Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Cold Startin'

Brian,

Remember that Caitlin has a 126, instead of your 123s. She's dealing with dual firewalls, each of which is better sealed than your 123 firewall. In my 126 (81 300SD) I've never heard the glow plug relay kick off. And my ears aren't all that bad.

Caitlin,

Last time we communicated, you were still holding off on getting the valve adjustment done, or getting the tools to do it yourself. You will find that the engine starts more easily and runs better when it has properly adjusted valves.

Tom

In a message dated 12/3/2011 4:58:57 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, bstromsoe@yahoo.com writes:

As a point of refinement - (for me anyway) - when I start my cars, I listen for the "clunk" when the glow plug relay has done its job and I start my engine without depressing the pedal at all because I have sufficiently hot glow plug temps. However, when I am brain dead and forget to listen for the clunk thereby shortcutting the cycle, then I must depress the pedal 1/2 to 2/3 of the way because I committed either a venal or mortal sin (I'm not Catholic so I don't know the vernacular). My sin is that by not listening for the clunk, I did not allow my glow plugs to heat the chambers up to an appropriate temperature to fire the fuel. Then I am reduced to cranking the engine in order to generate high enough cylinder temps to ignite the fuel via compression.

brian from la verne, ca

From: CaitlinDean <tinymachine@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 3:57 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Cold Startin'

I'm just following what it tells me in my manual (83 300SD)...re-iterated and made clear by the fine folks on this group :)

I originally thought it was the pump the throttle...now it's clear that they (manual) says to just push it down and hold...etc etc.

When it's warmer, I don't do that at all and she starts up fine. I'm hoping with the more work I get done on her, she'll cold start better n better...

Thought about asking Santa for a garage...but that seemed a bit big ;)

Caitlin
Santa Fe

--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, Nate Rector <tccservice111@...> wrote:
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> I have temps to zero,and I start normal no throttle as it floods the engine.
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> ________________________________
> From: BStromsoe <bstromsoe@...>
> To: "diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 6:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Cold Startin'
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> Â
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> Well, truckers used to put a charcoal fire under their engines in cold weather. Personally, if I lived in 0-25F weather and had a garage, I would either have my block heater going, or a 100 watt work light sitting under my hood.Â But, our LA cold is only 40F so I cycle the glow plugs once, listen for the clunk, and start right up with no fuss or muss.
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> brian from la verne, ca
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> ________________________________
> From: CaitlinDean <tinymachine@...>
> To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 12:15 PM
> Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Cold Startin'
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> I *finally* got an opportunity today to test out all that good cold starting info passed around the board lately. I've been practicing "the drill" but honestly it's only been between low 30's up to the 40's here in the morning, and that's no fun. NOT that 26f is really cold, but I had my first "failure" using the regular drill.
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> So I remembered someone posted that when it's really cold they cycle the plugs 3 times...so I did that and she fired RIGHT up, after my first 2 failures.
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> I do have about 90% Biodiesel in the 1/3 full tank right now...totally meant to get it to about B50 before the cold snap. And didn't. But the drill is working for me, either way!
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> Of course, my real problem with cold starting is the time it takes to "warm up"...and by that I mean...it takes what feels like a really long time before I can drive the car without it stalling. If I have to reverse first, it's even worse, but I digress.
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> Is this most likely something that will change after my valve adjustment? Or a more likely culprit that I can chase? Oh, my coolant is also pretty shot and desperately in need of a change. (Luckily we do get warm winter days here, so it's on the "really soon" list)
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> Anyway...thanks to all who chimed in with cold starting tips!
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> Caitlin
> Santa Fe
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