Whats the best way - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

yuke · #1 01-08-2017, 05:18 PM

What happened was in this very cold weather 3 degrees last night my car got shut down accidently in the veggie mode when I went to move it 3hrs. later it started quickly ran about a minute probably used up what fuel was in the lines and then shut down. I tried and tried could not get it restarted as fuel is too thick and wo'nt pump even with the car being plugged in for 3 hrs. I trucked the car home into a 40 degree garage and now have to figure out how to get this thing started. When I crack an injector line and pump the primer I get nothing no fuel moving. What would be the best thing to spray into the intake to get this thing to run and long enough that it builds up a little of its own heat and takes off. I am afraid to use starting fluid for fear of blowing it up is WD40 the best choice and that way you could keep giving it little to keep I t running? I would plug the car in with block heater a couple of hrs. then also with portable heaters try to get that engine as warmed up as possible. Im dead in the water until I can get this engine warmed up and running. Oh how I hate this Chic. winters.

mach4 · #2 01-08-2017, 05:44 PM

Probably a question best asked in the Alternative Fuels forum...I don't think there's a lot of experience here.

If I were to attempt an answer, it would be snarky and would begin with "Step 1 - remove the veggie system" which is to say, I don't have a clue.

ROLLGUY · #3 01-08-2017, 05:50 PM

My 240 absolutely will not start in the freezing weather we are having here lately. I thought it had bad glow plugs, so I replaced them and the relay. Still no start. I had a brainstorm, and sprayed WD-40 in the air intake hose, and it started right up. Without the WD, it wanted to start but wouldn't. I would NOT use starting fluid, but WD-40 seems to do the job. It may just be the propellant (propane or butane) that helps the car to start, as the WD would have to get through the air cleaner and down the intake. You could even use a propane torch (unlit of course) to inject some fuel in the intake air.....Rich

Mxfrank · #4 01-08-2017, 05:58 PM

The easiest thing to do would be to replace the fuel filter. Before you install the new one, fill it with fresh Diesel. That should get you running for at least a bit. Do it a few times if necessary to flush the junk out of the system.

kerry · #5 01-08-2017, 06:12 PM

New filters and alternate fuel supply from a 2 liter soda bottle.

HarvAMG · #6 01-08-2017, 06:24 PM

Go stick a hot blowdryer into intake tube for awhile. That'll warm up that end. DON'T use a heatgun. That's too hot, you'll melt stuff and catch the air filter on fire.

OM617YOTA · #7 01-08-2017, 06:34 PM

Dyna-Glo Pro 60K BTU Forced Air Propane Portable Heater-RMC-FA60DGP - The Home Depot

Point that thing into the engine bay and let it do it's thing for awhile. You might be able to rent one for less than that too, especially if you'll have to buy a propane tank as well.

Edit: You won't get fuel out of an injector line by pumping the primer. I don't mean this unkindly, but if that's your level of understanding of these cars, you should probably just have it towed to a shop and let them take care of it.

gmog220d · #8 01-08-2017, 06:42 PM

Pack some blankets over the top of the engine and plug in the heater again. Be sure to cover the injection side well, lines, etc. to trap the heat. Let it sit 'til it's toasty warm under there. Remove the blankets before starting. Old moving blankets are perfect for this.

nyko46 · #9 01-08-2017, 07:53 PM

I recently bought a 2009 Mercedes E320 Bluetec but I never found any information if this car has or not a plug to connect to a 120 Volt outlet to keep the engine warm on cold days.
Can you inform me on that ?
Thanks

jay_bob · #10 01-08-2017, 08:34 PM

According to the owners manual for my 2008 ML320, which uses the same OM642 engine as your E320, the Canadian versions were equipped with a block heater element in the block. You had to go to the dealer to get the cord installed.

