0 degrees cold, will it start after 7 hours?

[edge]

With the cold temps this week in the northeast, I want to ask the members in the cold climates a question. If I plug my 85 300SD in so my wife can take it to work, she then will let it sit 7 hours before she starts for home again. Will the car start after sitting 7 hours at 8 degrees? Thanks for your input. How do you Canadians own the diesels in your climates?

[Pete Burton]

If everything is in order, it should start even without the block heater, after 24 hours at 0F. Below that, you need to be concerned about the quality of fuel available here. I've noticed that the fuel I've been getting locally is just starting to cloud and cause fuel delivery problems under high load.

[Brian Carlton]

My strong advice is not to take any advice from members on this forum.

Besides the normal things such as battery and glow plugs, we don't know the compression of the engine, and we don't know the tolerance of your wife to sit there for 15 seconds, if necessary, and crank it.

To prevent any "marital discord" I would suggest that you experiment with it yourself under the specified conditions.

When "most people" get used to starting a fuel injected gasser, they are hardly tolerant of a diesel that requires extended crank time to start.

[aklim]

I have a 99 E300 and it has worked for me. YMMV with an 85.

Hey man,
Do you STILL have both casper and judy?
Why no sell?
Best wishes always,
spo out

[edge]

Still have them, I offer them out with the kids want me to get rid of the diesels but the cold weather moves on and I manage to fend them off and keep them. When I offer them out everyone wants a special deal so I don't sell at bargain prices, so I get cold feet and keep them.

[pawoSD]

It was -8° F here yesterday morning around 8am, and neither of our diesels would start, and I ended up draining my entire dieHard trying to glow about 4 times then crank, no go. I had to use our van. Later on when I came home I hooked the van up to mine, charged it about 15-20 mins, poured 5 gallons of hot water over the engine, and tried it, and it started. No problems today.....I have even had not much problem around 0 to -2....seems below that -5 threshold it doesn't like it. I suppose it would help if I had a block heater...

[edge]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

poured 5 gallons of hot water over the engine, and tried it, and it started.

Well you may have started a new trend. That works faster than a block heater!

[pawoSD]

......it does work very well, the whole topside of the engine was very warm to the touch after I did that. Plus, then there's the looks from the neighbors too....thats priceless.

Funny looks from the neighbors are great.

pawoSD, make sure you're using some sort of anti-gel additive in the diesels at that temperature.

So far has started, and at minus 4 degrees, glow only! Knock-Knock!!

[83-240D]

Originally Posted by BusyBenz

So far has started, and at minus 4 degrees, glow only! Knock-Knock!!

anti gel added?

Here in Edmonton, Alberta Canada we run 0w40 synthetic keep the battery posts clean, glow twice and she goes just fine. (some smoke belching but whatever) We had -40 last week and I thought about starting it at lunch but took a chance, smoky but running.

TNT

87 300D turbo 380,000 km

[dcfan40]

I took care of my car all weekend. Because of the harsh weather here I decided not to drive until today but, over the weekend I started it up every 3-4 hours. I woke up this morning and it took 3-glows. But it started.. No additives, but after a helpful email from Hattaresguy I will be going out to buy some this week.

Thanks,

Bill

[pawoSD]

I have winter diesel and about 40oz of Mystery Oil in the tank.....I don't think the fuel was gelling, as it did fire a few times, but then just kept cranking (it slowed down a little, so it couldn't get going) The 83 started fine at those temps by being plugged in for a little while....