0F this morning, it STARTED!
 

My 92 300D 2.5 Turbo managed to start this morning after being left outside for 12 hours in the wind and 0F temperatures. Glowed it once, turned the key and it rumbled to life. That's the coldest it's been around here since I've owned this car, and I'm pleased that it started.

The car has 173k on it and the glow plugs are about 3 years old and the MB battery is the same age - installed by the previous owner.

Anybody else have diesel starting success stories this morning???

Chris Blanchard
1994 E420, 131k <=== FOR SALE
1992 300D 2.5 Turbo, 173k

10F this morning, -3F with wind chill. She started with one glow cycle, just pumped the pedal once before turning the key. The coldest it has been here so far is 6F, started that day too. BTW... no block heater. Not bad for a car with almost 260k on it! :)

My new addition, an '85 300SD started right up almost instantly and right after the glow plug light went ount on the first glow cycle.

However, my other '85 300SD started only after letting the block heater run overnight. I don't think I could have gotten it started otherwise.

It was also 0 deg F.

It started nicely this morning. 2F, no block heater, start after 1st glow, no smoking. Just a little idle variation, maybe 50 RPM @ 1 Hz. Old glow plugs, original relay, 4 year old interstate battery, no fuel additives.

it's not near as cold here in Atlanta but yesterday after work my 300sdl stalled for a second when i tried to start, then came back to life. this morning was about 20 and it started with no problem. what about the cold weather makes diesels stall sometime? i thought i needed a new battery.

My '86 SDL started last night at the end of my shift. 12:30 am, 10th floor of open parking garage, outside air temp 6 degrees. Started at 5:45 am today at home, outside, air temp 3 degrees block heater running for about 2 hours. Started easier! I'm running PS white label, 12 oz per tankfull.

I did a full glow cycle this morning when it was -1° F out, 5 cranks and it was runnin' :D

My dad glowed his a while this morning, proceeded cranking, took two tries and probably 15-20 cranks to get it going. :D

Now who's car is better.....(its an ongoing competition)

7 deg F started after 2 glows and a fairly long crank.
no block heater. was not a happy camper though.... :eek:

glow plugs few months old, battery about 4 years old.

This is a last year story, but what the heck.. it fits the topic.

Car sat out all day in a parking lot, approximately 9-10 hours. I tried to start the car when it was approximately -1F or so and totally assumed the car was dead.

As I cranked, I could count the revolutions it was so slow. It sounded like a gas car turning over with an almost completely dead battery. It began to turn over faster and faster and faster. Finally started and stumbled as it warmed up a bit.

This is not a bad scenario considering:
-18 year old car, spent all of its life in Canada
-Battery of unknown age. It's an Interstate, but I have had the car 3 years and it came with it. Estimate it's probably 5+ years old.
-15W40 Shell Rotella T -- dino oil, NOT synthetic
-No block heater plugged in. As a matter of fact, I've never used it.
-Two glow cycles. That's the first time I've done that.. usually only do one but it was so cold out I was scared to try just one in case it wouldn't start.

Oh yeah, wife had called me 5 mins before stranded with a flat tire. I had to get my car started and be at her location which was 20 minutes away, ASAP.

Changing a tire in -1F weather with an MB original jack is hell.

Talk about an adventerous day... And the funny thing is, I've learned nothing from the experience. Still have the same old battery in my car, never put synthetic in, and have MB jacks in both cars.

I must be a sucker for punishment. If I ever get frostbite I'll have nobody to blame but myself :)

Neal

Normal start
 

Temperature was -6F this morning. :eek:
I did not bother with the block heater. ;) :cool:
One glow, three revolutions and running smooth with no smoke... :D :D

I cheated!
 

Last night was the first night that I left my '01 SLK320 out of the garage and put in my '83. I could tell that my car was very happy to be in there. I just had all the glow plugs changed as well as the battery and did not want to take a chance of having to spend more money to fix it. Congrat's to all for getting yours started. I was thinking about all of you who don't have a garage and was hoping you would have good luck.

Bill

Forgot to mention that I am using Mobil 1 15w-50 which works well here in Ohio. Haven't used the block heater at all this year, as the garage is full our other cars and I'm too lazy to stretch out an extension cord to the driveway (knowing me, I'd probably forget to unplug it).

It's this time of year that I wish I had heated seats. MB Tex is particularly cold and hard on mornings like this.

Chris Blanchard
1994 E420 131k for sale
1992 300D 2.5 Turbo 173k

About 17 this morn, started on first glow, little hesitant, but eh, 280K on her.
Never does really smoke on startup, it does do that running really really quiet thing for the first ten seconds or so... I think at ten or below it would take a try or two, but she'd fire up..

The MB is much more cold prone than my VW's were it seems, probibly some complex technical reason why..

It was about 50F here and mine started just fine too :D

Reached almost 60 this afternoon after two weeks of never getting above freezing, got to love the Pineapple express when it hits us!

Kevin

success here also
 

Folks,

About 14* here today ( mid NC). It sat outside for 12+ hours, 1 glow cycle, started with about 1/2 throttle. The car has 274+K on it, 1 year old glow plugs, a 3+ year old battery, mobil 1 15W-50.

Gotta love the diesel.

Chuck