At - 11 deg F (-24 C), I become a believer in kerosene
 

Topped up my tank to roughly 2/3s last night on the 300d on the way home, and added a bit more than half a gallon of kerosene, first time trying it (used Powerservice additive other winters).

This afternoon we are at -24 C here (-11 F) with gusting winds to 30 mph, meaning the wind chill outside my office is the equivalent of -35 F.

At 3:30 I could bear the suspense no more. Had to go outside to try starting it.

Two glow cycles and the car fired up in about two seconds, and I mean fired up, strong.

Fresh battery and alternator, and recently adjusted valves, check. But I have never had that sort of starting prowess before when leaving work on an extremely cold day (would usually require more cranking and would not necessarily fire off on all 5 pots).

I am a kerosene believer. Expensive but a lot cheaper than a tow and a lot safer than frozen body parts.

You may feel the windchill. To the engine, windchill will not make it harder to start.. it's still -11F.

Only a half gallon? Surprised that made such a difference.

That was the amount I saw indicated in earlier threads (one gallon to one tankful).

The manual allows for gas or kerosene in colder climates. F*cking brrr. Was 17 this am on the way into the office myself.

Cold!
 

In Atlanta 17F is cold indeed! Freeze the peaches!

Gas may be a cheaper substitute for the kero. Although there may be places for cheap kerro. I think Mercedes allows a percentage of gasoline added in cold conditions.

My 85 300D owners manual has kerosene as a winter fuel additive only, not gasoline. Anyone know what year that change was made?

In the 1950's the 180D and 190D owner's manual said you could thin the diesel fuel with up to 15% regular gas. It specified not to use premium, because it contained vanadium which somehow or other attacked the fuel injection pump.

I found this out by reading my owner's manual!

What oil are you running in the winter?

I maintain several large 2MW,16 cyl diesel generators (emergency standby) outside of Chicago. My gens need to start at any temp and be at stable speed in less than 10 seconds. Today it was -10F w/50 knot winds blowing snow into the engine cabinet. I use a 70-30 blend of D2 to D1 with anti gel (double dose) & block heaters. Coldest I've ever had to start up was -16F. No sweat starting today. I use the same mix in my Benz's. Works great. Use the block heater and keep your glow plugs in good shape. Just don't use BioD in the winter, it will gel. BTW other friends here use JP4, kero, Jet A, and other jet fuel blends in the winter in their OM617's (pretty common around airports with jets - the mechanics sump the jets during pre-flight & save up the 'juice' for their old MB diesels.

Rotella T6 5w40

Gas has not been recommended by Mercedes for some time. Based on the old threads I read here and on the other list, it seems like they changed the recommendation around the time when the w123 was introduced.

The small indy tow operators I know around here mix in gas in their older GM diesels.