It's like 25 out, I have b20 some motor oil and diesel #2 in the tank...I tried some ether and cranked for about a minute. I wasn't planning on driving so I didn't have the block heater plugged in. Why do I kid myself into thinking to ol' girl will start up? I'm sure some people here have no problems with freezing temps, but me...no way. As for the cold starts, I've searched, I'm more just pointing out that there's no way I'm going anywhere and yet I got all bundled up, got my ether can out and gave it my best! Ohhh!! My glow plug light started workign again though! PARTY! Self Healing powers of the MB 240d!

A question...is running motor oil as fuel bad for the engine? I have about 1/2 gallon of used crude in there, and it ran fine for a while but lately it's been hessitating at higher RPMs espicially when the engine warms up. I've read on a few diesel forums about burning crude but maybe I put in too much.

Thanks.

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'82 240D, 4-speed, 617 turbo engine

I tried running motor oil and decided I would keep it down to about a gallon in a full tank of fuel. Just my rule, no science to back it up. Edit: I was referring to used motor oil.

What are you going to do to get her started again?

I read somewhere that it wasn't very smart to use ether with a diesel.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

When running used motor oil, you are in reality turning your clean fuel into dirty fuel. I have had several friends over the years cause problems to their truck's and car's by running dirty motor oil. One guy even filtered his used diesel oil to 5 micron and still had trouble with injector fouling. I relate it to using diesel in a can to clean say wheelbaring grease, then pouring it into your fuel tank.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

yeah, I had no indication of starting at all. I got the ether from the place I got Biodiesel, the guy was a big diesel fan. We use ether on some of our busses that can't be put close to a plug (yeah I know ghetto garage eh?)

There was really no bark, I cycled till the light went off about 6 times before each attempt, which was 3 in all, each one about 30-40 seconds of cranking. I'll just take my gasser jeep but I really don't like driving it, it's sort of a rock crawler, no top, roll cage, 12PSI in the tires and lockers, it's not fun in the snow. I also just need to plug in the block heater and it should start right up, my roommate missed the bus it wasn't like life or death.

About the used motor, could a fuel injector cleaner help out, or are my injectors basically SOL?
-Nate

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'82 240D, 4-speed, 617 turbo engine

I've been using used engine oil mixed with Diesel fuel for about a year now. I filter it first thru a cloth filter and use about 2 to 4 %.

So far I notice no difference in engine operation, starts easily when cold, no noticeable smoke and no plugged filters for 10,000+ miles.

P E H

Like P.E.H. said, if you do it right probably no ill effect. However I would not do it myself unless I had to do it to be able to drive the car.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

It's about the same temp here in the frozen north country, and my '76 is cold starting OK- a little more hesitant, but still OK.

While cranking on ether, did the engine even bark or cough?

If glow plug light is intermittant, probably because the relay is intermittant, so glow plugs may not be working at all. In fact, if plugs were working and the ether got in, I think you'd get quite a bang out of your engine!

New motor oil- good for IP lubrication with low sulpher fuel. Used motor oil- supposed to be OK in small amounts- the idea being there is no benefit to using it, but it's a great way to get rid of it a bit at a time. I do the same with my stale chain saw gas- just a couple of quarts per tankfull until it's gone (same idea as the Air Force mixing toxic waste in their jet fuel- if they can do it why can't we?).