I read where the germans in world war 2 would light newspaper fires in the intakes of their diesels when they were deep in mother russia.

I like the idea of using a light bulb or electric heating pad on the engine over night.

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85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

a couple dangerous ways to do it-

a rag w/ Gasoline(yes, that stinky ***** everyone else uses) over the air intake- dont let it get sucked in!!, but the explosive fumes will help light off the oilburner.


the coals under the oilpan works, I remember my father doing that, he'd shovel a few outta the woodstove in the morning into a folgers can and slide that under the car. we didnt have that fancy store bought EE-lec-tricity.

but WHEN i am going to be boondockin in the winter, I bring a can of ether, a 100amp battery charger/starter, a remote starter switch (so I can control the ether AND the starter at the same time)and a honda 2000w genny. if you are going to use ether, unhook the glowplugs if ya got em(cummins dont)

I've never been stranded with that cold weather starting package.

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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.

That`s the picture, thanks for posting it again.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

That's a great story! When we finally got out of Battle Mountain about noon, it was still at least -20F and the car had problems with carburetor icing (remember "carburetors?"). I finally got a piece of cardboard to put in front of the radiator and we continued on. There were dead trucks all over the road, their diesel fuel had congealed. One was a Brinks truck -- talk about "cold cash!" The weather warmed a bit when we dropped down onto the salt flats; by the time we got to Salt Lake City it was "only" -10F.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

All my efforts....combination of incandescent bulb, blow dryer, and greenhouse effect....failed. So I had it towed.

Between three drivers, we have 15 tows a year with AAA. So 12 left!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

In another thread I recalled how the Perkins 4.108 engine I swapped into an old Vega had a device consisting of a heater coil and a valve that ignited diesel fuel in the intake which would be sucked into the engine upon starting.



There were no glow plugs on this engine.

I wonder if a variation on that for cold weather starts would be to hold a propane torch at the intake while cranking. Along the same lnes as a hair dryer or a heat gun, just a whole lot hotter. I'd try it here, but the coldest we get is about 35.

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

now why not a small space heater placed pointed underneath? i have used done that before with great success... one could also get a propane torpedo style heater and point under engine... not too close to body work but feel with your hand...

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85 mercedes 300D-T 258k miles

That's called a Flame Plug, they are popular on euro farm / construction tractors. My International 3500 with a German built D239 direct injected Neuss diesel came with ether start in the US but a flame plug when sold in the euro market.

There are also screw in intake heaters used on Deutz and other diesels.

A torpedo heater could be more of a problem that it is worth, I bought a 80's Ford diesel van that someone tried that trick. The grille, turn signals, marker lights are melted, hood has burnt paint and the headlights are cracked.

There is a company called Zero Start that makes a built in cold start fluid that is popular on large trucks.

starting an old perkins in the winter was almost impossible. I would hold the fuel shut off closed and get the engine cranking before allowing any fuel into the cylinders. Gets some heat to the cylinders when t was too cold for the block heater to work (very worn out engine)

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1982 300sd, new project car to restore

It doesn't matter if you know what you're doing, as long as you look like you know what you're doing.