Slow to start

[bugs]

My 1999 Volvo 2020 diesel had been very quick to start early in the season when i bought the boat. 10 seconds with glow plugs and it started immediately. Lately its turning over quite a bit before it starts. Then quite a bit of smoke when it does start -clears quickly.
Any thoughts on where I might look first? tks

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[aztec]

heater plugs probably need changing.

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[Talbot]

also dirty injectors - suggest you add an injector cleaner to the mix.

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[dickh]

I have the Perkins Perama M20 - which is the same base engine as the VP 2020. I've never had problems starting except when the wire to the heater plugs broke in Holland, which was repaired very quickly by a local chandlery owner who let me raid his garage for wire.
It certainly sounds like a heater plug - remove the bar connecting the three plugs and try a continuity tester on each one, or take a live feed from your battery and just brush it across the terminal. If it's OK you will see a spark; if no spark it's no good. For spares, compare prices with Perkins prices - they may be cheaper, and are almost certainly identical.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Evadne]

The smoke would be explained by turning the engine over a lot before it finally fired, i.e. unburnt fuel. The problem you are looking at is inadequate ignition when cold. This could be due to (inter alia):
a) Duff glow plugs
b) Gunk in the fuel
c) corrosion at the pre-combustion chamber of injector.

I'd look firstly to see that any water or condensation from the tank isn't getting past the primary filter. If it is, and there's a lot of it, it may have damaged or obstructed the injector(s). Then check that there aren't any diesel bugs blocking the filters. Then make sure the glow-plugs are working. Then come back and ask a few more questions if you need to.

One small word of advice is not to be complacent, as this is invariably expensive in the long run, speaking from long and heartfelt experience. If you feel something is not quite as it should be, but your inexperience prevents you from putting your finger on it, don't ignore it, assume it is a problem and track it down. You listen to every beat of your engine and if it changes you are the first to notice. Early diagnosis is the cheapest form of maintenance and what sounds right is usually running right. Good luck.



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[neil_s]

It might be worth checking the battery before getting too far into dismantling the engine. It may well have had a hard life, been left flat, etc.

I haven't any experience with the Volvo engine, but the BMC 2.2 was always very particular about the wiring to the heater plugs - it had to be top notch at all times to get reliable starting because the plugs were all wired in series. One out - all out!

Good luck! Neil

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