Dispatch 1.9d won't start

[j19ood]

Hi all.

I have a Citroen dispatch 1.9D on an 03 plate.
it had trouble starting over winter so a little easy start was used to get it going.
eventually it wouldn't start with this.
So I got some new glow plugs and proceeded to replace them.
1 of the plugs was covered in oil while the others were dark dry sut.
I replaced the plugs, blanked the egr pipe from the exhaust so it runs a little cleaner.
Cleaned the inside of the egr.
cleaned as much gunk as I could from the inside of the plastic intake manifold.
Once all back together it started fine.
I let it run on the drive for 5 so it warmed up a little.
I then started it again and went for a little run.
A few times it seemed to miss fire an loose power as if some carbon was blocking the injectors or something.
I drove home and parked it back up.
The next day I tried to start it but again it won't start.

I'm not sure what to try next. Other than fearing the worst that the head gasket is leaking oil into the cylinder and preventing the glow plug heating up and it from starting.

Has anyone got any advice?
What is the purpose of the breather pipe that goes to the inlet manifold? Could this be putting oil into the manifold then cylinder as it's the one closest to that pipe?

Thanks all in advance for any advice

[RichardW]

Welcome

I would check the valve clearances - they close up on higher mileage units, and hold the exhaust valves open when cold = poor compression = no start.

[j19ood]

Thanks Richard, but what would you consider is high mileage?
I've had the van since 30k, and current is only 100k. So I wouldn't think this is high despite the age.

If it was valves then I don't think it would have started first time yesterday after putting new glow plugs in. Ran fine apart from a little miss fire type symptom when a low revs.

One more thing is I've taken the breather pipe off the side of the manifold and it appear there is loads of oil in the pipe and the in the manifold? Could it somehow be dragging oil from the rocker cover in to the cylinder closest? So the glow plug is now covered in oil again?
That would explain why the glow plug was covered in oil and why it started first time after changing the plugs for new.

Thank you

[j19ood]

There is no fuel at the injectors as I've cracked one off, and there is a distinct clicking from the fuel pump.
What does this clicking mean? Stop solenoid engaged?
What do I need to do?
Thanks

[dave]

is less than a 1/4 of fuel in the tank ?