Im unable to use my block heater, as I only have city street parking, and rarely get a spot near my building, which I cant really plug into anyhow.

I had read about placing charcol under the engine overnight somewhere on here, But after 45 minutes of searching for that thread...

Anyone used this technique to warm their block? How many charcol briquettes?
Do you do it the night before or do you have to do it in the morning early?

Tx!

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OBK #32
1985 300D Turbo (15 gal Greasecar kit installed)
(258,900+mi.) Thanks- Tachometer Fixed. Middle Vents Fixed. Transmission- 1000% better shifting.
Vac leaks- Fixed, Brakes replaced, Steering Box replaced, .... Information Rules.

Kinda dangerous don't you think? Are you in Siberia or something? I saw a program where they wrapped a sock around a long pole and dipped it in kerosene or similar and went from wheel to wheel heating the brake calipers before setting out, to keep them from freezing up.
The diesel engines were left running 24/7 all winter long (ouch!)

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I'll suggest against this, as you won't know if there would be some combustible fluid dripping onto hot coals until the fire department arrives. Unattended glowing embers under a, perhaps, oil leaking engine invites disaster.
If you have a heating pad, rig that up to the bottom of the oil pan. Or a small ceramic heater, that will be OK, an hour before starting.

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83 SD

84 CD

His problem is no access to electricity. I'd be willing to give it a try myself if it was necessary. Might also want to try a propane heater.

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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

just switch to synthetic oil of 5W40 and you should have no trouble starting the car. I left my heater unplugged by accident when the temps went to 10 last winter and it spun right up! The trick is to make sure the battery is in perfect condition as the cold weather will suck the life out of a marginal battery

Also run the glow plugs for 30-45 seconds before starting the car. In other words, don't start it even when the GP light goes out for another 30 seconds.

I also use Diesel Kleen supplement in the white bottle (antigel) when it gets really cold out...

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

One of those incandesent shop lights in a half cage and a 100ft. extesion served me well with my first MB diesel (a '69 220D) when I was in a similiar situation. I just put the light in the vicinity of the IP and screen filter (as close as possible) and kept watch periodically thru the night in case someone walking down the sidewalk tripped on the cord, messing my whole setup, well, up...
Never a hard start even in neg. temps- kept the hood closed and a blanket over the whole front end.

You could also bring your battery inside at night, makes a world of difference.

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1969 220D "Berta" RIP
1982 300D turbo 250K

I have herd of people removing their battery and bringing it inside where it is warm. In the morning they put it back in their car.
An alternative might be keep a second charged battery in the house; bring it and jumper cables out in the morning and use it to start your car. Get a jump from an already running car.
All of this is no replacement for a well tuned vehicle or good electrical contacts.

Where are you located that it gets that cold? These cars should start reliably under most conditions.

Gel cell batteries and synthetic oils are your best bet. If your off the grid, maybe a couple of extra batteries on a charge isolator and a well placed 12 volt heating blanket on a timer.

kerry, and everyone else, this went right over my head . My bad, sorry for any aggravation.

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83 SD

84 CD

I'm still waiting to hear where he lives. Minnesota? North Dakota? Alaska?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

If the car is in good shape it will start. If it is shot like my SD was just shoot some starting fluid in the intake, it will fire. I would only do that to a shot car that isn't worth the time/money to bring back to spec, or just has low compression.

I sprayed my SD dozens of times over the two winters I had it and its still running around town with the new owners.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

ooook... we don't allow the use of any ether, starting fluid, boosters...don't even give him ideas

a decent 617 with good glow plugs and properly adjusted rack dampner pin will start up just fine in frigid temps

Don, you're in Florida, man! How frigid does it get there?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Well if he adjust the valves, checks the timing, throws in a new set of glow plugs, new battery, Delvac 1, Power service in the fuel, maybe a rebuilt starter if his is cranking slower than it should, and it still won't start at say 20, then the compression is low. Which means you can either 1. rebuild/replace the engine; 2. sell the car; 3. junk the car; 4. spray it and drive it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200