Fumes on cold mornings

[totty79]

If the engine is started from cold immediately after the glow plug light goes out and the air temp is under about 6 degrees I get really strong fumes that smell like part-burnt/un-burnt diesel.
If the air temperature is higher it's fine.
If I wait 10 to 15 seconds after the light goes out it's fine.
It doesn't have the other typical knackered glow plug symptoms, there's no smoke and it starts easily and runs smoothly.

Should I replace the glow plugs?
Or extend the glow plug time? (I've found a few guides for this online)

2012 1.6 TDI 108k

[karlos0891]

id replace the glow plugs. they are recommended to be changed at 40k-60k on most diesels. they glow all the time the engine is running but are electrically activated to assit with cold starting. most common rail engines can start without them but will smell and can have smoke on start up till they warm up a bit and get the cylinder temps high.

[totty79]

Tanks, I'll replace them.

[totty79]

Glow plugs replaced today, don't think I'll have wait long for a cold morning to see if it's resolved.

Took ages to get the muck out around them before removing.

[Ricksy1121]

Glow plugs replaced today, don't think I'll have wait long for a cold morning to see if it's resolved.

Took ages to get the muck out around them before removing.

Did this sort your problem? Iv noticed the same thing today

[Doc]

Is the top of your engine wet with fuel as if something is leaking? I've see this where the fuel spill pipe is leaking and pools fuel on top of the rocker cover when the engine is shut down. This fuel then runs onto the exhaust manifold when you set off in the morning.
Worth checking as it may save you some money in fuel.

[totty79]

It still smelt this morning, didn't seem as bad but it's hard to be sure.

Top of engine near filler is oily, but looks like a baked on spill. I'm going to decrease it and check that it doesn't come back.

Which pipe is the fuel spill pipe?

[Doc]

The spill off pipe is the rubber hose that comes off the top of the injectors.
The plastic fittings are very delicate and the rubber seals very easy to damage so don't remove them unless you have to.

[totty79]

Thanks, I'll take a closer look at those pipes without disconnecting them.

[totty79]

The spill off pipe looks and feels clean and dry, but I need to degrease the area below it before I can be sure there isn't a leak.

[Doc]

I found a can of carb cleaner and lots of kitchen paper worked well to tidy up any mess in that area.

[karlos0891]

carb cleaner and brake cleaner sure come in handy when cleaning and engine off as they both evapourate too as well as clean really well.

[totty79]

It's now clean around the injectors, I used Gunk, a sponge and a small paint brush. I've only done 8 mile so far but there are no signs of a leak, there was also no smell or fumes Saturday or this morning. I'll keep an eye on it for a while.

[totty79]

A week after cleaning and it's stayed dry around the injectors.
On the 2 or 3 coldest start-ups this week it has still smelt pretty bad but I do think the glow plugs improved it.

[Torpa]

A tought do you have an auxillary diesel heater?
What i can understand the Caddys in GB isn't equipped with them as a standard like they are here in Sweden but if you have one they can smell diesel fumes at startup and if you are standing still att idle the fumes come in trough the vents and if they are in need of service they can smell really bad.
The heater starts automatically from about 4°c.
Check behind your right front wheel if there is a exaust.
And when the heater starts up the idle rpm rises to 1000rpm.