I have a 2007 TD4, which does not have a diesel particulate filter. The operation of the glow plugs on these is automatic and having pressed 'start' the car should determine whether the temperature is low enough to warrant delaying the cranking of the engine until the glow plugs have operated for a few seconds. In my experience, there is rarely any significant delay until the temperature drops below zero degrees.

When the temperature is below 5 degrees, this often means that the car 'barks' into life, with a small puff of smoke and sometimes some slightly rough running for a second or two. If the car had a DPF, this puff of smoke and presumably some partially burned fuel would contribute to clogging the filter.

If I compare this to my company car (2011 VW Golf 2.0 TDi, with DPF), this behaves quite differently. Even at temperatures of between 10 and 5 degrees, where I'm certain the car would start easily without pre-heating, you physically cannot crank the engine until the glow plug warning light has gone out, which takes a couple of seconds. Presumably, this is to ensure that each cold start is as 'clean' as possible, thus minimising the soot and cack that gets dumped into the DPF.

My question is whether the newer DPF equipped FL2's have been set up to introduce some element of glowplug delay in milder conditions (say between 10 and 2 degrees celcius). In very cold conditions, I do press 'start' without depressing the clutch, in order to persuade the glowplugs to come on for a decent length of time. If I don't, the first start of the day is pretty rough, as the car doesn't seem to want to allow the glowplugs to heat up enough before it starts cranking.

I thought all fl2 diesel models came with a dpf

stuarts the man wrote:

I thought all fl2 diesel models came with a dpf

This is the standard operation, DPF or not. Dependent upon auto or manual, operate brake or clutch, insert fob, press start button and delay will come into play if necessary.
Courtesy of Alex

Click image to enlarge

Thanks for that East Yorks. Bit confused by the 'maximum cranking times', as it shows zero for 5+ degrees, which would mean that the engine wouldn't crank at all! Presume the timings actually refer to the length of time that the glowplugs will operate for, prior to the engine cranking.

Yes, they have worded it in a confusing way but as you say, delay before crank.

stuarts the man wrote:

I thought all fl2 diesel models came with a dpf

Just read this post and it's an interesting point as my 2011 model does seem to have a delayed start even though it hasn't been that cold recently. I have also noticed that there is no glow plug icon in the instrument display.

Acording to Marshalls the early models (ie mine!) don't have the automatic delay. But they're a Land Rover dealer, so what do they know???

Noticed on mine also there is no glow plug light but there was on my 07 model, now I just get a slight delay depending on how cold it is, and a message of "System Check" then it cranks and starts.