OM616 Turbo starting problem

[rrnsss]

I have a turbo charged OM616 (FT2400) engine, manufactured under licence from MB. It has 18500 Km on the odo.


There seems to be a peculiar problem with my Car.


Every day before I leave for office, I come down to the basement start my car , then go up and fetch my computer and lunch bag before I leave for office. This way I let it idle for four to five minutes.


After I have not started my car for 2 or 3 days, when I start it up, it starts instantly and starts running. But by the time I go up and come back down, the engine shuts off. When I try to re start the engine, it takes atleast five or six attempts. I have to crank and play with the gas pedal...then crank and try again ...etc . Even then the engine sputters and gives out a bit of black smoke, and does not respond to the throttle for about 30 seconds to a minute.

Then the engine seems to run smoothly.

This has happened twice so far and on both occassions my Diesel tank was near to empty.

It has never happened to me when I am using my car daily no matter how low the fuel is.