Winter starting

[tknight]

Has anyone used an ether system on their motor to assist cold weather starting
They are pretty affordable usually under 100 on ebay just thought it might be a cheap form of insurance in very cold weather when your unable to plug in .

 

[Moot]

Why not just buy a can of starting fluid and use it sparingly and only when absolutely necessary?

 

[skyraider]

Why not just buy a can of starting fluid and use it sparingly and only when absolutely necessary?

Use plain old carburetor cleaner spray can-- just a quick spray of it, do not hold down the button!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will do the same as starting fluid and not blow you eyebrows off if you do over spray your engine.

 

[tknight]

It's very dangerous to use starting fluid on Diesel engines think glo plugs and explosions
I've used wd40 in the old days but you need to crank motor while spraying into air cleaner hard to do solo!

 

[TruckingSurv]

A modern engine in good condition shouldn't need ether ever, maybe an old 2 stroke DD or some such, it is hard on the motor. If you need that on anything built in the last 20 years, either you have other issues or it is really really cold.

TS

 

[in-Transit]

My 2 stroke 6v92Ta used ether capsules in cold weather.. Easy and never worried about an "overdose" it was in my bus conversion though not my income vehicle !


Sent from my flying circus

 

[mugurpe]

I've had trucks where a bunch of little elements conspired to make it hard starting. Older starter, older batteries, slightly off calibration sensors that still didn't throw any codes, real f'ing cold weather, etc. I've had to use ether on them. I'd only bother with the built in ether thing if I was needing it A LOT, and if you need it a lot, then you've probably got some more serious problems that should be fixed. Occasionally, just hose the screen on the intake down and then hustle back around and start the truck. Fresh batteries, some diesel additive, and synthetic oil go a long way to avoiding the need for ether. I like to keep some around just in case lights get left on or the liftgate drains the battery or whatever, as ether can make jumping it go a lot quicker. But it's definitely something to be avoided.

 

[beachbum]

I need to get around to replacing all my glow plugs since three of the 5 have went bad again, plus the control unit... there goes another couple of hundred bucks

 

[mjmsprt40]

Check your system specs. If you have glow plugs or an electric intake heater, DON'T USE ETHER!

Bad things will happen if you do. Sprinter engines have glow plugs. Certain engines-- Cummins I think-- used and may still use intake heaters. Not sure about the big fellows, some of your big engines just use the compression heat summer and winter, but some may have glow plugs. Check before using starting fluids.