Push start a diesel?

[bottom feeder]

I was out for a drive with my girlfriend in my new 1982 240D manual. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for a burrito and a coke and when we got back in the car I turned the key but nothing -just a click from the solenoid. So I thought I'd just push start it since it's a manual. I almost popped my eyes out pushing with a belly full of burritos, but when she popped the clutch, not a sign of life from the engine. A little frustrated, I tried the key again, it turned over and we were back on the road. But my question is: can you push start a manual diesel as you can a gasser manual? The ignition was on and I got the car rolling to maybe 5 mph which would have been enough to start a gasser (as maybe you can tell I'm fairly new to diesels.)

[engatwork]

That is only supposed to happen back on the dirt roads.

What gear were you in?

[bottom feeder]

First gear.

[DieselJim]

absolutely. Used to roll start diesel farm tractors all the time! Second or third gear will probably work well. As long as the fuel cutoff switch is not off it will have no problem starting.

[bottom feeder]

I'm pretty sure she had the ignition in the on position, so, then it should have started, right?

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by bottom feeder

I'm pretty sure she had the ignition in the on position, so, then it should have started, right?

5 mph is very slow. It might have started if you let the clutch out almost instantly. But, if you let it up slowly, the vehicle might have slowed to 3 mph before the clutch fully engaged and the engine didn't turn fast enough before the vehicle stopped.

If you got it to 10 mph, it surely would have started.

[DieselJim]

Originally Posted by bottom feeder

I'm pretty sure she had the ignition in the on position, so, then it should have started, right?

Yeah. They are harder to start though then gas because you have to build up more pressure. but since everything is mechanical it should go