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

asnowsquall · #1 10-02-2008, 09:21 PM

I'm wondering if I couldn't make a heater like Cummins uses to heat the incoming air? Has anyone tried this. I work 12 hour days and it get very cold up here. Like to figure out a way so I can drive a 300TD this winter as a "winter bomb"
Dave

TheDon · #2 10-02-2008, 09:23 PM

ForcedInduction was toying around with the idea, not sure if he implemented it.

Get the glow plugs working, its a proven system that works and works well

asnowsquall · #3 10-02-2008, 09:31 PM

Maybe I just haven't had a healthy engine or glow plug system, but they don't like the cold up here from what I've seen. I know someone at work and his dad always had Mercedes diesels and he said even when they were new they didn't start well.
The problem I see with this is I think you want it between the turbo and intake manifold which isn't going to happen. hhmmm.
Here is a cummins heater.

redassag00 · #4 10-02-2008, 09:42 PM

I had a 24 Valve Cummins with the Toaster grid heaters. Worked great and started unassisted on cold days, even below Zero with no problem.

Simpler=Better · #5 10-02-2008, 10:06 PM

Refresh the glow plug system(New pencil-style plugs, new fuse, clean all connections, replace wires and solder all connections)

Mine's in good shape and I can get the car to start in -20*F (I cycle twice/thrice just to be safe)

C Sean Watts · #6 10-02-2008, 10:19 PM

Cycle the glow plugs more than one time before starting.

#7 10-02-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redassag00

I had a 24 Valve Cummins with the Toaster grid heaters. Worked great and started unassisted on cold days, even below Zero with no problem.

Its a cmpletely different engine. The Cummins will start in places a 617 would barely turn over in.

Quote:

ForcedInduction was toying around with the idea, not sure if he implemented it.

I had it installed but I never got around to wiring it. There is no way its going to be installed and working without some significant modifications to the intake manifold, turbo, air filter and charging systems.

The only real place to install it without major alum. welding is before the turbo.

If the glow system is working properly and the engine has halfway decent compression it should be able to start down to at leat 15*F on glowplugs alone. After 1 minute of glowing and lots of cranking I was able to start my engine in -10*f weather without a block heater.

The best bet is to always use the block heater below freezing, even if you have to carry a 100' cord in the trunk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Sean Watts

Cycle the glow plugs more than one time before starting.

No need. The light on the dash is not how long the glowplugs are on, its only a time suggestion. It glows for 1 minute or until the starter is used.

asnowsquall · #8 10-03-2008, 06:17 AM

A long time ago they had outlets at the base of the parking lot lights where you could plug in. Its really only a problem at work after 12+ hours in the cold parking lot. With my 1987 300TD that I had I carried an extra school bus battery and used jumper cables which really seemed to help.

Think just 5 glowplugs screwed into the intake manifold would help? At this stage I guess its simpler to put the Webasto in, just need to find a spot for it. The cool part about that is I've got the timer so I could have my car warmed up by the time I get to it after work. I think I'll look more into putting this in. If I put it in I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Dave

#9 10-03-2008, 06:22 AM

I think the intake heater from a Powerjoke or a Duralax would be a better choice. The stock manifold could be easily drilled and tapped for it at the EGR port.

asnowsquall · #10 10-03-2008, 07:32 AM

wicked nice Forced!

redassag00 · #11 10-03-2008, 09:52 AM

I have the afterglow relay in my SDL from a newer OM603, helps on those cold days.

Graplr · #12 10-03-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

No need. The light on the dash is not how long the glowplugs are on, its only a time suggestion. It glows for 1 minute or until the starter is used.

I thought the glow cycle was 30 seconds? I'm pretty sure I remember hearing a click (cycling off) after 30 seconds.

asnowsquall · #13 10-03-2008, 10:25 AM

Bajaman · #14 10-03-2008, 10:57 AM

I'll be interested in seeing if this works. I have my doubts. I tried using a hair dryer in the intake when I couldn't get mine started at -5. Didn't seem to help, and thats 1000w of heat...

pawoSD · #15 10-03-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bajaman

I'll be interested in seeing if this works. I have my doubts. I tried using a hair dryer in the intake when I couldn't get mine started at -5. Didn't seem to help, and thats 1000w of heat...

But it was being dissipated through the air cleaner and all that tubing, so little to no heat was likely getting to the actual combustion chamber. Also, in an indirect injection diesel like these, the combustion begins up in the pre-chamber and spreads down into the cylinder....so startup tools used on direct injection won't work well on an IDI engine, they need glow plugs.