Ether use

[chart1]

I have used ether to start my engine in very cold conditions but I don't use very much hopefully I havent done any damage.

[opus]

Ether is very handy, IF you know how to use it properly.  99% of the people I have seen use it, have no clue.

[chart1]

What is the proper way to use ether?

[charlie]

on my three buses,  in cold weather here in Illinois as long as your  batteries are  in good shape and you block heater in plugged in , never had to use ether

[luvrbus]

Difference here is starting fluid or ether you need to shop to find starting fluids with 50% ether contents used in the proper way starting fluid will not hurt you engine now 100% ether will bring it to it's knees I have saw the oil pans blown off Cat engines with 100% ether


good luck

[opus]

I'm glad you asked...lol.

Just a sniff.  The second it comes out of the can nozzle, you should be letting go of it.

My job was to go and start rigs at -20 that were not plugged in at night.  I would go through a case of ether some days.

WD40 works well too and is less damaging.

[bigjohnkub]

read the can. It says engine should be rotating prior to spray. Hard to do by yourself/

[opus]

read the can. It says engine should be rotating prior to spray. Hard to do by yourself/

In a perfect world, thats correct.  If you can get a good sniff in and then run, you'll be good to go. 

[Cary and Don]

On our system,  when you flip the switch to the ether,  it gives a metered dose.  You can hold the button down forever and it will not give more until you release the switch and do it again.  You hit the switch with the engine turning over.

Don and Cary
GMC4107
Neoplan AN340

[jackhartjr]

Our motor man won't let ether be in the trucks, says to use brake cleaner or WD-40.

[artvonne]

  Remember that a diesel is a compression ignition engine. Fuel is injected into the combustion chamber ONLY at the proper point near TDC. Any fuel inducted into the cylinder with the air, such as starting fluid, will ignite as soon as the temperature within the cylinder rises above auto ignition for that mixture. Later (retarded) is better, sooner (advanced) can cause damage. Fuel and oil residue, as well as liquid starting fluid that pools on the piston, raises the compression ratio and will cause higher pressures resulting in the cylinder reaching auto ignition sooner. The more advanced the ignition point, the more strain the piston puts against the rotating crankshaft, and it attempts to rotate backwards. That puts great strain on rod and main bearings that are cold and not yet recieving a pressurised supply of fresh oil. Even with more retarded ignition, high pressure explosions within an engine cylinder can well exceed designed maximum pressures the engine was built to withstand, not just damaging bearings, but actually breaking rings, cracking cylinders, blowing out a head gasket (or weakening it), breaking the piston, or breaking the crankshaft. And just because someone has been doing it 20 years, and swears by it, doesnt necessarily mean that its done those engines any good.

  I used to use starting fluid, and would still on something I dont care much about. But never on a good engine, and never on a diesel. When you realise that its illegal to use starting fluid on aircraft, as well as illegal to even start an airplane engine below 20F without preheating it first, perhaps a $15K Bus engine should be treated simularly. Just slow down (or think ahead by plugging it in earlier), there are very few reasons to need and start an engine that rapidly and severely.

[robertglines1]

a gas soaked rag works in a pinch

[TedsBUSted]

Unfortunately, it's the engine that probably doesn't even need ether to begin with, that is hurt the most by it. Meanwhile, the engine that actually needs ether can stand it anyway. Although with ether use the former can quickly become the latter.  

There have been plenty of tired old Jimmies that worked hard for years, while relying on half-a-can cold starts.

With a fresh engine, short cranking bursts with a heat soak between cranks, will usually fire a cold one off. That's where the manual stop on trucks and equipment were nice, the fuel spray on warm-up cranks could be limited until a hint of starting was seen/heard.

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[thomasinnv]

I have never used ether on my bus and would rather not.  All it takes is one "oops, that was a little much" and it's all over.  If I need to start and I know it's going to be really cold then I will plug her in.  I have started at about 25 deg without pluggin er up.  She cranked for about  3 seconds then slowly started to come up to idle with a little white smoke.  I think that's pretty good for bein that cold and not pluggin er in and not using any ether.  If I have a choice I prefer not to be anywhere I need to worry about it being too cold to get it started.

[Barn Owl]

Unless you are putting a can in at one time you will be OK. These engines have a place for a "ether egg" and were designed to have it as a starting aid if needed. I have personally seen a lot of ether use in all types of equipment and I think the concern of doing damage is way overdone. With that said there is always someone who screws up and a legend is born and re-born on boards like these. Follow the directions and use some common sense. Start with a little and work your way up till you find what works. There is to much fear-mongering concerning ether use.