I'm in New England and the forecast is for sub-zero temps for the week. My 83 300D with no block heater had lots of problems running this past weekend. Any suggestions on what I might be able to do to help it start tomorrow morning? I have a couple of old moving blankets that I plan to put on the engine, I also plan to bring it up to full temp at about 10:00 in the evening. It has Delvac oil but that wasn't quite enough. Should I leave a trickle charge running on the battery (huge VARTA MB battery that seems very strong). Any suggestions regarding cycling the glow plugs prior to starting? Are dipstick heaters any help, maybe some kind of magnetic stick-on heater? Maybe I should just get up every few hours and start the thing to be sure. It was doing fine down to about 3 degrees, hard to start but it did finally start. Not so at -3 degrees, real strong fast cranking but wouldn't light off until it warmed up a bit. Any advise appreciated.

go to wal-mart and get an electic blanket and throw it over the motor.

there are magnetic pan heaters. get a block heater if youare going to live in new england and drive a smoker. the car last longer.

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g-wagen

If you are really desparate you can light a fire under your car. I have done it before, it works. THe first time I did it I worried that I would set the car on fire, but it did not get anywhere near hot enough - I guess the engine works like a big heat sink, the heat just moves to the cold(er) part of the engine. Here's what I did:
salvation army frying pan and a coffee can inside it. poke a bunch of holes around the bottom of the coffee can and then light 7 or so charcoal briquettes inside the coffee can. Slide it under the car and come back in an hour.
I would only do this if you don't have anyplace to plug it in. If you can plug it in, get a magnetic heater and stick it on the oil pan, or consider spending $50 on an adhesive oil pan heater - I have used them they work about as well as a block heater. andy (minnesota)

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

Do you have an additive in the fuel (like Power Service) to keep the diesel from turning to jelly? I think it starts getting thick and dropping out particulate crystals at 14 degrees F. You can lower that temperature with the additive.

Ken300D

well... I guess I'm in the same boat...in somerset ma. last sat. morning at 5 degrees 240d wouldn't start and noblock heater. tried it later in the day and it fired up. temp will be down to single digits next few days. I'm considering a heater to splice into the radiatior hose. I've read the threads on installing the MB block heater but it seems like a bigger job than I can seriously consider this eve. I'm going to try two things. one is a hot plate under the oil pan to keep the oil warm and the other is the trick of pointing a hair dryer into the intake to hopefully warm up the pre chambers a little. that with some fuel additive is my best hope. I should know in 20 hours or so.... I'm open to any other suggestions. cheers, mark

dear rmmagon, greetings from the north shore...........a little nippy perhaps.......concerning cold weather starts. #1= working glow plugs!...run them 2 0r 3 cycles (until the RELAY clicks off) BEFORE cranking the engine. #2= keep a FULL tank of fresh deisel. #3= add POWER SERVICE prior to filling the tank (it will MIX better). #4= FRESH fuel filters. #5= properly adjusted valves (at this point, checking and remedying timing chain stretch). #6= STRONG FULLY CHARGED BATTERY. #7= clean grounds on the battery and starter and anything else! #8= clean air filter. #9= good compression in engine. #10= jumper cables and another strong battery and or a jumper pack. #11= block heater (or even taking a single heating element (hot tray or whatever they are called) $15 or so at a hardware store and place it a couple or inches from the sump for an hour or two. these are what college students use to cook in dorm rooms. #12= keepthe car running all night............a garage does help..........best wishes always and good luck> a properly functioning charge system helps a LOT! spo out.

i started this morning with no block heating .. altho it was not as cold today as the last few:p about 23 deg F .. it even went to a downright tropical 30 deg f this afternoon !

i agree with spo - cycle the glow plugs a couple of times before
cranking and i'll add one- the last cycle (3rd) wait 30 seconds after the light on the dash goes out then crank. keep the starter going a tiny bit after you think the engine is firing. adjust rpms to 1000 with the throttle for about a minute - then drive. this will help on your first start of the day - should be clear sailing after that.

all is assuming you have good glow plugs and a strong battery. good luck.
bob
(freezing solid in CT)

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

It has definately been damn cold around here. Luckily I have a garage and a block heater. Unfortunately, you seem to have neither. Cycle glow plugs about 4 times, idle it up (or hold pedal halfway down on start up) Today she fired over (19 degrees over night) I have a feeling anything under 15 is hell on my 240D. Definately think about installing a block heater.

In- line fuel heaters - these are electric devices that big-rig truckers use...... also there are non-electric models that route radiator fluid to heat the fuel that passes through an enclosed chamber.... You might find info on these items searching internet "diesel fuel heaters".... or stopping at heavy equipment diesel shop nearby.

Not exactly something to help get you started..... but they've got to improve performance while driving...... causing more complete cumbustion and better fuel mileage during winter weather

Am a truck driver who drives a 240D for home use.... fuel heater and water separator are two adaptations I'm planning to add in the near future..... routing the fuel line through these components prior to fuel entering the cannister filter.

It got down to about 2 degrees here last week and the in-line water hose heater wasn't up to the task. I got a magnetic oil pan heater (300watt) and it works great. Keeps the oil warm and it starts right up. Cost about $30.00 at Autozone and can be installed permanently.

good luck.

Bill

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Current Vehicles:
1990 Mercedes 300SE (147,000)
1985 Mercedes 300SD (203,000)
1983 Mercedes 240D (167,000)

Guys,
Spo123 made a good list, but I think driving the car regularly and pretty hard in cold weather also helps. My daughter has our 1982 240D in Troy, NY now. This car would not start a few years ago in the summer! It now has a good battery, good plugs, a great starter (Fastlane), new engine mounts (broken mounts will waste starter engergy throwing the engine around under the hood, and not spin the crank), Delvac 1, Power Service and Redline, reasonably fresh filters and it has started flawlessly every day in the last two week cold spell. Troy has lots of hills and so the car gets a pretty good workout every day. I think it got down to minus 15 degrees one night. No block heater and no garage, so, while it needs a little persistence some mornings which undoubtedly strains the starter (kind of half runs for a few seconds, maybe ten, on its way to starting) it has been working well. No midnight starts unless there is a food run required. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

i paid about $50 for the block heater installed by my local indy. my 300 turbo already had the wiring with plug from the factory. the plug was located near the grill on top of the bumper.

it definately was THE fix for me. no matter what the temp, i plug it in and SLEEP WELL knowing that the klattering beast WILL fire INSTANTLY whenever i want. i dont know what the elect cost is, but dont even care. the peace of mind knowing the car will fire with the warm block is well worth the $ for the elect.

and... it just HAS to be better for the motor in the long run to turn over in the warmed condition. MUCH less strain on battery and starter.

- benton in atlanta (12-F in NW suburbs last sat AM, lowest temp in 2 years)

Another trick is to use a blanket type battery heater. Just do a yahoo search for it and you will find plenty of suppliers. A cold battery loses about half its power. Makes for slow cranking.
My uncle use to put a metal trouble light with a 100W bulb under the hood at night with his cars. Looked funny, but he said it helped.

Gentlemen,
well... I'm here at work after and early morn start, 6 am, blanket over engine, and hot plate on low setting placed against sump. Kept the oil warm and started quickly after the proper glow cycle. best answer is still block heater. that will happen later. cheers, mark.


81 240d
83 300dt 5spd project

Synthetic Oil! Makes a huge difference in the cranking speed of the engine in subzero temps. If can't "afford" it, just use it in the winter. It works even when you can't plug in. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K