6,2 suddenly wouldn't start today.

[Jakob]

Hey there. This morning I tried to start my '83 G20 van with the 6,2D, with no luck. I haven't had time to do much trouble-shooting yet, since I'm not into these engines (I'm located in northern Europe). I wonder if you experts could give any advice on how to do basic troubleshooting before I eventually have to hand it over to a tech.

This is what happens:
- It's a manual glow switch, so I glow it 8, 4, 4 secs like normal. The voltage gauge drops a bit so I guess at least some of the plugs work. The first thing I'll do is to check the plugs, but I doubt that's the problem.
- It cranks like normal, slow IMO but that's maybe how these engines crank, there's two new Optima red tops in it so this shouldn't be the problem.
- It fires occasionally, and white-ish smoke comes out when it fires. It fires more often when the batteries are fresh and it cranks fast.
- I suspect there is/have been water in the fuel tank, I've added some anti-condenser, but this does not seem to solve the problem. The "water in fuel" lamp does not lit up.

It may be the fuel system, but I'm not very happy about troubleshoot this. The diesel pump (mechanical) was changed a few years ago (maybe last year when I bought it). I've not had any problems with the engine except bad batteries (before I changed them), but it has always been a slow-starter.

[DmaxMaverick]

White smoke = fuel, but too little heat. You have too few GP's heating, the cranking speed is too slow (100 RPM+), or compression is low. Things to check:

Battery condition. Even if they are new, they could be discharged.

Starter. They wear out.

Electrical connections. New batteries and good starter are no good if they can't connect. Check/clean the + and ground connections.

Glow plugs. Some engines will fire with only a couple good, others require more. It all depends on the condition of the whole package. Check the plugs and replace any that are bad.

Pump timing. By itself can cause hard starting. High mileage engines may need the pump advanced a little to compensate for a worn chain. Replacement is better, but you can buy some time with a minor adjustment.

Any combination of the above can/will cause issues. Eliminate them one at a time, but they all should be checked.

[john8662]

Hello there!

Sounds like a couple of things could be causing you grief...

First, it's been starting, then all-of-a-sudden it won't, I'd suspect something electrical, could be plugs.

They can and will fail suddenly (like a light bulb in some ways), so it could be one more bit the dust and it's making it difficult to start.

Start testing plugs.

All you need is a simple test light and some time. Connect the lead of your test light to a 12V + source on the van. Then unplug each glow connector individually and touch the tip of the test light to the prong on the plug. If your light illuminates, it's likely a good plug.

Replace all that have failed.

After you get it running, you can do some service, like replace fuel filters, but not before, because it could make the problem worse (for the time being).

J

[Jakob]

It cranks about 2-300RPM at fully charged batteries so this shouldn't be the problem. Will check the plugs tomorrow.

If it turns out to be water in fuel, how much cranking does it take to get rid of it if all the fuel lines are full of it?

[john8662]

The '83 Van has two fuel filters.

The PRIMARY fuel filter is the water filter, it's underneath the van near the differential, usually equipped with a petcock on the filter and the base.

Check for water there first.

Then, check your filter on the back of the engine. I'd suggest removing the filter in such a way that allows you to keep the fuel in the filter.

Then drain the filter into a clear container small enough for the fuel to settle and have the water separate at the bottom (if you have water).

If you're good here, then call yourself lucky.

If the system is waterlocked (IP and injectors), I can't think of a way to remove this other than removing the top of the injection pump and sucking out all the water/fuel, and re-installing and letting fill back up with fresh fuel when available.

But..

Let's go down this road when we get there?

J

[Jakob]

Changed four of the plugs today, one read 12 ohms and the rest were completely dead. Then it started pretty good. It's kind of strange because I don't believe 4 plugs have gone bad just over the night. Maybe it was the bad plugs combined with something else.

[NH2112]

I had a set of glow plugs go out on me last fall, inside of a week it went from starting right up with a glow as long as the seatbelt buzzer to requiring a minute or so and barely starting.