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Glow Plugs and Starter Fluid
Okay: I have an 85 300sd. I am in Colorado and it was cold a while back so I couldn't get my usually dependable diesel to start. I didn't really need the car so I left it sit for a couple of days until I found out from my neighbor that starting fluid might help. (He is a backyard mechanic.)
I bought the starting fluid, sprayed a bit into the air filter and the car started right up. The problem is: The glow plug light doesn't come on anymore and the car is hard to start even when the weather is warm. I then read the starting fluid can and it says "Do not use with engines that have glow plugs." oops. No more trusting the neighbor. Did I fry my glow plugs and if so are there any tricks to changing them? Thanks
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Dave 85 300SD with 150k |
#2
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Do not use starter fluid, look at the glow plug fuse and make sure it is not cracked. If that is not the problem I would change glow plugs.
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#3
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The plugs are probably fried, but they are simple to change. I recommend spraying them with a little bit of PB Blaster a couple of days before trying to remove them. You just need to remove the fuel hard lines, remove the nut and loop on the end of the glow plug (8mm) and then the plug itself from the engine (12mm).
I would never use a can of death on a diesel engine, or any engine for that matter. Next time it's hard to start just plug it in for a few hours, it will fire right up. |
#4
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Don't use ether unless you disconnect the glow plugs. Check the strip fuse in the relay first to make sure it is intact and carrying current. There's a glow plug diagnosis DIY at dieselgiant.com. It could be a bad glowplug but it also could be another problem in the system. I wouldn't just swap out the glowplugs without doing some diagnosis. You'll need a multimeter to check volts and ohms.
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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 |
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Thanks, Everyone.
Where is the glow plug relay?
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Dave 85 300SD with 150k |
#6
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GP Relay in on the drivers side inner fender. Looks like the one Diesel Giant shows in his GP tutorial.
http://www.dieselgiant.com/glowplugrepair.htm http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=85676 Charlie
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616... 1) Not much power 2) Even less power 3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast. 80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works Last edited by charmalu; 01-22-2011 at 02:17 PM. |
#7
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I was told awhile back you can use WD-40 as starting fluid in diesels. I've used it on my truck; seems to work.
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1990 300D 2.5 1991 F350 7.3 Dually IDI 1997 F350 gasser dump 1980 H-D 93 inch Shovel 2000 SE Roadglide |
#8
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It is usually easier to repair the original cause of the no-start situation than the original cause and the damage created by the use of starting fluid.
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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do. |
#9
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Quote:
I get it now. Let me fix for everyone else that is as dumb as me.
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83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive) 84 300SD Daily driver 85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily. 98 E300D *sold 86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home. |
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Thanks for all your advice. I sure do hope I can get this problem cured without it costing a whole lot.
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Dave 85 300SD with 150k |
#11
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Quote:
Yes it is. I have 2 broken pistons, one has a crack at the wrist pin, and the other has broken rings. the one with the broken rings, a piece of the ring kept working in the land, and wore a slot up the side of the piston. then ended up on top of the piston. I thought I threw a rod. there is 6 pieces of ring jambed into the top of the piston. This is not 616/617 engine, but a Nissan SD-22 Diesel engine. Glow plugs are a lot cheaper than a new engine. they say "An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure". How true. Charlie I just noticed my post count is now 3,889. this is the gear ratio of my PU in my sig, which is the diesel engine I mentioned above. I couldn`t have planned this if I wanted to.
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616... 1) Not much power 2) Even less power 3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast. 80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works |
#12
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If you want to get the max life out of your Glow Plugs use a Glow Plug Reamer or one of the alternative methods spoken of in some of the Threads/Posts on the subject.
If you must use Starting Fluid disconnect the connector that goes to the Glow Plugs at the Glow Plug Relay. That way they will not be on when you give it the Fluid. Also have someone else crank the Engine so that you can stand there and spray the minimum needed to get the Engine going.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel |
#13
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Thanks again Everyone.
One more question: I checked the relay and the bridge fuse was intact. Is there anything else in the relay that breaks or can I be sure that the glow plugs need to be replaced?
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Dave 85 300SD with 150k |
#14
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Quote:
Old diesels do not need assistance starting in the cold when everything is working perfectly. If they don't start in extreme cold then they need repair- when everything is perfect they can start on their own in -40F. If you're trying to start below about -40F (or maybe even 0F on a very worn motor) then the only real option is some kind of block heater. If it's not that cold then you need to investigate the system for problems. Low compression and worn injectors are other common causes of poor starting if you verify that your glow plugs all work.
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-Tyler 1984 Volvo 760GLE Turbo Diesel D24T/M46 1986 Isuzu Trooper Turbo Diesel No mercedes (for now) |
#15
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Quote:
When I had a problem the first time I looked at my Glow Plug Fuse I only noted that the Fuse was not burned; I did not see the Crack in the Fuse that was causing the problem until later when I had to check everthing again.
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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel |
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