Man, is it cold. 3F here in GR, Michigan right now. I was leaving school campus about 35 mins ago, glowed for about 7-10 seconds, cranked, and it fired up in about 4 cranks!!

Thats -16C, almost the temp the Citroen C1 diesel in the Top Gear video wouldn't even cough at (-19C)

Huge difference/improvement over last year when I was running dino 15w40 oil.

It cranks way faster on the 5w40 Mobil 1.

I am betting it will start reliably down to at least -10F based on tonights experience.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I am envious. It finally got cold here (0-5 F), but it failed the test this morning. I thought the block heater was plugged in (turns out the GFI was tripped) so I only gave it about 10 sec. of glow plugs before I started cranking. The cranking slowed down surprisingly quick, despite the cold weather. I'm thinking my battery has problems, even though it's only a year old. Maybe my past alt. problems killed it Too bad though, I just adjusted the valves and switched to 0W-40 M1. I was hoping for better results. Maybe I'll do that compression test next...

Gotta brag here too. It was -2 here this morning and my car sat out side all night intentionally so I could see if it would start this morning. I cycled the GP twice and it fired in 2 cranks. Surprisingly, it ran very quite for a few seconds then it went to rattling away. I love my Benz!

BTW: My dad cdaught the fever from me. He is now the proud owner of an 83 300SD. I am going to his house this weekend to give him some pointers and explain to him how well these cars are built and how long trhey can run if they are maintained properly. Everything on thew car is perfect and works. He got it for $2500.00. Not too bad huh???

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2005 Accord Hybrid (Wifes)
1995 Subaru Impreza L AWD (Snow car)
1984 GMC Sierra 1500 (Mine)
1983 300CD Best $ I ever spent. (Mine)
1984 190D (sold and glad I did)
1983 300D (sold and wished I hadn't)

Yep, it does make a big difference.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

-3 in Lee NH MB covered in inch of ice hadnt been started since Sat glowed 20 sec and started still has Rotella 15/40 dino oil The 6.5 Chevy started right up too but she's a baby with only 189000 miles but i was proud of them both

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

Yep, my old girl started up just fine monday morn when I had to leave and it was +17F outside..........

Started it earlier this year at +15F.

Boy, didn't know grand rapids was getting soo much colder than we were Pawo......... I'm about 1/2 hr north of the indiana border.... (Down by Three Rivers and Kalamazoo...)

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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

I've got an '86 300SDL now that I drive in winter. 296,235 miles on it with Supertech (WalMart) CF rated synthetic oil. 5W30.

Last year, at the same temperature (about 1 degree F), it wouldn't start at all. No way, no how.

Cranking speed the same, battery the same, oil the same.
This year, I glowed it for about 15 seconds, cranked it, and it sputtered to life within 5 seconds, without a care. Go figure. Maybe it was the timing advancement I did the other day?
What was even more amazing was the lack of smoke and the smooth idle which it produced immediately following this. Like a mid-summer day.

Oh....And the black 350SDL that my father is driving? Started just as well, as I'm told. Go figure again, 200 miles per qt of oil(!) consistently. However to note, my 350 started perfectly in the middle of winter too, less than a year before it became "handicapped".