Propane does a pretty good job, too -- a friend of my brother's was trying to start his 300CD with propane instead of fixing the problems (when I last saw it running , it needed a glow plug relay --- duh). When the propane ignited, it blew the valve cover off. I shudder to think what else is wrong with the engine!

I'd try to talk him out of it, but the body and interior are bad enough I'd rather not tackle it. That 380 SL he has sitting with no engine (especially if I can find the engine and tranny), now, that's another story!

Ether if very unlikely to substitute for glow plugs in a pre-chamber diesel -- they usually WON'T start cold without them, no matter what highly ignitable stuff you spray down the intake. If the mixture is ignitable on it's own, it burns way too early to help start (usually stalls the starter motor), and if you put enough in there to actually get a decent fire, it will burn WAY too hot!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!