I don't usually take well to some yahoo who insults both my chosen profession and my main interest in the same comment!!!

First......The following is quoted directly from....

Diesel Engine Reference Book
Edited by LRC Lilly
Published by Butterworths
London, Boston, Durban, Singapore,
Sydney, Toronto, Wellington
in 1984

14.6.5 Special Starting Fuels

The starting aids described so far are all means of increasing the temperature of the air in the cylinder of a diesel engine at the end of the compression stroke, so that it will be satisfactorily above the self-ignition temperature of the diesel fuel employed, at the lowest ambient air temperature at which the engine will be required to operate. The alternative approach is to employ a fuel for cold starting the diesel engine, which has a self-ignition temperature below the temperature of the air in the cylinder at the end of the compression stroke, when starting a completely ‘cold’ engine at the minimum ambient air temperature at which it will be required to start.
The starting fuels employed are usually ether-based but because ether itself produces an undesirably high rate of pressure rise during combustion in the engine cylinder and has virtually no inherent lubricating properties, appropriate additives are included in the formulation of the fuel to protect the engine against the effects of these undesirable characteristics. This form of starting aid is now widely used and in it’s simplest form is an aerosol container marketed under such trade names Aerostart, Gasomatic, and Quickstart. Some fluid from the aerosol is sprayed into the air filter or air intake while the engine is being cranked. This is effective as a means of obtaining a means of a cold start under occasionally extreme conditions but, for general use a more precise control of the process is highly desirable.

.......this section goes on to explain sever automated means of controling the process......I inserted the bold print, not the publisher.....

Besides holding a USCG Chief Engineer Steam Unlimited Horsepower license....where I learned a while bunch about condensing vapors.....and those sprayed in "starting fluid vapors" will condense upon the cold surfaces of the cylinder walls......

I also hold a USCG Chief Engineer Motor Unlimited Horsepower license (please note that this also covers Gas Turbines).....where I learned a whole bunch about the design, operation, maintenance, and repair of all sizes of diesel engines.....I am not a MB Diesel Expert.....but a 50-150 hp high speed MB diesel would be covered.....

I have also been to Antarctica and Greenland aboard a Diesel Ship......so I think I have a bit of experience with cold weather, and diesel engines.....

I was also trained on Diesel Engines by a crew of German Diesel Engineers...and most of my Diesel engine experience is with German built equipment.....

From my personal experience, it is not a good idea to use starting fluids as a general usage starting aid.....excepting in emergencies.....

Aboard ship.....a can of starting fluid was sometimes kept in the Lifeboat Diesel toolbox.....and a can was generally kept in the Emergency Diesel Generator Room.....for use in Emergencies......

In my humble opinion, anyone who relies on Starting Fluids is lazy, and lax in their preventative maintenance program.....

Now sir, please state your credentials, if any!!!

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG