Has anyone thought of an intake heater like Cummins use? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300DFarmer · #31 11-12-2008, 07:33 AM

I know that I am late to this thread, but I just wanted to provide some encouragement for driving the TD in the winter.
We live in Walden, Vermont where it's real cold, have two 300D's, and my wife drives hers throughout the winter.
She leaves here every day throughout the winter at 6:00am and returns at 6:00pm. Her car is parked all day without being plugged in. She follows protocol for starting and has never had a problem.
The particulars:
Good battery
New glow plugs
Valves adjusted in November (right before it gets cold)
synthetic oil (Rotella 5w40 or whatever you choose)
Let the glow plugs cycle for one full minute (30 seconds after the light goes off)
If it is really cold (-10 or lower) she starts the car at noontime and allows it to warm up
Even when it is below zero, the engine retains a lot of heat.
She also adds power service (white bottle) at every fill-up
Always carry jumper cables!
My wife is a good sport, but it would only take one time of her car not starting after work for her to ask for a gasser. Has not happens yet.
More importantly, I do not want to drive 40 minutes at the end of the day to save her!

Sure beats the days when we had volks diesels and used to let them run all night....

oldsinner111 · #32 11-12-2008, 07:37 AM

I've started my 617.951 at 4 degrees here in the mountains,no problem.

#33 11-12-2008, 07:39 AM

4* is no problem. Its when the temperatures get down to -15*f and colder that starting really becomes a challenge.

curtludwig · #34 11-12-2008, 09:27 AM

Yeah in my experience -10F is the dividing line between cold and so cold a 61x engine doesn't want to start.

My 190D OM601 laughs at those temps. I've had it start very easily down to -10F with no additional glowing or anything special... I've never had the chance to try it any colder than that yet.

jaoneill · #35 11-12-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtludwig

Yeah in my experience -10F is the dividing line between cold and so cold a 61x engine doesn't want to start.

My 190D OM601 laughs at those temps. I've had it start very easily down to -10F with no additional glowing or anything special... I've never had the chance to try it any colder than that yet.

Ditto, coldest I have had to start after car ('84 190D) sat at the airport for a week was -22F, two glow cycles and it sputtered to life. I generally plug in the block heater on any of my vehicles for an hour or two when temps get below 15F (at 0F for the gassers) because I feel that it is easier on the engine, but never worry about any of MB's starting if it's -10F or warmer, block heater or no.

Jim

husk · #36 07-05-2009, 06:14 PM

This would be a good idea for the 606's as they seem to have the stuck glow plug issue.

I have been driving around my Jeep CJ which has a Cummins 4BT in it and I am amazed at how quickly and easily the engine starts. I am not sure why the Intake Grid Heater has not been implemented for use with light duty diesels.