Unscientific observations starting a 606 with one glow plug out

[Chris W.]

At an approximate engine temperature of 38F, the car starts just fine on 5 cylinders, but runs very rough until the dead cylinder starts to fire.

It takes 4 or 5 seconds for the cylinder to start to fire, even once, under these conditions, it fires very intermittently, and it nails loudly when firing.

It takes another 10-15 seconds to start to fire continuously, still nailing loudly.

Much smoke is emitted until continuous firing occurs.

Normal firing with no nailing takes another 30-40 seconds, a bit shorter if the car is driven gently.

At an approximate engine temperature of 62F, the car starts just fine on five and the dead cylinder begins firing/nailing within 1-2 seconds, and continuous firing occurs after perhaps 5 seconds, still nailing.

At an approximate engine temperature of 80F, the car starts just fine on all cylinders, with mild nailing on the one cylinder, which disappears completely within 10 seconds.

Thank you, I now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 366K

[TMAllison]

As soon as its started put it in reverse and back up 10' at idle, then slip it in nuetral and roll the rest of the way out of the garage.

Mine instantly starts to fire on its dead #6 after doing that. I have no idea what going in gear changes, but it does something and it evens out and stops smoking for soem reason.

My #6 has been dead for 2 months. Is half rounded off and won't come out. Now have to get a smog check so its time to get the breaker bar out and finish the job one way or another......joy.

[martureo]

I bought the 1995 E300 advertised on here awhile back by another poster from Tyler. One GP was still in the head and due to a poor attempt at drilling it out it has been left in the now marred head.

My wife has been driving it since we acquired it in February, cold starts and all. Never had a problem starting it on 5 cylinders. Yep, it knocks a bit on startup and smokes for a few until it's warmed up.


...but I can say that every car I own starts on 5 cylinders when cold

[JimmyL]

When I bought my '95 it had two dead glow plugs, and much below 40 degrees it took quite a bit of crankin for it to finally catch. Actually, it helped me knock about $500 off the purchase price!
After I changed them, that OM606 is just a pleasure!!
Make sure engine is hot when you go to remove the glow plugs. Turn it off and work fast!!

[Jeremy5848]

The only change in the '96 is that it smoked for a few seconds after starting on the two occasions when one glow plug failed. If not for that we would never have known. I presume the '95 will be the same but haven't had a GP failure yet.

Jeremy

[Jeremy5848]

Glow plug #5 failed a few days ago in Salt Lake City. Starting at 18F was as Chris described it in the OP. Plugging in the block heater overnight temporarily solved the problem. Now that we're home again I can replace #5, hopefully without removing more than the crossover pipe.

Jeremy

[pawoSD]

Seems like a long time for it to start firing at cold temps....when my 617 had a dead plug in 30F weather, it still started ok and the cold cylinder was firing within under 3-5 seconds and smooth by 7-10 or so....

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

When I bought my '95 it had two dead glow plugs, and much below 40 degrees it took quite a bit of crankin for it to finally catch. Actually, it helped me knock about $500 off the purchase price!
After I changed them, that OM606 is just a pleasure!!
Make sure engine is hot when you go to remove the glow plugs. Turn it off and work fast!!

Call me crazy but I took off the mechanical cooling fan and let the engine roast to about 100C with manifold removed, I then started unscrewing the plugs with the engine running. Did that for every plug - they really become easy when the gauge is about 100~105C.

btw - as soon as I started to unscrew it - I shut it off and worked on getting the plug out and new in. Repeat for each cylinder.