Starting problems

[SimonA]

I have a BMC diesel engine. While out yesterday I found the engine did not want to start on a couple of occasions. It stuttered and run at low revs for a few seconds before cutting out. After a few attempts (and opening the throttle) it started with a big cloud of smoke and lots of soot and unburnt diesel.

Strange thing is it started fine when first setting off and only did this when the engine was hot.

I recently changed the fuel filters, so don't think it's dirty diesel. Any ideas?

 

[peterb26]

There are far better engineers on here than me - but I would suggest that to start with you check the fuel filters for being completely airtight.

This is on the presumption that the problem didnt exist before you changed the filters.

By and large, diesels (particularly low-tech diesels like yours) will run if fuel gets through to the cylinders. So you have to assume that something was preventing the fuel circulation and its normally air.

 

[oldharry]

Air in the fuel. Check your filter seals to start with.