My 300D-T Just put new glow plugs in. Cold start:She fires right up runs smooth for about 5 seconds then rough for 20-30 seconds depending on ambient temps. Sometimes it take one or two tries to get her to run past the rough time. After about 30 seconds running she smoothes and runs fine. By the way she is a high mileage old steed.
Any idears? Should I just thank my lucky stars that she runs at all?

__________________
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)

axlechassis,

The engine probably has low compression in some cylinders and when the GP cool off, it miss fires until the cylinders warm up.

If it starts OK and runs OK when hot, drive it as is. It may last a long time until the engine needs to be overhauled.

P E H

thanks yea asside from the minor cold starting glitch hot starting and running are fine. Oil comsumption is fairly normal about 6-700 miles to the quart and some of that is going out the rear main seal.
I will see some white smoke out the exhaust if I let it idle for more than 5 minutes but clears out right away driving.

I was kind off suspecting it was getting a little air in the fuel system after shutdown. But there are no noticeable fuel leaks while running.

__________________
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)

They dont leak fuel when there is a hole. They suck air when there is a hole. You have to find some way to PUSH fuel thru the hoses to be able to "see" fuel leaks. For example a temporary elec. fuel pump plumbed into the system way back by the tank. Turn it on and inspect all the lines closely. Don't even need to start the car.

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"Know other lessons I need to learn? TELL me. Tired of learning'em the hard way".

Glow Plug Wait: [i} Time of silence in homage Rudolph Diesel. Longer you own a diesel. more honor you give". [/i]

Life; SNAFU Situation Normal All Fouled Up, & FUBAR: Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

-Now: Snafued Jeep TJ w/OM617 2Be daily driver & building SS M1079 w/Ambo boxed /live in Adv. Truck, Diesel KLR conversion
-Sold 62 UNIMOG Camper w/617 Turbo, 85 300SD

I'm curious about this as well. I think I have the same exact symptoms. Before I started messing with the injectors in my car, my car would start rough and even take a few extra glow periods to get it to start and run. Now it starts OK and runs without any stumbling for a few seconds after starting but starts to stumble as well but then it smooths out after idling rough for about a minute or so. I know, according to my service records, that my compression in #5 is a bit lower than the rest of the cylinders.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012