I will say it's a lot easier to get a CDI lit off in cold weather than an IDI engine. That may be why they only provided the heater for the Great White North.

nyko46 · #11 01-08-2017, 10:06 PM

If it is only a matter to get a cord installed I just need to know where is the heater block installed and I will try to get the cord installed myself.
Any way your reply was very helpful.
Thanks

strelnik · #12 01-09-2017, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

My 240 absolutely will not start in the freezing weather we are having here lately. I thought it had bad glow plugs, so I replaced them and the relay. Still no start. I had a brainstorm, and sprayed WD-40 in the air intake hose, and it started right up. Without the WD, it wanted to start but wouldn't. I would NOT use starting fluid, but WD-40 seems to do the job. It may just be the propellant (propane or butane) that helps the car to start, as the WD would have to get through the air cleaner and down the intake. You could even use a propane torch (unlit of course) to inject some fuel in the intake air.....Rich

WD40 is a safe starter fluid because it's mostly kerosene. You can't hurt the engine if you tried.

Yesterday I started a 240D MT with NO block heater installed. If the oil is moving fast enough, so will the pistons. I had changed the oil, put in Mobil 1 0W40 and on the second try, once the oil had been distributed and gotten the pistons to move faster, the engine started right up and ran ok.

When the oil is cold and flows like molasses, the pistons can't move fast enough and the whole system drains all electric. No start because no compression.

Step 1: Get 0W40 engine oil
Step 2: Charge the battery and crank the engine to get fast, easy movement of pistons
Step 3: Recharge the battery, spray some WD40 in the intake, glow it twice, crank it over

For my truck, I'm looking for a tiny element that is integrated to the drain plugs and heats engine oil to 80-100 degrees. Running a second plug is no big deal.

nyko46 · #13 01-09-2017, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

My 240 absolutely will not start in the freezing weather we are having here lately. I thought it had bad glow plugs, so I replaced them and the relay. Still no start. I had a brainstorm, and sprayed WD-40 in the air intake hose, and it started right up. Without the WD, it wanted to start but wouldn't. I would NOT use starting fluid, but WD-40 seems to do the job. It may just be the propellant (propane or butane) that helps the car to start, as the WD would have to get through the air cleaner and down the intake. You could even use a propane torch (unlit of course) to inject some fuel in the intake air.....Rich

Back on 2001 I had a similar problem with my 1984 - 300SD which did not start at all in cold days. Even a Diesel mechanic guy quit trying to find the problem.
I did the last try to find the reason why this car was not starting. I read few articles about "diesel engines in cold weather" and found a very useful article about the importance of valve adjustment.
In a very cold day in New York where I lived back then, in a dead street because I did not have garage in my house, I removed all the necessary engine parts and start adjusting all 10 valves of my 300 SD. My hands were freezing but I got so happy when my car started at the first turn of the ignition key. I then learned the importance of the valves adjustment for Diesel car specially for winter season.
Since then I had no more issues starting that car in cold days.

funola · #14 01-09-2017, 10:04 PM

This is a special case where he shut down with used vegetable oil. If it the oil has animal fat in it, it'd have the consistency of butter at 20 F and will never start that way. Your best bet is drape heavy blankets over the engine compartment all the way to the floor, covering all openings, block off the the portion under engine/ tranny with cardboard. Place a 1000 watt elec. baseboard heater (the type that does not get red hot) underneath for a few hours till it's between 80 to 100F. Make sure you have your switch flipped to diesel mode, stick a hair dryer on high into the air filter housing inlet, let it run run for a few minutes, make sure battery is charged, glow for 45 seconds and it should start if you have a good engine.

yuke · #15 01-11-2017, 09:09 AM

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I did not have the tools or the means to get the car started in those 0 degree temps. I trucked the car home put it in my 40 degree garage left it sit 2 days. I found 1 glow plug that was not reading the proper ohms took it out and it looked wet I put 12 volts to it and it went kind of slow till it burned the wetness off but after that reached a cherry red glow put it back in then plugged the block heater in, also put a small electric radiant dish heater on top of engine pointing down on injector pump,lines, and fuel filter, also had a small heater going in garage to bring it up to 60 degrees left it like that for about 4 hrs. and then the engine kicked right off. Another member suggested I put some diesel 911 in a freash fuel filter I did purchase some and will add some in the tank and save rest if this ever happens again. I am going to order 5 new bosch glow plugs and hope to soon go to a manual glow system I have'nt done it yet as I do like that the light in car dash gives you a warning if you have some g.p. that are not working which I do not think you would have that feature on a manual glow setup and would just have to go by how hard the car starts. I will add some diesel 911 to the tank and take it work tonight plug it in should start fine in the morning.