When I worked as a diesel mechanic on 2 separate occasions I encounter Engines that would not start even on starting fluid. That was in mild Southern CA weather with direct injection engines (no glow plugs). In the case of these 2 it was compression that as too low.
If the starting fluid does nothing at and I mean no attempt to burn or detonate then there is not enough heat to burn it.

If it is cold were you are people have said that switching to synthetic Oil allows the Engine to crank faster.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Yes, you are still waiting to know when the car has gotten started. I took off the manifolds because I wanted to change the manifold gasket and starter anyway. While I have the turbo off, I rebuilt it. I replaced the starter. I also replaced the non operative block heater cord. For the last few days, I have been trying to get the lower turbo drain tube off. Getting this out of the engine is the hardest part of working on this engine. Hopefully I'll have it out tonight. I will also change the engine mounts while the manifolds are off. Since my time is limited I'm thinking it will be about a week before it is all back together and then I can see if it starts with the new start motor, new glow plugs, valve adjustment and functioning block heater. Also I oiled the hood hinges. That should help the engine start better.

"Also I oiled the hood hinges. That should help the engine start better. "

Not until you clean the ashtrays and oil the door hinges..... .

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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

You never answered CMAC's question (post # 3 in this thread). I'll ask it again, how is your compression? I don't care what else you rebuild, clean, replace, oil, adjust, etc., if it doesn't have good compression, it won't start.

Don't give me the , "It was running fine before" line. The loss of power would be so gradual you wouldn't notice the decline. If it doesn't have sufficient compression (apx. 270 P.S.I.minimum) it isn't going to start in cooler weather.

Before you spend another penny, CHECK THE COMPRESSION!

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Well ;

I've had a few OM617's that only had 200 # and in Southern California once tuned and so on, they always started O.K., didn't have much power but started O.K. reliably down in the low 40's F temp wise .

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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

Well, good for you, doesn't answer the question of how HIS compression is.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Agreed but you acting like 12 years old doesn't help anything either.....

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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

OK, I haven't checked compression. And you're right. I should have done that maybe first or second thing. The things I have done are things I was planning on doing anyway though. It'll be nice to have new, tight fitting manifolds. They were loose before. Also, having new engine mounts, engine shocks, turbo drain O rings, functioning block heater and new starter will all be nice to have even if that wasn't the reason it didn't start.

Yup, nothing like "while I'm already in there" to turn a thirty minute job into an "all-dayer".

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

No kidding. Removing a broken stud from the intake manifold on my 240D turned into rebuilding an OM617.952 to swap in.

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Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission - engine spun a rod bearing

1979 300SD, ~90k original miles, all stock

Yesterday, he switched forums and started a thread about the turbo drain tube on BenzWorld. Reminds me of switching casinos when life isn't meeting expectations while in Las Vegas.
Latest slightly noteworthy story line twist:
"The DIY articles say "reach down and pull out the lower drain tube". They don't warn you that simply "pulling out" that drain tube is the most difficult thing you will ever do in your life. I'd rather remove the starter motor for an OM617 with a butter knife than have to pull this tube out."


Most difficult thing one will ever do in life?
Words of response escape me.
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Remove the starter motor with a butter knife?
Strike two. I got nothing.

Hope the new Starter helps it crank faster. As the Engine has to crank well to take the compression.

However, you don't have to answer questions nor follow advice. It is just that what you do will be read by others with similar problems and if you fix the issue it will help them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I am not going to address this specifically to gregp1962 but incase someone new to mechanics is reading this. Some parts of the car work as a system and when there is trouble asking on a Forum only sometimes targets some single specific thing that solves an issue. For the rest it requires some plan/procedure of trouble shooting with the most likely, cheapest, and things you have the skill and or equipment at the top of the list.

Skipping something on the logical list of things to check often has you taking a lot of time and effort and then have to go back to what you skipped and do that any way. And from personal experience what you skipped is often what is causing the issue.

Way back in the 1960's I changed the Points, Spark Plugs and wires on my Truck. After which it would not start.
I chased many random causes before I buckled down and started a logical procedure and I found that when I adjusted the Points I had forgotten to tighten the screw that locked the point adjustment (I found that by re-checking the point adjustment even though I believed I had done it correctly). That was 2 about hours later and one dented fender where I beat on it with my fist. The dent is still there.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

When I am done, I will post the results so that you can learn from my mistakes and/or success. I'm only able to work on it a few hours a week. So, it is going way more slowly than it should. Hoping to reinstall the manifold/turbo assembly today.

Nothing wrong with gaining experience. It in general is painful to some extent. A passage if you like.

Even when I had a lot of experience. If a problem got really complex and hard to find. I made a habit of just stopping for a period of time. On many situations when I went back to it. It was resolved fast. Happened enough times that I suspect the subconscious mind might be in play.

I always was just smart enough to never let my emotions become involved. They can reduce all ability to think rationally and logically. Any tendency to become frustrated or mad for example. You are no longer thinking properly.