Diesel Engine Vehicles - Dashboard Warning Lights

[ThaiLife]

Ive only ever had Two Diesel vehicles an old Ford Escort Van and my Current new pickup, my Thai neighbor came to show me his new Diesel pickup, and we went for a ride in it, one thing that struck me was , he just got straight into the pickup, turned the ignition key and off we went . My point is this .. when I get into my Diesel vehicle, I put the ignition key in the lock, turn it and a set of instrument warning lights , light up on the dashboard, I then wait a few seconds for 3 the warning lights to go off, then I turn the ignition key and start the engine, where as my Thai neighbor just put the ignition key straight in the lock, and started the engine. I seem to remember way back about waiting for some warning lights to go off before starting a Diesel engine , have I got this wrong some where ..?

Thanks

TL

[bifftastic]

Ive only ever had Two Diesel vehicles an old Ford Escort Van and my Current new pickup, my Thai neighbor came to show me his new Diesel pickup, and we went for a ride in it, one thing that struck me was , he just got straight into the pickup, turned the ignition key and off we went . My point is this .. when I get into my Diesel vehicle, I put the ignition key in the lock, turn it and a set of instrument warning lights , light up on the dashboard, I then wait a few seconds for 3 the warning lights to go off, then I turn the ignition key and start the engine, where as my Thai neighbor just put the ignition key straight in the lock, and started the engine. I seem to remember way back about waiting for some warning lights to go off before starting a Diesel engine , have I got this wrong some where ..?

Thanks

TL

Some diesel engines have glow plugs to heat the fuel before ignition, one of the warning lights you refer to may be a glow plug light, check your manual and see if your engine has glow plugs, if it does it's better to wait till it goes out before starting the engine.

Your neighbours truck may use a different way of pre-heating the fuel before ignition.

[ThailandLovr]

That reminds me of my first "diesel" (if it deserves to be called as such). It was a 1978 Cadillac Seville with the optional new diesel engine. It was actually a converted gasoline engine design, a 350 c.i. V8 I believe, which cost GM tens of millions in warranty repairs over the years until it was finally dropped.

Anyway, that car had two 12 volt batteries. I lived in a cold climate at the time, and I remember in the winter I would have to wait quite some time, up to several minutes, just for the glowplug lights to indicate it was ok to (attempt) to start.

What an incredible lemon of an engine that was for GM/Cadillac. Far worse than the 8-6-4 abomination which (in theory) had up to 4 cylinders shut down based on engine load conditions to supposedly save on fuel.

Edited October 23, 2009 by ThailandLovr

[BSJ]

Seriously, exactly where in Thailand do you need glow plugs to start a diesel engine? The heat needed to promote combustion is created by the high compression ratio in a diesel engine.

[katabeachbum]

That reminds me of my first "diesel" (if it deserves to be called as such). It was a 1978 Cadillac Seville with the optional new diesel engine. It was actually a converted gasoline engine design, a 350 c.i. V8 I believe, which cost GM tens of millions in warranty repairs over the years until it was finally dropped.

Anyway, that car had two 12 volt batteries. I lived in a cold climate at the time, and I remember in the winter I would have to wait quite some time, up to several minutes, just for the glowplug lights to indicate it was ok to (attempt) to start.

What an incredible lemon of an engine that was for GM/Cadillac. Far worse than the 8-6-4 abomination which (in theory) had up to 4 cylinders shut down based on engine load conditions to supposedly save on fuel.

GMs 5,7 V8 diesel was one of the worst dieselengines ever, 1978-1982. They just replaced the top and fuelsystem on their 350 gas engine. I belive non of them run more than 70k miles or 3 years, and the autoboxes had problem handling the tourque.

glowing for two minutes and attempt to start is a great way of saying how they (didnt) work

It was replaced by a 6,2 Detroit diesel.

[katabeachbum]

Ive only ever had Two Diesel vehicles an old Ford Escort Van and my Current new pickup, my Thai neighbor came to show me his new Diesel pickup, and we went for a ride in it, one thing that struck me was , he just got straight into the pickup, turned the ignition key and off we went . My point is this .. when I get into my Diesel vehicle, I put the ignition key in the lock, turn it and a set of instrument warning lights , light up on the dashboard, I then wait a few seconds for 3 the warning lights to go off, then I turn the ignition key and start the engine, where as my Thai neighbor just put the ignition key straight in the lock, and started the engine. I seem to remember way back about waiting for some warning lights to go off before starting a Diesel engine , have I got this wrong some where ..?

Thanks

TL

Starting any engine, diesel, gas or bike, I wait until computers and lights are done.

Glowing diesel is not really needed in LOS, but engine runs cleaner and smoother just after start up so why not?

[imaneggspurt]

Old deisels need glowing from a cold start, the new generation commonrails dont, just turn the key and go,.

[H2oDunc]

If the new diesel engines did not require pre heaters / glow plugs then the manufacturers would not fit them. as they do I would wait for the pre heat light to go out before starting as it makes the initial firing easier and cleaner. It is only a couple of seconds anyway

[ThaiLife]

This is the warning indicator I wait for to go out before I start the engine .

Ive never seen the preheat indicator Not come On , even if I get back into the pickup while the engine is still hot

TL

[BSJ]

Ive never seen the preheat indicator Not come On , even if I get back into the pickup while the engine is still hot TL

Which would indicate that the circuit is faulty or it was originally designed like that. Glow plugs are only needed when it's below 5 degreesC.

[crazyswede]

Must be technology?

[Thongkorn]

Seriously, exactly where in Thailand do you need glow plugs to start a diesel engine? The heat needed to promote combustion is created by the high compression ratio in a diesel engine.

Not necessarily true you need heat to make starting easier and you may have condensation in the piston Bores , also if you have clutch put your foot down on it while you start your engine , it helps it ,it takes the strain of the Engine a Little. If its a new Vehicle the lights are the Engine management system re booting. The Engine once started will only take what Diesel it needs , the rest returns to your tank, Warmed, making running easier and more efficient , IE miles to the Gallon.

[Gary A]

A friend of mine has an old Mitsubishi worn out turbo diesel. If he doesn't allow the glow plugs three complete cycles it won't start. I suspect the engine doesn't have enough compression to start without the heat from the glow plugs.

My NON turbo NON commonrail Nissan starts easily with or without waiting for the heater light to go out.