I work 7pm to 7am and can't plug in at work. Does anyone have any ideas for a portable heater? Battery powered? Propane? I know they make butane curling irons; I wonder if something like that could be adapted....

dose it need it that bad? or wont it start with just the GP's?

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

I know I'm always saying a rough start is ok but if you cant start it without plugging it in you need to look at gp's and battery Mine started 10 min ago at -3 but had to idle it up for one minute till she was happy
But the window wont be happy on the drivers side for a half an hour Yes I know I need to quit smoking then the window could stay closed

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

No it won't start under 30 degrees. I got the car not too long ago and still learning what I need to service on it.

glow plug and glow plug relay does the light come on?

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

add your cars year mileage etc to your signature so we all know what we are talking bout please

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

also i see on another thread your going to install block heater??????? How is it running now then I know it isnt 30 in Baltimore
Better advice comes from complete facts

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

Before worrying about the block heater, make sure everything is in peak shape. Mine started at 6 degrees F last night leaving work. It was somewhat amusing, it started fairly easily put I had NO power on the way home as my fuel started to get more viscous at that cold of a temp. I watched my temp gauge drop when sitting at lights for more then a minute.

I guess what I'm trying to say it that even with 240,000 miles. These engines should still start well if the GP's and battery are up to snuff. Having the cam timing and injection timing set back to factory helps A LOT.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I agree with the other advice that you should make sure your GPs working properly and your battery is giving you the full power. But if money is an object and you're looking to put things off for a little while, there are fire-proof insulated engine blankets that are put on when you leave the vehicle (after it's shut off ) and that will keep the heat in.

I think I bought it from JC Whitney (it was about 10 yrs. ago). I used to have an '88 Suburban diesel and at the time was renting a house that was about 200' from the parking area so I couldn't use a cord to plug it in without blowing a fuse because of the extra drain. After sitting overnight for 8-10 hours it wasn't still hot, but it was much warmer than the air temps and would start fairly easily on 5 functional GPs.

Just don't forget to take it off before you start it! And if you haven't replaced the battery, do it.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

if its new to you, adjust the valves. If you've never done it before, I'm close enough that I can show you how or do them for you.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

There are diesel or propane fired heaters available. They are not cheap. Search on 'Webasto' on this board and you should find some threads and pictures. You can find them on ebay.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm moving near John

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

shoot, with the weather you get, he should move closer to you!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

webastos on ebay.uk or ebay.de are way cheaper than over here.
one place in england has brand new for under $450. dont know about the wiring harness, though.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

When I got my 300D it didn't want to start below 30*F. There were two bad glowplugs. After that, adjusting the valves, etc. it will start down to 0*F but I have not tried any colder.

If you had a secure parking area couldn't you run a block heater with a small generator? I have the 2000watt big brother to this one: http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/ModelDetail.asp?ModelName=eu1000i The 1000watt model is very small, light and would be very cheap to run. Why not? Start up the generator at 3pm or so and the car should be ready to go by 5pm. And the generator would come in handy for camping, etc. too. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K