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!

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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.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

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.

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ez rider

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.

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..

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

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

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

Kevin

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'85 300SD

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