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jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

2.4 wont start in cold temperatures

First up, apologies if this is addressed elsewhere, but couldn't seem to find an answer via search.

I'm having issues getting my engine started in cold weather (2.4). By cold, I'm talking -15 to -20. The car is parked in a covered garage complex, so probably shielded from the worst of it but its still pretty chilly in there.

I've tried cycling the glow plugs, as sometimes after 2/3 cycles it will fire up. At the moment, now we're closer to -20 here in Estonia, it's refusing entirely to fire.

Research suggests checking voltage to glow plugs, or replacing the glow plugs entirely. Keen to understand whether anyone else has run into the issue and has any advice.

Last edited by jf_est on 6th Jan 2024 10:23am. Edited 1 time in total

6th Jan 2024 9:58am

Kev the Rev

Member Since: 04 Jun 2023
Location: Ripon
Posts: 32

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Keswick Green

When you said "cold" I thought you meant the engine had cooled down. I think -20 is more than "cold"
I don't think my car would even turn over at that temperature.
What point does diesel freeze? I guess they must put stuff in the diesel there to stop it freezing
Hope you get it sorted

6th Jan 2024 10:12am

jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

Hah! Yes, I should have clarified in the title perhaps.

I think the fuel does begin to gel around -10, so that could also be an issue. There's anti-gel solutions you can buy at the local auto parts store, but I'm not sure how keen I am on chucking a load of additive into the tank if its not the issue.

6th Jan 2024 10:20am

andy63

Member Since: 30 Jun 2023
Location: north east
Posts: 513

Never experienced those sort of temp, but from the reading I've done it is important that your fuel is suitable for those temp and wax free..
Assuming you are free of water in the system is there any way you can pre heat or warm the filter as that's going to be your weak point in terms of blockage..

6th Jan 2024 12:10pm

nicolas0505

Member Since: 23 Dec 2020
Location: briançon
Posts: 79

hello

I don't know the diesel fitrability limit in your country, in France we have -15 for normal diesel and premiums -21. The fuel filter should already be drained to see if there is any water, we also recommend keeping the tank as full as possible to avoid condensation inside.

6th Jan 2024 12:48pm

jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

Thanks for the advice. We're set for some much milder weather in the coming days so I'll see if I can check the filter for water, and fill up with some arctic diesel at the local gas station. They tend to stock it from December onwards.

6th Jan 2024 12:57pm

markb110

Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2630

In those areas that have those cold temperatures could you not get a block heater?

I used to see them all the time when visiting Minneapolis.

6th Jan 2024 5:43pm

jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

I have thought about a block heater, but I'm not confident where I'd get one. Might reach out to the local parts specialist to see if they can advise on one. I've got power to my parking space, so it should be feasible to plug an electric one in if I can get one for the car.

6th Jan 2024 5:46pm

Race.it

Member Since: 27 Aug 2019
Location: Algeciras
Posts: 816

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Alaska White

Some race cars use a small heater/pump to warm up the block before cranking they are electric and normally powered by an external battery. It’s really just a pump and heater element maybe if you can wire in one of them? Searching for my first Defender...and started just as Covid hit, so talk about timing.

5 months after starting the search I found it, and here is the details

6th Jan 2024 6:08pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20347

If you are looking for a block heater then Amazon USA probably may have something, they are good for international but not cheap and should deliver to your country?
Also, if you can only get standard diesel, try running permanently with a trusted brand of fuel additive such as Millers diesel additive, which will have a higher Cetane rating and also should help prevent the diesel thickening so much at really cold temperatures. (And help prevent sludge and diesel bug etc).

You might want to get it plugged in and see if the glow plugs are showing any faults.

I realise, that depending on where you are supply may be an issue, but some of these things may help to prevent further issues in future.

Also, keep an eye on the battery voltage and what it’s sitting at, at rest.
It shouldn’t be lower than 12.6v and definitely not lower than 12.2v to start in temperatures as low as that.
Possibly a portable jump start pack maybe of use, that you can charge up indoors and take out.
Which will give you that extra CCA and voltage boost. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

Last edited by custom90 on 6th Jan 2024 8:32pm. Edited 1 time in total

6th Jan 2024 8:21pm

jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

Really appreciate that advice. I think I'll start with a conditioner for the battery, just to ensure it's looked after when the temperatures really drop. I've got a terminal point just under the hood so should be easy to keep connected.

Fortunately, theres a lot of auto parts stores near me with all sorts of additive choices. I'll try adding some additive, and topping off the tank with arctic diesel tomorrow. Once the milder weather comes next week I'll try giving it a good run.

Amazon is a bit hit a miss here, we usually have to order from Germany, but thankfully it seems the big agri-industry here has a lot of block heater options for tractors. I'll have to look at whether any of these would be suitable for the Defender.

Thanks for the suggestions!

6th Jan 2024 8:28pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17372

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

There are heaters that plumb into the coolant lines and preheat the engine, either diesel fuelled or electric, and to cope with temps like that I'd be inclined to fit one. I also have a distant memory (and I'm going back more than ten years) of a discussion on this forum of an LR mod for the 2.4 to address ultra-cold starting, something like an electric heater in one of the breather lines or similar. When I get the time I'll hunt for the thread.

6th Jan 2024 8:28pm

jf_est

Member Since: 12 Nov 2023
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 25

Ah thank you! Curious to see what that thread suggests.

I think plumbing something in on the coolant lines sounds like a solid approach! Thanks for the suggestion.

6th Jan 2024 8:31pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20347

Blackwolf - Was that a Webasto system? Rings a bell to me, but wasn’t something I was following at the time, so I don’t know much about it. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

6th Jan 2024 8:34pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17372

Webasto is one of the makers of diesel-fuelled heaters, and a Webasto preheated was an option on the TD5 Disco 2. I know that there are folk who've fitted D2 heaters to Defenders. There are Chinesium versions available which supposedly are acceptable too.

Might be worth searching the forum for "webasto".

6th Jan 2024 8:39pm

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