The best way to turn the crank is to use a 27mm socket on the crankshaft pulley nut. Only turn this nut as though you are doing it up - so standing in front of the engine looking at it (looking towards the back of the car) you turn it clockwise.

If you find that the compression hinders your progress it is safe to remove each of the glow plugs from the cylinders. Do not remove the injectors unless you plan on replacing the heat shields as these are a fit only once items.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!