My 1983 300 d wouldn't start today. I use synthetic oil,have a block heater, battery warmer and had the valves adjusted 3000 miles ago. The temperature this morning is -28c which is about -20 Farenheit give or take a bit. My question is: Is this just too cold for an old diesel and if not, what else can I do?

I can not even imagine being that cold myself.... however, there is a good chance that some form of fuel heater would allow you to function at that temperature.... I think some were available for these cars in these situations.... You did not say if you felt your battery turned the engine over fast enough... since you have electricity for the block heater you might want to keep a trickle charger on the battery on the really cold nights also...and also a battery warmer... or better yet, keep the battery inside the house and take it out when you want to start....
To me, those temperatures indicate a " weather day" at home...

The car turned over fast enough, the battery warmer worked fine but still no firing whatsoever. Where would I find one of those fuel heaters you mentioned??.

I've had my '75 300D start at -20 degrees a number of times. I'd look at how fast your starter is turning that engine. A quicker starter makes a world of difference.

My 190D was a bit rough this morning at -5.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Yes, but with wind chill in Hamilton it was -37, so in Ottawa you where probably -40 to -45.

Wait till tomorrow, when it will be a balmy ( suntan weather) plus 3!!!!

Sorry guys, wind chill does not effect a NON WARM blooded item.. except in the Speed it chills... but an engine only goes down to the air temperature and is not cooled further by the speed of the wind....

Well, yes and no. Does the 'wind chill' effect humans only because of the moisture in the skin being evaporated? Or is it that we cannot warm the exterior of the body fast enough when the wind carries away the body heat.

A hot engine will certainly cool down faster because the engine is always in contact with air of the same temperature and the air that is warmed up by the engine is immediately carried away. After time, the engine will only get as cold as the air, no matter how windy.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Wind Chill only affects humans and other warm blooded animals due to its definition... it is the temperature " impression" our bodies have compared to no wind situaion....
I do not think moisture has anything to do with the wind chill reading ... it has to do with the " cushion" of warm air at the surface of the skin,,, which with wind is being blown away or reduced to zero thickness....

When was the last time you replaced your glow plugs? I could not start my 300TD at all last week at 20F and after I changed the glow plugs and do the "forum recomended" double glow for about 15 seconds she fires right up!! Also check your glow plug fuse (it might have gone bad). Glow plugs are about $10 each and the fuse is about $2.

Igor Zeljic, Minneapolis.

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1984 MB 300D Turbo Diesel W123 Sedan 132K
1987 MB 300D Turbo W124 Sedan 295K
1983 Porsche 944 104K
1989 Audi 80 Quattro 180K
2002 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro Avant 49K (Wife's car with warranty )

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Sorry, have to nip (pun) those wind chill misconceptions in the bud as soon as they crop up ....

No matter how fast the engine turns , if the fuel is gelled, it won't run... but I don't know where to get heaters except checking with the dealer....

ON the glowplugs.... I assume you did the " 45 seconds " after light goes out warming of those...

But past that... if you do take them out and replace them I would suggest you get the reamer and be sure no carbon is in front of them...

Guys, I know all there is to know about wind chill after walking to the bus stop this morning! Now if you would please give me some more advice on getting my car started!

For very cold temperatures the manual recommends mixing in some kerosene with the fuel. If you expect the temps to be that low you might give it a try.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

A friend of mine and I checked out the cold weather treatments. It just doesn't get cold enough around here to be concerned, but he lives a bit further east.
Anyway the old standard is said to be 30% kerosene mixed with the diesel to keep it from gelling. Now days there are some easier to use products on the market. In any event they will not do anything for fuel that is already gelled up. Need to get that one into a warmed shop to defrost it, or just wait til Spring.

I should have mentioned.... new glow plugs, recycle three times and I add fuel conditioners every fill up. So now what?

if you can't get it to a place where it can be thawed out i would change the fuel filters (pour diesel into the new spin-on b4 u install it), pump the heck out of it and then try again.

bob in ct

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP