Cold weather starting according to the owners manual

[JDmills]

Curious:
I was reading the owners manual about cold weather starting, and it states sometihing to the effect that: below 0 degrees, pump accelerator three times before starting. My question is what does this do?

Jason

[84300DT]

don't know. all i know is that if i do that the engine is harder to start.
if anything i crank with the pedal about 1/2 way to full power until it starts.
otherwise no pressure on the pedal at all.
block heater on for 3 hours prior startup in that kind of weather for sure

gee i'm soo looking forward to it..

any snow up your way yet?

[pawoSD]

I agree, today I tried starting mine without ever touching the pedal when it was about 27 degrees out, I let it glow for....maybe 20 seconds (I installed the extended glow relay last year...so it glows a couple minutes when cold) and then I cranked it, after 3 rotations or so it was running no problem. When I have pumped the pedal or held it down a ways, it takes longer to start and the engine coughs for a few cranks....so I will not be using the pedal anymore....now that I know it starts much better without it.

[kamil]

Hmmmm.... I going to stop pressing the pedal from now on.

Anybody have any scientific data as to why the car might start easier ?

[P.E.Haiges]

I was at Lake Tahoe a few years ago, high altitude and about 30*F, '80 300SD which usually started easily. It wouldn't start with my foot on acelerator about 1/2 way which is what I usually do.

For some unknown reason, I left my foot off accelerator and it started. From then on I didn't step on accelerator and it started easily.

I have no explanation why it wouldn't start with accelerator depressed in the cold high altitude.

P E H

Too much diesel per little bits of air getting in the engine?
I could forsee this being a problem when starting...getting your mixture right to allow for the best burn when super cold is important.
Any other ideas?