I have started a number of Mercedes Diesels by pushing or pulling.. It will work either way. Tom is right but I never worry to much about bleeding the air by pumping the hand pump, usually bleed the air at the top of the injectors and fill the canister fuel filter with half gasoline and half diesel or keresene. I have started Mercedes diesels that have set for 12 years using this method without changing the 12 year old fuel.. Of course a really strong battery will more than help.

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James A. Harris