]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Yeah, it only does it when starting cold, I usually wait for the glow plug light on the dash to go out before turning the key.

Other than that, it runs nicely. Not using any water.

I've got it booked in at the mechanics to have a few things done, I'll do the glow 3-times and see what happens, might get them to check the glow plug circuit as well.

[ChoppersGQ]

Could be a fault in the glowplug circuit not heating the bores before starting, this will lead to chugging when starting from cold, does it cough still once the engine is warm?

If it's still coughing when the engine is warm the first place I'd be looking is at the fuel filter.

I'm with shonky on this one.. i had the same problem with mine.. turned out it was a faulty injector nozzle and also a bad glow plug. But if you've had it looked over for injector probs, see if it is the glow plugs and while you're there check the fuel filter? can't be a bad thing to replace all 3, considering a fuel filter shouldnt cost more than about 10-20 bux.

Also, where abouts are you located in the world.. if you need new glow plugs i would say try a place in brisbane i use "Sunshine State 4wd Parts", they found the right plugs for me at $30 each and noone else could get them (cept nissan $79 a plug).

[tojo_runner]

my diesel 4runner does it in the mornings particulatly in winter. Ive put it down to being cold so I just let it idle for a minute or two before i drive off

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

This sort of thing can also be an air leak in the fuel lines either AT or AFTER the fuel filter! Often the culprit is the line that returns to the injector pump after the Injectors, cos that is often tucked away behind things and not noticed! OR you could be getting air into the top of the fuel filter thru perished fuel lines or an overtightened gasket on the fuel pump! Air can filter in thru perished lines that don't even leak under pressure, but if you fold the hose and can see 'crazy pave' type cracks in the surface, there is a chance that poor joints, or softened hose under the hose clamps, or the leaks mentioned before are letting air into the lines and therefore the injector pump whenever you stop the car for long periods! Any time that the obvious things check out and are OK, just like yours appear to be, Pumbaa; then it's time to start searching for an air leak or an old and perished line after the fuel filter!

One way to check for air in the fuel system is to look at the sight glass on the filter if you've got one, if you don't have one, consider getting one! OR if you don't have one of them and still need to find out NOW, try pumping the fuel primer pump until it's hard BEFORE you do anything else after it's sat for a couple of hours! IF you pump the primer pump and it seems to be doing nothing for a bit before getting harder, then there is a pretty good likelihood that you are getting air in the system somewhere! If you didn't have air in there, the pump should be fairly firm immediately, since the pump was full of fuel when you turned the car off, wasn't it?! So a soft pump for a few strokes is a warning, and if you can pump it up hard then start it without any coughing or spluttering, it's pretty much a giveaway!! You got air!!

Cheers! And good hunting!

[bendobinson]

just had my td42t gu tuned and it doesnt do it anymore! i go the boost cranked to 16 psi and turns out it was massviely over fueling from the bloke who tuned it last time even at 16psi it was stil over fueling a heap. it was aroundt he time i go it tuned last that it started doing it so its all good now.

cheers

[andy_beachbum]

could of been during the tuning they may have tighten your fuel lines or replaced your filter, my gq 4.2 did it in winter and it was a air leak in the fuel line to the filter.
common as hell