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#1
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Umm, a little help?? ALASKA, cold starting -55 Farenhiet in the winter
Ok, so where I live it gets down to -55 Farenhiet in the winter. My car will barely start at 20, after being plugged in for two hours and with a 200amp starting booster. Do I need to clean the carbon out of the motor and clean the injectors??? I have a brand new Gear Reduction starter on it. Please help!
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#2
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First get the glowplugs working then take it from there.
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1982 240D auto 1978 300CD auto 1985 300D auto 1983 300TD auto 1984 Porsche 944 5 speed 1973 Opel GT 1900 4 speed 1967 Chevy C30 350 Sm420 1973 Mustang Grande Convertible 302 C4 1981 VW Pickup 1.6D Turbo 5 speed 1983 Rabbit 1.6D Factory Turbo 5 speed Plus parts vehicles... |
#3
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Glow plugs must be working for reliable starts for sure but also you can:
check battery check battery cables check fuel filters run biocide in tank check air filter. check compression if low adjust valves if still low a rebuild might be needed.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#4
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I thought you were joking about living in North Pole, Alaska, but I looked at Google Maps and sure enough, the town of North Pole is SE of Fairbanks.
For starters, (no pun intended) I would use synthetic oil. And the thinnest viscosity recommended in the owner's manual. There is a temperature chart in the manual. I do not have mine with me or I would make a recommendation. If there are any diesel shops in Fairbanks, I would talk to the folks there. They should have some practical advice. At -55 F you are going to want everything working in optimal condition. Glow plugs, injectors, good fuel. You might want to thin out your diesel fuel with some kerosene.
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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale** 84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds 00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold) 15 Subaru Outback 43K 11 Subaru Outback 67K 98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now. 30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60 |
#5
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How many miles are on your car?
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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale** 84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds 00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold) 15 Subaru Outback 43K 11 Subaru Outback 67K 98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now. 30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60 |
#6
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I'd agree with running some mix of kero in there with the diesel.
Welcome aboard and if you see Santa tell em I said thanks for the socks I got this past Christmas. Is this the car's first winter in Alaska?
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Jim |
#7
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I would be concerned that the car might not fully warm up at that temp, I know the big trucker guys like to block off their radiators with a WELL SECURED piece of cardboard or tarp or something of the sort. I like the idea of finding a diesel shop and talking to them - they will definitely know the "tricks" of the climate. As for the glow plugs, oil, etc...good advice.
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TC Current stable: - 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL - 2007 Saturn sky redline - 2004 Explorer...under surgery. Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth |
#8
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The basics outlined by others are necessary to start at 20 on down to, say 0 deg F: fresh glowplugs, clean filters, healthy battery, valves properly adjusted. The low extreme you are talking about is severe service. I'm not sure if Mercedes even did product development testing down to that low a temperature on its cars.
Someone else asked how many miles are on your car. I would call the Canadian philosophy something like this: the more miles, the less compression you may have, the more heat you have to introduce to compensate. How long does it stay down around -55 at a stretch? Frankly at those temps I would consider just leaving the car running, never shut it down. That is what I understand is the general practice with diesel equipment in far-north situations like this. I do grant you that the Mercedes diesels aren't purpose-designed to idle for long periods, like some equipment diesel powerplants, but at that temp the startups are likely to be as damaging as any side-effects from extended idling. Otherwise you are going to need a massive amount of auxiliary heat going into the motor prior to cranking at -55. I would suggest a block heater AND some form of coolant heater in use at the same time, and possibly even a low-power inline fuel heater under the hood (these are common in Europe -- not the heaters sold for vegoil cars, those are too hot). And a battery blanket. In my experience, you need to have the block heater (and/or other heat sources) active for at least four hours at regular winter temps, prior to startup. At -55 you would need to leave them on anytime the car wasn't going to be restarted within two or three hours. This would be in addition to the other advice given already on valve adjustment, kerosene, grille covers, synthetic, fresh glowplugs, etc.... The coldest I've ever started a Mercedes at was my '79 300sd at -37 deg C (-35 F), with a battery blanket and a circulating coolant heater.
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Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 Last edited by Zacharias; 02-08-2012 at 11:21 PM. |
#9
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Ok
Well, I have brand new Bosch glow-plugs in it. I bought them in September, and hardly noticed a difference in the rough starting. I have no idea on the mileage. Odometer says 104,xxx but doesn't work. I don't plan on driving it when it gets to be -30 but would still be nice if it would start. I have Amsoil Diesel Synthetic oil in it. 5W 30 I believe. Was $14 a quart! I want to get a carbon reamer for the glowplug holes. I ran a can of Seafoam through in September, but didn't make a difference. Any ideas for decarbonising the motor? Something to mix with the fuel would be best. Thanks a bunch!!
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#10
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You need to test the glow plug system to make sure it is working. You need to check the voltage to the plugs with the key in the glow position and the resistance of the plugs.
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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 |
#11
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Do you park your car in a garage at night?
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1993 W124 300D 2.5L Turbo, OM602.962 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2.4L DOHC 2002 Ford Explorer, 4.0L SOHC 2005 Toyota Prius, 1.5L http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/40601.png |
#12
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If you're not in a garage that you can keep warm and you trust the area
where you leave your car overnight, lock it up and let it run all night long. You won't use much fuel just idling all night long. I've been in -40 weather before and that was the only way to keep our gasser running. What do other people in your area do? Jeff
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1984 300SD 300,000 miles--two tank WVO setup 2.88 diff & 500SEL anti-squat rear end |
#13
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x2. if you are having trouble starting it at 20F with two hours of block heat you either have disfuncitonal glows or low compression. It is my understanding that testing glows with them in the block is not reliable.
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#14
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You asked for a little help and here it is. You need to be sure your glow plugs work before you try anything else. Several people have correctly said it was a glow plug problem from your description and you seemingly refuse the advise
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1977 300D Lost coolant while someone else was driving 1983 300D Can't run without oil 1985 300SD (gone but not forgotten) 1990 300TE 4matic Sold 1991 Yamaha Venture 1975 Kawsaki 250 triple 1974 Honda 200CL 1951 8N Ford 2008 Wildfire 650C |
#15
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FYI
Quote:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/244785-240d-motor-snow-cat.html BV-206 - Wikipedia . |
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