OK, the old 75 300D has been a finicky starter lately, so I went and bought some fuel additive (Power Service) and am going to hope it keeps my car happy on those cold mornings. It's really important that I get her started tomorrow and Sunday morning: I have Air National Guard duty. No show or late show = BIG trouble!

My usual starting routine is as follows:

pop hood (glow plug relay is bad: see my recent separate post on this matter), glow plugs and hit the fuel primer a dozen or so times.

go sit in the car and wait for the glow light to go out, and try to start with the idle adjuster turned to high idle.

after the car starts, THEN I unclip the wire from the battery to the plugs.

Now, when I am trying to start the car, should I wait for it to chug a couple of times before I gove it a little gas, stay off the gas completely, or give it gas before and during the starting procedure?

It seems to do best when I give it a little bit WHILE it's trying to fire, but not before. Am I hurting anything by doing this?

Many thanks!

Chris
cscmc1@eiu.edu

PS -- you may all send me good karma for the next couple of days that the old Benzie starts for me so I don't get chewed out at Guard! (LOL)

Light throttle helps. Also check the valve adjustment if you haven't done it already. The valves tighten on these and will hinder them in starting. Chris

When below 20* F. you should have your throttle at least half the way down...but release it as soons as engine stars. Do not rev a diesel engine when cold...you can destroy them. Then you should keep the engine running above an idle for awhile.

__________________
1983 300SD 343K everyday car
1983 300SD 285K from junk yard-tooks parts from deer car- runs great. Brothers car.
1984 300SD parts car-Hit deer
1979 300D 175K non-turbo "Doctor"
1979 300d parts car

In my 1977 300d with the series glowplugs I glow the plugs and wait 40 seconds after the light goes off (use a watch or count the seconds on the clock--it's a long time) and then start it. It starts MUCH better after waiting that time. If I don't I have to keep the starter going for a number of seconds until all the cylinders catch. With the wait, it starts right up.
This does not work in my 85 with the parallel plugs.

__________________
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