Starting adventure this morning..... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TWeatherford · #16 02-05-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerefanatic

(For those wondering, we started our gasser chevy truck, and pull-started the tractor as the jumper cables we had didn't cut it anyhow......)

Ahhh, the days of starting the farm tractor. Usually it was a mixture of block heater, jump starting, pulling/rolling down a hill, adventurous cold mornings those were.

volare · #17 02-05-2007, 11:43 PM

Since i switched oils in my car i have not had it on the block heater at all. It's been as cold as -35F at night and she has started the next morning with no issues. (other then gelled fuel). What can I do about the Gelled Fuel issue?

pawoSD · #18 02-05-2007, 11:51 PM

Mix the fuel with a little bit of kerosene or Regular gas when filling up....like maybe 1-2 gallons of kerosene per fillup, or 1 to 1.5 gallons of regular gas...should be plenty to prevent gelling....can also use a diesel fuel additive...but that'd cost a little more.

As for cold starts....my car had been sitting since around 4:45pm today in the parking lot at school....I came out around 11:25pm....it is -6F.....I let it glow a good 25 seconds or so...cranked...and it started right up/was running in about 3 cranks....

Makes no sense why it wouldn't go on Sunday morning when it was only -3....I didn't let it glow nearly as long that time...thats probably why. From now on when its super cold it gets a good 25-30 second glow before starting....and when near an outlet I plug it in.

Brian Carlton · #19 02-06-2007, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Makes no sense why it wouldn't go on Sunday morning when it was only -3....I didn't let it glow nearly as long that time...thats probably why. From now on when its super cold it gets a good 25-30 second glow before starting....and when near an outlet I plug it in.

Actually, it makes perfect sense.

You usually get one chance at that temperature.

If everything is not up to proper condition, including the starter, battery, glow plugs, fuel, and compression, you'll not get it running. The act of cranking it puts additional cold fuel into the combustion chamber........fuel that must be heated to get the engine to light off. Cold liquid fuel will suck the heat out of any chance of starting at such temperatures.

A full glow cycle is usually mandatory and, with everything else up to snuff, it will light right off if the compression is decent.

I've always been curious about a device that would keep the rack closed during the first few seconds of cranking. Build up the cylinder temperature without fuel, then add the fuel after the temperature has climbed up to ignition temperature. Probably difficult to engineer into these older engines, although the vacuum shutoff might be a possibility.

DieselBone · #20 02-06-2007, 12:59 AM

It was -2 this morning in Happy Valley and the old 87 190D 2.5 (loaner from my Bro) started right up. I was shocked!! It took about 30 seconds then to even out but it started quick as ever. No block heater, but it does have newer glow plug and has under 200,000 mi.

pawoSD · #21 02-06-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Actually, it makes perfect sense.

You usually get one chance at that temperature.

If everything is not up to proper condition, including the starter, battery, glow plugs, fuel, and compression, you'll not get it running. The act of cranking it puts additional cold fuel into the combustion chamber........fuel that must be heated to get the engine to light off. Cold liquid fuel will suck the heat out of any chance of starting at such temperatures.

A full glow cycle is usually mandatory and, with everything else up to snuff, it will light right off if the compression is decent.

I've always been curious about a device that would keep the rack closed during the first few seconds of cranking. Build up the cylinder temperature without fuel, then add the fuel after the temperature has climbed up to ignition temperature. Probably difficult to engineer into these older engines, although the vacuum shutoff might be a possibility.

The thought of a bunch of cold diesel soaking the cylinders went through my mind that morning as the starter was slowing down....

From now on its getting nice long glow cycles when its that cold out.

StolenBaby · #22 02-06-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

...bought a BEAST of a Charger/starter unit thing ($73 ) Brought it back....hooked it up on 15A charge for about 20 mins, then flipped it to ONE HUNDRED amp output... Got in, glowed, turned the key and WOW did it crank...

Hey, where can I find something like that? I've seen some chargers, but they all seem too weak...which one worked for you?

#23 02-06-2007, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I've always been curious about a device that would keep the rack closed during the first few seconds of cranking. Build up the cylinder temperature without fuel, then add the fuel after the temperature has climbed up to ignition temperature. Probably difficult to engineer into these older engines, although the vacuum shutoff might be a possibility.

FWIW, my indy says he disconnects the linkage to the IP when starting in very cold conditions to minimize the fuel when it starts to catch. I've never tried, but I do know that touching the peddle on my 617 will kill it if it's trying to start.

pawoSD · #24 02-06-2007, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StolenBaby

Hey, where can I find something like that? I've seen some chargers, but they all seem too weak...which one worked for you?

Autozone....

I got the "Schumacher" Charger/Starter unit. $69.99 It does 2amp trickle/maintain, 15A charge, and 100A boost for startups (the manual says it can maintain the 100A output for 3-4minutes before it will cycle off from heat) It sounds like an industrial power transformer when flipped to that mode!

vstech · #25 02-06-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Autozone....

I got the "Schumacher" Charger/Starter unit. $69.99 It does 2amp trickle/maintain, 15A charge, and 100A boost for startups (the manual says it can maintain the 100A output for 3-4minutes before it will cycle off from heat) It sounds like an industrial power transformer when flipped to that mode!

if you have a Sams/Costco, the commercial chargers are 74.99 and they have 12/6 V 2/10/50/250Amp settings... MUCH stronger charge/start and there is a built in timer and a hold position for trickle charging.
John

hitwtom · #26 02-06-2007, 09:10 AM

Posted this elsewhere already but looks like it fits in here better. 12 degrees in Southern Maryland this morning. Was single digits overnight. Glow plugs stayed on a little longer than normal and it took a little longer than normal to start, but it did. Glow plugs were replaced 1.5 weeks ago, glad I did.

#27 02-06-2007, 09:23 AM

I am soooooooooo glad that I got the battery changed in Madeline last week. Otherwise I would be a big time dead duck. Everything started find yesterday when my wife and I drove home.

One thing that I did yesterday and today as a precautionary measure for Madeline was to fill two one gallon milk jugs with hot water and place them in the truck next to the fuel tank. Then I wrapped a couple of old towels around the rest if the jugs to retain the heat to dissipate to the fuel tank sides if the jugs. I check on the jugs at 2PM and I could them that there was still a fair bit of heat in the trunk.

vstech · #28 02-06-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncof300d

I am soooooooooo glad that I got the battery changed in Madeline last week. Otherwise I would be a big time dead duck. Everything started find yesterday when my wife and I drove home.

One thing that I did yesterday and today as a precautionary measure for Madeline was to fill two one gallon milk jugs with hot water and place them in the truck next to the fuel tank. Then I wrapped a couple of old towels around the rest if the jugs to retain the heat to dissipate to the fuel tank sides if the jugs. I check on the jugs at 2PM and I could them that there was still a fair bit of heat in the trunk.

hey, a 5 gallon jug of hot water would be perfect for this. like a gas can for heat! good idea.
don't leave it too long though!@$%^#&#!!
John

pawoSD · #29 02-06-2007, 11:05 AM

250Amps?!

My car turned over like the energizer bunny with only the 100AMP unit! (Volts held at over 13 WHILE cranking) I think 250 is probably overkill unless you're starting a semi!

#30 02-06-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

250Amps?!

My car turned over like the energizer bunny with only the 100AMP unit! (Volts held at over 13 WHILE cranking) I think 250 is probably overkill unless you're starting a semi!

three weeks ago I jumped started Madelin from a 250 AMP engine starter. It was as if 18volt were being supplied. It sure did start her in a flash.