I have just visited the storage compound to pay the annual bill and exercise the 109 to splash the oil about and keep everything moving.
Last year’s check saw a drastic change in the engine’s starting. From starting absolutely instantly, it took a bit of cranking and then idled very roughly, not responding to throttle movements for several minutes until suddenly and completely clearing and behaving normally.
I thought it likely the braided hoses that form the leak-off lines between the injectors had likely perished and cracked, allowing air into the injection system while stood, which allowed the fuel to drain back to the tank, needing a lot of purging. I had this problem a couple of times with the Range Rover’s 300Tdi in the past, but never this engine. However, given the similar nature of the two Tdis, it seemed the likely culprit.
So, a quick trip to Halfords to buy a length of replacement 3.4mm braided fuel hose for about £5 got me the hopeful fix. The old hoses were certainly hardened, and one of them wept fuel through its sides as I worked it off the injectors, so it seems likely the diagnosis was correct.
Starting was difficult again, and just like last time it took a considerable period to purge all the fuel system of air, but once it again it suddenly cleared and ran smoothly (as much as any Tdi can), and I was able to give it a mildly spirited drive around the compound. I’ll only find out next year if this was the problem.
All gear changes (including transfer box and overdrive) were good, no slipping or sticking clutch, the brakes pulled up squarely and smartly (the discs were still clean before the test drive) and the wipers and washer all worked perfectly. So, it seems to be holding up well.
It was really good to be back in the 109 again. I really do miss using and working on it, and even my son was excited to be in it after helping me jump start it. Apparently, Dubai are now allowing imports of right hand drive vehicles, but I won’t be shipping it as the climate here (high 40s-50oC and 90%+ humidity) won’t do it many favours, and with the way so many drive here, it’d be put at huge risk of damage. So, I’ll have to continue as I have and look forward to its annual checks.
Have you considered getting the storage yard people to drive it every 3 months or so ? Might be better than an annual startup.
It’s a good suggestion, but it’s really the transmission and axles that I’m trying to protect. The engine has always burnt oil since I built it, despite having a rebore and oversize pistons, the head rebuilt and two new turbos. So it’ll need doing again when I settle back home (hopefully just honing, but I have suspicions that the engine shop didn’t go big enough on the rebore to remove the scoring from before I owned the engine).
The storage compound owner doesn’t offer a driving service as his business isn’t insured for it, and I don’t think he’d be keen to mess about with the jump starting anyway. I don’t just get the flights to the UK for free – I’m being paid to do them, so it just costs me £20-odd to rent a car and do a bunch of errands including this. But as much of a nuisance as it is, it’s also a pleasure.
Nick,
You could always ask James if you could store it at the farm, when you pick up the propshaft
Thanks for the suggestion, David. I’ll consider it when I come down there, whenever that may be.
It’s not cheap having this storage arrangement, though it’s cheaper than most I have seen, but there are numerous classic cars with careful owners and no other use (so no passing vehicles or equipment and no visitors) in there and security is very good, and it’s little known about, so the chance of the vehicle location being known to potential thieves is very small. While I am quite content with the current site, I am open to better. The only hassle would be getting it down there, as it’d need to be trailered, and that won’t be cheap.