Hi,

My 83 has never had trouble starting. Sometimes if its real cold Ill glow it for 30 seconds twice, but in any weather down to around 20, a glow for the duration of the light and then just two cylinders cranking (just two 'reeeer' sounds) and the car always starts.

All my glowplugs are fine, new proper battery, anti-gel in the tank, and I use 50% D1 with 50% d1300s oil.

Out in pittsburgh the past two nights, it was 0F on Fri night and 6F on sunday night. Both nights the car was heavily driven until about 1030 or 11.

Both days, when I went to start the car maybe 10 or 11 hours later, I would have to go through 3 glowing/cranking cycles, where each time I glowed, I let it go for 30 seconds, so between each time I cranked for a few seconds, the engine got a minute and a half of glowing time. Each time I attempted to start it, I held the throttle down 1/4 to 1/2 way.

Each morning when this happened, after it started, it waqs fine for the rest of the day. Even after sitting off for 4 hours in 6-10 degree weather, I glowed it once for 30 seconds, held the throttle 1/4 way, and then cranked it for just a flick of the switch at which point it caught, as per the normal.

Im used to not even hearing one compression 'reeer' sound when I engage the starter. I understand that in the cold, sometimes you have to crank it for up to 30 seconds to get it to start. But, to me, who have not had to do this yet in the 2 years Ive had this car, it still makes me worry a bit, as its not a normal way of life. Ive read all about cold starting, etc in the archives, done my searches, etc.

So, my question... A lot of people praise their cars for starting below zero with the first glow, etc. Should I assume that in temperatures around and below 0F, a block heater or heated garage is always used?

Is my starting story pretty normal, given the temperatures and no plugin heater? Ive read a lot of stories of trouble, but I DID get my car started in under 5 minutes, it was just much harder than in my usual below freezing temperatures I an typically in.

I know the typical things like a block heater, synth oils, etc., but I think my real issue was just that the air in the engine was SO cold, that starting was made troublesome. Does this sound right?

Are my options more or less install a block heater or go at the intake with a propane torch or heat gun to start it easy? Or should I investigate something else (Ive tested the glowplugs, and know the relay is fine, because it always clicks every time I test it)?

Thanks for the help, sorry for the lengthy messages I posted tonight.

JMH

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)