Reminds me of a gas tractor we had that got water in the exhaust. (Summer)Start with ether, firing on only one. We let it sit in the driveway for about half an hour, every couple minutes you could hear another cylinder start to fire

On topic, I can cold start down to -20*F(Haven't owned it in colder weather to find out) If that #1GP goes though, she's only good down to 50*F

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I've started my 85TD at 35 below zero F without a block heater. It would not stay running because the fuel was gelled. I was told by the tow truck driver that he sees it a lot because Denver does not winterize diesel fuel. Mountain towns do by mixing #1 and #2 in various proportions depending upon the typical temperature in the region. I was surprised to learn this (if it is true).
I wonder if some of the starting problems we are discussing would be alleviated with proper fuels or additives. For instance, would straight #1 diesel mitigate the 'only get once chance to start' problem?

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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

ten below zero yesterday. no block heater, sitting for 12 hours. fired right up on the first glow cycle. I have started her at -18 before, no block heater. now I have a circulation heater, but I forgot to plug her in monday night when I got home at 1:30 am after a 280 mile RT.

5 new Bosch GP's this fall, 5-40 rotella, recent valve adjustment, and 400+psi compression makes all the difference. really its the oil that makes the biggest difference. no go at +7*F w/ 15-40 in it. but I was not a pro cold diesel starter at that point in time, either- my first winter with the benz.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

my car eats glow plug relays...another relay died on me...


but I can start it in FL's cold of 30F (sometimes) without an issue.

My the coldest I started my 82 SD was 9F. No garage, no block heater, and well over 300k on the clock. I had to keep my foot on the till it warmed up. That was after I changed the glow plugs. Before the GPs it wouldn't even start at all below 35.

The '95 doesn't seem to be phased by cold weather at all. Starts instantly at soon at the light goes out. (When I don't have gelled biodiesel in there!) It hasn't gotten down to 9 yet, but close.

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Are prolly the two most important things as tight valves lower the compression right when you need it most and thick oil slows the cranking speed.....

Synthetic oils help a LOT .

What bugs me is all the stupid customers whi skip having the valves adjusted " they're FINE ! " then ***** when the car has cold start issues or misses ~ how the hell would they know if the valves are ' fine ' or not ? when they go tight , they're SILENT so you cannot tell...

A good running engine has valves that click like grandma's old sewing machine .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

What gives, i had half tank of fuel with power service additive in it, and it fail to start, temp was 16*F, it started on that same temp every time but it struggles, i cycle my GP 3 times and start until it runs. but today it just wont, battery is probably getting tired of that long cranking, looks like i have to drive long and far for a while...

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

No garage and no block heater I keep a battery tender hooked into my battery to keep it warm overnight. I started my car in -30c (-22f) in a few seconds of cranking after it has been sitting for days. It was so cold my door wouldn't latch when I closed the door, it would bounce back open a few times.

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1982 300D Silver/Blue 612000kms (Sold 2010) Now at 660000kms, original engine, original tranny.

While not a good thing, my 617 starts faster in the extreme cold than my wife's M103....well, maybe not faster, but about the same.

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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'm tempted to wire up a float charger in addition to a block heater; that way I'd have a nice fresh battery and warm block in the morning

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I wired a snap-on battery tender under my dash with a 120v relay to make contact when the car is plugged in. As soon as it's unplugged the relay opens and the battery tender is disconnected from the battery/alternator of the running engine. It is why I can start my car in our current weather. A strong warm battery makes a big difference.

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1982 300D Silver/Blue 612000kms (Sold 2010) Now at 660000kms, original engine, original tranny.

Well I havn't really driven the SDL in the winter, but when I first got it I wanted to try so I left it outside unpluged and when I started it in the morning the dash temp guage was showing -2. I just turned the key when the GP light went out and it fired right up. I need to figure out whats going on with that car, its been starting poorly on new GP's. I'll have to see if they are actualy glowing at some point.

My 300SD never started well, that car was shot. I had to plug it in if it was going to be in the low 20's that night or it wouldn't start.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I think I found the threshold for my 240D starting. I plugged in last night and it started up fine at 10 degrees. Then it sat out in front of my work for almost nine hours (worked a little late) and tried to start it at 16 degrees. It coughed, but didn't start, and then I ran the battery down (didn't take long) on subsequent attempts. I used a 50 second glow on the unsuccessful attempt, and 60 seconds when I jump started it, so I think if I had done 60 seconds the first time, it may have started.

I've been getting excessive smoke on startup, and a little white smoke along with lack of power (hard to tell on a 240) even when warmed up, so I need to check a few things. I already know the tank strainer is clogged, but not badly, and I want to have my injectors tested. It also occured to me that I really should check the timing chain stretch. I forgot to do it when I adjusted the valves, and at the rate I drive the car, it won't be due for that service again for about three years.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I think it got down onto the 40s one morning when I pulled mine out of the garage.

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg