Starter health is important to your diesel.

[whunter]

Starter health is important to your diesel!!!

How well do you know your diesel?
Can you tell when your starter is getting old and weak?
Is starter cranking speed important?
When do you need more cranking power from the starter, summer or winter?
How long can you crank the starter?
How long must the starter rest between cranking?
Can you destroy the starter?
Will knowing these answers save you money?

These are serious deep thought questions, do you know the answers?

[Hatterasguy]

Well my starter was replaced in 1994 with a MB one. My starter doesn't work that hard. My engine kind of just turns over once and comes right to life. When its warm it seems to just start with a touch of the key. But when it does have to crank it cranks quickly and does not get hot very fast.


How is that?

[whunter]

Edit:
More critical data.

http://www.eng.wayne.edu/page.php?id=754

Preparing for Extremes
http://asumag.com/mag/university_preparing_extremes/

http://www.difflock.com/diesel/troubleshooting.shtml

http://www.internationaldelivers.com/assets/pdf/dyk214.pdf

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/16594482/gotomsg/16655873.cfm

Starter cranking RPM sound files


.

[redbaronph123]

i think i have a dying starter. Whether the engine is cold or not.. the starter churns at a quite slow pace at start then livens up a bit. That's when the engine starts.

My battery was bought last May 2004, and is still quite strong.

At times when i start the car it makes a sound that goes like it is slipping or something. My mechanic friend suggested that we check out the bendix as it might be sticking. Havent gotten around to bringing it in for a checkup though.. but the car is really a dog to start!.... i normally crank it in a couple of seconds.. if the engine doesnt catch.. i turn it off and start the cycle of starting the car again...

[whunter]

Hello redbaronph123
Sounds like your starter has gone critical.
Suggest you replace it before it dies.

[mikemover]

Cranking speed is very important.

An old, "tired" starter will eventually get to the point where it will not turn the engine fast enough to get it started, just like the effects of a weak battery. This will become most evident in cold weather, of course. Especially if your engine has a lot of miles and lower compression, or the glow plugs aren't exactly new. Cranking power is much more critical in cold weather...obviously the engine will be more difficult to start....the oil is colder and doesn't flow as well....batteries will typically not perform at their peak....

I wouldn't recommend continuosly cranking on a starter for long periods of time without giving it a break to cool down. It will get very hot and reduce the lifespan of the starter. Such abuse can easily finish off an older, worn starter. I've also seen someone melt their starter wires by doing this.

If the engine doesn't fire in the first 10-15 seconds, I'd wait 30-45 seconds (with the glow plugs on) and try again.

ANY extra knowledge about your car can potentially save you money.

Mike

[BrierS]

Originally Posted by whunter

How well do you know your diesel?
Can you tell when your starter is getting old and weak?
Is starter cranking speed important?
When do you need more cranking power from the starter, summer or winter?
How long can you crank the starter?
How long must the starter rest between cranking?
Can you destroy the starter?
Will knowing these answers save you money?

These are deep thought questions, do you know the answers?

Okay. I want to give this a try.
1) Yes. I think I can tell when my starter is getting old and weak.
2) Yes. Starter cranking speed is important.
3) Though I want to say you would need more during the winter due to oil thickness, engine component temperature being colder, I am going to say you need the same summer and winter. The cranking power of a healthy starter should be the same summer and winter. The available amps from the battery would be the factor during the winter.????
4) I read the answer to this in one of the manuals but don't remember. I will guess no longer than 30 seconds but the answer might be until it overheats, depletes the battery, or starts the vehicle.
5) Yes. You can destroy the starter but shouldn't.
6) Yes. So I am going to find the answer to number 4.

I have a spare starter and really don't want to have to use it. The condition of the bushings and brushes must be considered. Yes?

[dikyviking]

Anybody know the rpm the starter should be cranking the engine at?

Thanks

[barry123400]

Originally Posted by dikyviking

Anybody know the rpm the starter should be cranking the engine at?

Thanks

No but I have been considering taching the fan and recording again every year. The engine temp and ambient temp would have to be duplicated year to year. Before it starts and if you monitored the batttery voltage under the starter load mught be interesting. I have to wonder what a brand new starter and battery with good wiring and terminals would produce for engine rpms. That would have to be gathered from a good compression engine of course. I just ignore this area as long as the engine catches fast under the existing conditions. Plus no difference is present in the starter sound.