So as this photo shows ...



... I'm spending some time in some quite cold places. When I'm at those temperatures, it seems the TDV8 has trouble starting. It will start eventually but I will have to old the key while it tries to turnover and normally on the 4th or 5th time of returning the key it will start.

I've followed the cold start procedure in the manual (as outlined above) but just wondering if anyone else had experience at these temperatures?

Do you set the pre-heater to come on 20 mins before you intend to start? 

dan_uk_1984 wrote:

Do you set the pre-heater to come on 20 mins before you intend to start?

It has a pre-heater and a hand book  2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

axle wrote:

It has a pre-heater and a hand book

The remote is optional, or the previous owner may have just lost it.

ALL diesels have the aux fuel burning heater installed, but only some have the remote function. I believe all can be programmed to start independently.

The only model this was not standard fit on was the Petrol's although it was an option.

Dan 

dan_uk_1984 wrote:

The remote is optional, or the previous owner may have just lost it.

ALL diesels have the aux fuel burning heater installed, but only some have the remote function. I believe all can be programmed to start independently.

The only model this was not standard fit on was the Petrol's although it was an option.

Dan

If its a Vogue model upwards, you should have had the remote with the car.

We have had very low negative temperatures up here and they have started 1st time everytime even without the preheater. The only problems we have is when a battery is goosed.

I don't know how the menu is laid out on yours, but on mine it's called "aux ventilation" on the main page, but being petrol there is no heater. If the heater is there I think its called Aux Heating?

I know Gaz has the TDV8 so maybe he'll post soon. 

Vogue wrote:

If its a Vogue model upwards, you should have had the remote with the car.

We have had very low negative temperatures up here and they have started 1st time everytime even without the preheater. The only problems we have is when a battery is goosed.

The Pre heater or auxiliary fuel burner has NO beneficial effect on cold starting. If you use the pre heater to warm the cabin, in very cold weather it is most likely going to drain the battery and prevent the car starting.

To start the car in cold climates the manual states it may take a few turns, and you should ensure all electrical items are switched off i.e. Auto lights, audio, heater etc. Crank it for up to 10 seconds. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

RRUK wrote:

The Pre heater or auxiliary fuel burner has NO beneficial effect on cold starting. If you use the pre heater to warm the cabin, in very cold weather it is most likely going to drain the battery and prevent the car starting.

To start the car in cold climates the manual states it may take a few turns, and you should ensure all electrical items are switched off i.e. Auto lights, audio, heater etc. Crank it for up to 10 seconds.

The pre heater circulates hot water around the engine block - how can this not be beneficial?

FBH System

The system consists of a FBH unit, a FBH fuel pump and a changeover valve. On vehicles with the remote operation feature, the system also includes a FBH receiver and a remote handset.

Fuel for the FBH system is taken from the vehicle fuel tank, through a line attached to the fuel tank's fuel pump unit, and supplied via the FBH fuel pump to the FBH unit. In the FBH unit, the fuel delivered by the FBH fuel pump is burned and the resultant heat output is used to heat the engine coolant. The changeover valve isolates the heater coolant circuit from the engine coolant circuit 

This is what RAVE tells me:

Changeover Valve
The changeover valve is a normally open solenoid valve installed between the supply and return sides of the heatercoolant circuit. The changeover valve is located in the engine compartment on the engine bulkhead. When de-energised, the changeover valve connects the heater coolant circuit to the engine coolant circuit. When energised, the changeover valve isolates the heater coolant circuit from the engine coolant circuit.

Doesn't this mean that if the FBH is activated (energised) the coolant flow is restricted from the engine, thereby keeping the heat to itself effectively so it can concentrate on warming the cabin, and not the engine. I have never ready anything anywhere that has stated or intimated that the FBH is there to pre-warm the engine to make it easier to start, I've only seen that it is there purely for comfort of the cabin area on a cold morning.

I am happy to be corrected BTW, this is not an argument!  Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

RRUK is correct. The FBH in the TDV8 FFRR is a 'Cabin Pre-Heater'. It does NOT warm the engine I'm afraid.

Cold temperatures affect a battery at the best of times. Using this FBH function for 30 mins to warm the cabin will only run the fan and hence drain the battery further.

Best advice is to invest in a decent battery charger and ensure the battery has peak capacity to cope with regular cold starts.  The older I get, the more I realise that people confuse wrinkles for wisdom

As above, Rave states "The changeover valve isolates the heater coolant circuit from the engine coolant" and "the resultant heat output is used to heat the engine coolant"

We cant both be right, and both statements cant be correct surely? I got mine from the desc' and operation section.

Dan