The questions start! I know diesel's can't "skip" like a gas engine but when I fired mine up this morning, at 20 degrees. I had to keep my foot on the throttle and it "skiped" for awhile. It sounded just like a gas engine with a bad plug or wire. It also didn't idle to smooth the rpms shot up then down. I'm going to start with new oil, air, and fuel filters and take it from there. But what else could it be? A bad injector?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Probably something to do with the fuel system/filters. I know if you get air in the fuel system, it will run rough like that. When you change the spin-on fuel filter, you have to prime the engine with that built-in hand primer pump to get the air out. After doing that, when you crank/start the engine, it always runs poorly for a few seconds while the air makes its way through the system. It simulates a gas engine with an intermittent firing problem. You may have a small air leak somewhere.

A cold diesel engine does not alwasys 'catch' on all cylinders right away when started first thing. So the 'skiping' or missing (like in a gasser) you're hearing is the cylinder(s) that haven't began combustion yet. As you help the car stay running it will even out as heat build up in each cylinder. As was mentioned in other topics concerning cold weather starting, you will want to cycle through two to three glow cycles before engaging the starter as this will assure all glow plugs to be as hot as possible and help as many if not all cylinders 'fire' from the start.

Did the engine eventually smooth out once it was up to operating temp?

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So did it settle down once it ran for a few seconds? If so, then suspect a bad glow plug.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
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my .02 what you experienced is prolly normal. i try to keep mine on 1000 rpms for a minute or so after a cold start (below 32deg F).
i would be more concerned if what you describe was happening after full warmup - and full meaning more that 1/2 hour driving at these freezing temps.

agree to replace those filters so you will have a baseline to go by, if there were no records when it was done last.

good luck with the new wheels.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

my 81 240d was running terribly on cold starts even in the fall ... lots of skipping, smoking and very sluggish when getting under way. I knew it was time for three procedures. I adjusted valves, removed the injectors for a thorough cleaning, removed the gp and tested each one. Now even in the low temps we've been having in the n'east it starts much easier runs smooth and very little smoke. within a month of this maintenence, new fuel filters and air cleaner were installed. I must have picked up a bad tank of diesel, my primary fuel filter was clogged and starving the engine! never had that happen before and almost got me stuck. good luck, mark

Normal on a 603 engine. Let the glow plugs run 15 sec or so after the light goes out. Less miss and a lot less smoke. You can also put it in gear -- this adds load, so the cylinder heat up faster.

If it misses and pounds away for a minute or so, it probably has some weak glowplugs.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hatterasguy,

It seems common to older 603's.. there were many discussions on this. Some opinions seem to lead toward 1-many injectors loosing pressure over time (seals in the IP, bad injectors, ... other reasons) that need time to repressurize after startup. Most often in the cold weather. After 20-60 seconds all is well. They still start and run normally after a short time.

Chuck

I have the same problem and have had since I bought it. When started it misses on a cylinder until the rpm's reach 2000 then it smooths right out. At idle even warm it misses just a little less. I thought it was delivery valves, did those no help. Then I did the cracked head still no help. Checked the compression all checks good and balanced. Saw a service bulletin about jerk contol anybody no any thing.

BTW thanks everybody for the help with the head.

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87 300SDL 220K
85 300SD 218K
82 diesel Chevette 440K
85 subaru 4WD turbo
83 4.1L buick powered cutlass THE TOY

Yes it did even out after about 60 seconds. It smoked a lot. But it was 15 degrees and it hadn't run in a week. I will be getting the injectors tested, number 2 is leaking oil. It will also be getting new glow plugs and a new battery. Thanks, you guys are great.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200