I was out for a drive with my girlfriend in my new 1982 240D manual. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for a burrito and a coke and when we got back in the car I turned the key but nothing -just a click from the solenoid. So I thought I'd just push start it since it's a manual. I almost popped my eyes out pushing with a belly full of burritos, but when she popped the clutch, not a sign of life from the engine. A little frustrated, I tried the key again, it turned over and we were back on the road. But my question is: can you push start a manual diesel as you can a gasser manual? The ignition was on and I got the car rolling to maybe 5 mph which would have been enough to start a gasser (as maybe you can tell I'm fairly new to diesels.)

That is only supposed to happen back on the dirt roads.

What gear were you in?

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Jim

First gear.

absolutely. Used to roll start diesel farm tractors all the time! Second or third gear will probably work well. As long as the fuel cutoff switch is not off it will have no problem starting.

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

I'm pretty sure she had the ignition in the on position, so, then it should have started, right?

5 mph is very slow. It might have started if you let the clutch out almost instantly. But, if you let it up slowly, the vehicle might have slowed to 3 mph before the clutch fully engaged and the engine didn't turn fast enough before the vehicle stopped.

If you got it to 10 mph, it surely would have started.

Yeah. They are harder to start though then gas because you have to build up more pressure. but since everything is mechanical it should go

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

I seem to remember a story about some one stalling in the road and a woman stopped to ask if they needed help.

Driver said "Sure, thank you. We could do with a push "
Woman asked..How fast ?"
"Dunno...maybe 25/30 mph."
Woman backs up and rams car at 25 mph !

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

I accually tried to start my truck once by push starting it (after a dead battery, which I did on purous )
I had previously push started it before by pushing it down the small hill at the end of my driveway. I had done this a few times because I bought it to learn to drive stick, and to have some fun with... Twords the end of me owning it, I could accually shift it without the clutch (that cant be too great )

anyways I got a little suprize after doing leaving the parking lights on all night, and most of the morning... I pushed it down the hill, and stuck it in 2nd... NO START... I thought it was a fluke, and pulled it up the hill with the tractor, then tried again, with the same results... Then again, with it in first (allways started in 2nd) and NOTHIN

Turns out that when it first spins the engine, all the power goes to charging the battery, so with a dead battery (compleatly wacked, i mean nothing turned on, even the door buzzer) you cant push start a stick...

Sorry for the novel, but dont get a false sence of security with your stickshift vehical, its not gonna start without by push start...

again, sorry for the long story, but I really wanted to share
~Nate

On SI engines, you definitely need electricity to start it. If there is not enough power to get the field going in the alternator, you can certainly push it forever and it won't start.

But CI engines don't need electricity to start. You can remove the battery from a diesel and push start it.

I wouldn't try this at colder temperatures, however. You would need quite a bit of engine speed for some time in order to overcome the cold cylinder temperature.

Oh yeah...and the story about the Italian kids in a little Fiat sedan.

They came up behind a Mercedes stopped ahead of a parking space and dove in and parked....as they walked off they shouted.." That's what you can do in a little car !"'.............

.Mercedes driver backs up and proceedes to ram the little car untill it was totalled...........And he said.."And that's what you can do when you've got money "


.

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

Ummmm to start a diesel does not take one single volt or amp of electricity. Since the fuel cut off switch is vacuum operated it will be open. A diesel engine will start with no battery and a dead alternator. just none of the gadgets will work. Just hope it is warm or will take a long hill since you don't have glow plugs

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

Im stupid, I just realized that

~Nate

run the glow plugs with a weak battery. they wont work very fast but they will still help some.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

BTW 1st gear might be too low of a gear?

Seems like unless the compression is low you'd be working against a LOT of mechanical ratio force...

I used to use 3rd or so for my VW when I push started it (had starter issues after the restoration).

I would think 1st would just lock the tires and skid? Never tried on a diesel.