Xsara 98 1.9TD estate grumpy this morning

DingleBerry · 6 Nov 2007 at 13:39

It took me four attempts to get the damnable bus to start this morning, its normally OK on the first attempt, although it does tend to miss fire a bit before it gets warmed up. I've never had a diesel before this one. Does it sound like the glow plugs are getting a bit past it. The only other thing I can think of is compression which isn't beyond the bounds of possibility because the oil's not been changed for 2 years at least (and yes it is on my todo list).

DingleBerry · 6 Nov 2007 at 15:32

Bill101 said:
The oil should have been changed 4 times by now!

Yup, wasn't my car then though, we've only had it a couple of weeks. It was free from my girlfriends parents so we can't really complain. They didn't change the oil when they had it so it might have been even longer. Its a wonder its still going really seeing as it was driving from gatwick airport to cambridge and back everyday for about a year.

DingleBerry · 7 Nov 2007 at 12:02

its done 150k so its a bit past being pampered with top quality parts! I'll pop over to the motor factors this afternoon. Any idea what grade oil it takes. Helpfully it has been divorced from its hand book.

DingleBerry · 8 Nov 2007 at 10:44

Ah well I've got the cheapy motorfactor ones now. 150k probably is just run in....if its been looked after enough. This hasn't!

Changed the oil last night, good lord it was opaque. Found a massive oil leak from somewhere though. The bottom of the engine/gearbox behind the sump is COVERED in black sludge. Fun fun! The new oil is already black, but I guess its an improvement. I wasn't brave enough to do a flush, god knows what might have happened.

Citron have also kindly hidden the glow plugs under the intercooler. Which incidentally has a horrible oily sludgy black mess on what I presume to be a breather. Not to mention the horrible slimy black mess in front of the oil filler. I'm hoping that's just from inept filling.

Its a damn good job this was a free car!