It's -30, with a -38 Windchill. I car has been plugged IN for the past 36 hours because we're experiencing a blizzard and all the roads are closed.

36 hours of being plugged in and IT WON'T START?

have I upset some Mercedes god somewhere?

It should at least WANT to start at that temp right?

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

Wow, I'm actually envious. Winter seems to be skipping us this year. I guess the obvious question is: are you sure the block heater works? If so, what type of heater is it (where is it)? I would think it should start at any temp. unless your battery is severly drained.

Is the fuel gelled? At those temps you probably should cut it with kero.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Brrrrrrr, that's cold.
Try placing a trouble light under the hood next to the injector pump and another one in the truck next to the tank. If you get it started that still does not help for the fuel lines that are exposed.

Are you sure that the block heater is working? Is you car parked outside? You many need to check the glow plugs as well. I hope that you can get here started. I find it an adrenaline rush to get a diesel to start in very cold temps.

What kind of fuel are you running? #1 #2 or a mixture at what percentage? Have you added an anti-gellling agent like PowerService?

By the way, try to put an anchor on that cold and hold it up there. It's supposed to be heading our way this weekend. At least offer lots of sacrifices to the Diesel no-Start Gods so they're appeased before they get here. Do you have a virgin first born?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Does it get that cold in Edam also? Wow, I better feel sorry for my cousins. But, regarding your starting problem, besides the things that were mentioned, you need a first class charged up Battery, fuel has to flow and I would suspect with those low temps that your glo's have to be letter perfect, all five in a row. I would do a quick resistance check on them when they are cold. Even with mitts on, you should be able to do that in two/three minutes.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Synthetic oil?

I lived in Maine and Colorado and even when I forgot to turn on the "Yankee Block Heater" - a trouble light as described above - starting was never a problem - neighbors with new cars without synthetics, both gasoline and diesel were not able to.

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

Oh yeah at those temps I'd have 0w40 in the crank, even that would be thick!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hey

greetings from the Toronto banana belt. That is a seriously cold temperature at which to start a diesel. I have no experience of starting my 300sd at that temp as I have owned it for only 9 months and so far our winter has been really mild.

But I've started my old 1992 Jetta diesel and my even older David Brown 990 diesel tractor (2998cc 4 cyl diesel, built in 1972, totally original) at that temp many times.

key factors in the "successful starting recipie" included;-

1. fuel additive to prevent gelling
2. only use winter grade diesel
3. keep the vehicle in a shelter to reduce wind chill
4. block heater - make sure it works (cable once broke internally on the VW leaving me stuck)
5. trickle charger on the battery to keep it up to performance
6. synthetic oil helps too

Cold! I would put a light in the trunk to heat the fuel tank, actually, you may have to remove the carpet from the fuel tank wall to get all the heat there. AND a light pointed at or a heater plate under the battery. once you get below about -12 or so, diesel fuel is a fun concoction of gunk. MB recommends Kero or actually GASOLINE (not much) mixed in, to get it to flow at those temps... Good luck!
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

"It's -30, with a -38 Windchill."

*C or *F?

haha. i actually had to think for a second on that one. silly negative.

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1980 300D

Wind chill has no impact on starting a car. If the temperature is 20 degrees, then that's the temperature of the block. Wind in the atmosphere does not lower that temperature any further.

Wind Chill is what your exposed skin feels like in terms of effect in a "normalized" condition of no wind. This is because your skin is moist to some small extent, and because it is much warmer than the air being blown around it.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

I believe the key statement you made is WANT to start.

Having been in Edmonton, Canada, during those kinds of winter temps, I can understand why it wouldn't want to do anything! Unless it's a dire emergency, that is even more risky than exposure, my belief is........... put another log on the fire, sip some mulled wine, and sit real close to your sweetie.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Can I suggest a valve adjustment if you haven't done one recently. I was experiencing no starting below freezing a few weeks ago. I did a valve adjustment and replaced one glow plug and now she fires right up and purrs like a kitten. I know the temps aren't as low as yours are but tight valve clearences certainly won't help anything.

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