Bongo Fury

Hi
My 1995 2.5TD Bongo started smoking on a cold start up at the beginning of the year.
I replaced the glow plugs (I think that I paid about £40 for 4 on eBay) and the problem seemed to be fixed.
About 3 months later though, the smoke returned (along with a lumpy idle) for the first few seconds of a cold start up.

I decided to replace the glow plugs again (with even cheaper £23 for 4, again from eBay) glow plugs last weekend.
Again, the problem seemed to be fixed - no smoke and smooth idle.
This time, 8 days later and the smoke and lumpy idle have returned !

Should I buy better quality glow plugs, or do I have an underlying problem that is causing the glow plugs to fail so quickly ?

Help appreciated !

Thanks
Phil

what makes did you buy before, are they long plugs or short ones, how old is the starter battery.

What colour is the smoke? Grey would be consistent with unburnt diesel, white indicates coolant in the cylinders and blue is likely to be oil.

Do the revs start quite high and then drop down gradually? That would indicate the cold start solenoid is working correctly.

Might be worth connecting up a multimeter to measure the voltage between the supply rail and chassis. You are looking for round about 11 Volts rather than 12 (as I understand it based on recent forum discussion).

Hi
Thanks for the replies.

Plugs are long ones and starter battery is pretty new.
Just checked the boxes - branded Ace activ CP-60 - made in Taiwan.

Smoke is grey and smells of unburnt diesel.
The engine has actually never used a drop of coolant in 2 years of ownership.

Revs are low and lumpy for the first few seconds and then fine.

As soon as I fitted the new plugs, you could immediately hear the difference in idle and no smoke at all.

Just cheap plugs, relay or something else ?

When you removed the plugs and tested them were they in fact duff. If so contact the seller for a refund,

I've put the Ace Active CP-60's in a Bongo before (customer supplied).... within a week... a new set were going in... he got some "dual burn" ones of a make I can't remember..... That Bongo was a long plug type.
He wouldn't go for the short NGK's with me to mod the glow plug rail.... yer pays yer money and takes yer choice

mikexgough wrote:I've put the Ace Active CP-60's in a Bongo before (customer supplied).... within a week... a new set were going in... he got some "dual burn" ones of a make I can't remember..... That Bongo was a long plug type.
He wouldn't go for the short NGK's with me to mod the glow plug rail.... yer pays yer money and takes yer choice

When you removed the plugs and tested them were they in fact duff. If so did you or your Customer contact the seller for a refund.

teenmal wrote:

mikexgough wrote:I've put the Ace Active CP-60's in a Bongo before (customer supplied).... within a week... a new set were going in... he got some "dual burn" ones of a make I can't remember..... That Bongo was a long plug type.
He wouldn't go for the short NGK's with me to mod the glow plug rail.... yer pays yer money and takes yer choice

When you removed the plugs and tested them were they in fact duff. If so did you or your Customer contact the seller for a refund.

Yes, 3 of them were and he was going to get a refund....... The replacements were "Genesis" brand I believe.... still okay today as far as I am aware

Thanks guys for the replies

I've been offered a full refund also.

I'll order a decent set this time.
Any recommendations of brands and where to get them would be most welcome.
I also need the long 102mm type.

I actually have a set of short plugs, but when I started to modify the plug rail, I changed my mind as it was too close to the fuel or oil pipe.

Cheers
Phil

Why not get them from the club shop as you know they will be good quality.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/merchandise5.htm#Plugs

I'm having a similar thing at the moment. Slightly lumpy idle for the first 5secs or so & a puff of greyish smoke on pull away for the first minute or so of running, after this all clean, but then I am using 25% veg oil & the mornings are colder.

Hi
Sorry for not updating the post.
I've been away on holiday for a couple of weeks.
I fitted a set of decent plugs (£50) and so far so good.

They've only been in a few weeks, and I e only done 500 miles or so, but fingers crossed they'll last a bit longer.

Mark Elvin wrote:I'm having a similar thing at the moment. Slightly lumpy idle for the first 5secs or so & a puff of greyish smoke on pull away for the first minute or so of running, after this all clean, but then I am using 25% veg oil & the mornings are colder.

That would do it

Even on straight diesel, I've adopted a habit of waiting for glow plug light to go out, instant start with no throttle, leave it running for a minute before moving off. Throttling or loading engine (even by turning wheel on full lock as power steering causes load) straight after starting in cold weather, can induce misfiring and smoke. My belief is also that a healthy starter battery is important.

I have no problem (with new glow plugs) on around 25% veg oil at this time of year.