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[Turk]

Last few mornings the old barge has been somewhat reluctant to start. Plenty of life in the battery, turns over and over happily enough but just won't catch. Fuel tank is almost full, so it's not the submersible pump (though that needs doing, takes a few cranks to fire up if "Range" showing less than 175 miles)
Loosening the hose from filter to engine block so that it bypasses the air filter does the trick and she fires up. A few weeks ago I cleaned my Pipercross filter and re-oiled it.

Could I have gummed up some sensor with excess oil misting over it and now it's colder it's starting to play up, and if so, where is it, and can it be cleaned ?

[dieseldean]

if it isn't glow plugs check fuel lines for leak allowing fuel to flow back, it only takes a pin hole to cause it.

[Omegatoy]

dues sound like a drain back problem,
had one omega i couldnt cure this on so fitted a pug hdi straight ended priming pump into the main fuel feedline in engine compartment, as when pumped up it has a non return valve in it this cured the difficult starting when cold and was an easy mod , two years later and the car is still running like this and is still an instant starter from cold

[Turk]

Yep, non-rtn valve is worth fitting, but why does it fire up as soon as the air filter hose is dis-connected and it's sucking in clean air ?

[dieseldean]

Yep, non-rtn valve is worth fitting, but why does it fire up as soon as the air filter hose is dis-connected and it's sucking in clean air ?
 

hose with the maf sensor?

[Turk]

Are you asking do I mean the hose with the MAF sensor, or is that a suggestion it could be the MAF ?
Please see last two paragraphs of my initial post.

[dieseldean]

bypasing filter could bypass the maf. try just unplugging maf before bypassing filter. not sure of year of your 25td but early ones got no maf any way

[Turk]

It's a '00.
I was thinking maybe the MAF has been gummed up by the Filter Oil, after I cleaned and re-oiled the filter a few weeks ago.
Once I take off the hose and the air is going direct rather than thru the filter box, she fires up ok.
How would I clean it, brake cleaner ok ?  

I reckon the non rtn valve would be worth doing anyway. I have one on my '94 Elite. That's not going anywhere in a hurry anymore. I'm using it for spares now.

[Turk]

Cleaned the MAF sensor and fitted a non return valve today and it feels like it's running better.  Not sure if it's sorted the poor cold starting issue. I'll know by 8:30am though.    

[Turk]

Well, got in the barge at 8:30am this morning...and finally got it started at 8:45am. Even though it feels that it's running better after cleaning the MAF and fittingthe non-rtn valve...it certainly didn't cure the starting issue. So, another afternoon off was arranged for today and the Glo-plugs were next on the agenda.
The old ones were sooty black when I got them out, and obviously not doing their thing.
Again, 8:30am 2moro will be the test but I'm a bit more confident it's sorted now.

[Pitchfork]

Well, got in the barge at 8:30am this morning...and finally got it started at 8:45am. Even though it feels that it's running better after cleaning the MAF and fittingthe non-rtn valve...it certainly didn't cure the starting issue. So, another afternoon off was arranged for today and the Glo-plugs were next on the agenda.
The old ones were sooty black when I got them out, and obviously not doing their thing.
Again, 8:30am 2moro will be the test but I'm a bit more confident it's sorted now.

Fit Beru glow-plugs circa £11 ea
These are BMW OEM. Do not go for the cheap ones on e-bay

[Turk]

I fitted NGK's. The ones I took out were Lucas

[Turk]

Yep, new Glo-plugs did the trick.
I've had the car since Aug '07 and it's starting better than it's ever done. Ready for winter now...bring it on !
Thanx to all for the input and advice.