Small diesels - how much maintenance?

JerryG · May 22, 2005

One thing that some people never learn is how to do things in moderation. Either is one of the things that MUST be done in moderation. Just a little to much and that small amount is really WAY to much. Of course, there are defiantly some engines that you CAN'T use either on at all, such as engines with glow plug and preheaters.

JerryG · May 22, 2005

Here are a few places that show ether injection on new diesels. One is on a 50/60 class 8 Detriot Diesel, one is on heavy equipment with a Cummins and the middle one is a place that sells ether injectors.

Detroit Diesel 50/60 series engines
Page 6 DDEC-controlled automatic ether starts to –30º F Detriot Diesel

Here is one place where you can buy a ether injection system for a diesel. Quickstart

Here is a heavy equipment Cummins that has ether injection. Hitachi

Dargo · May 22, 2005

Jerry, I hope you don't think I was saying that you are wrong. I was only wanting to tell that most people seem to have that ole' theory that "if a little is good; then a more will be better." /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif That seems to be the issue with the people I know who have used ether with bad results. Sorry if I came across differently.

JerryG · May 22, 2005

Dargo,
Not at all. Many people have used it and shouldn't have, that is one of the reasons some have went to hot grid intake heaters. It's real hard to blow up a engine with a grid heater, even if you use to much. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

crashz · May 23, 2005

I know I'm just a newbie here, but I have a lot of experience with diesels. My father owns and operates an excavating company, so I grew up running and repairing diesels. Even rebuilt a few Macks (237s and a 300 that continues to give us cam trouble) and a IH466.

What I can tell you is that older diesels will start fine with ether. But it has to be applied in moderation. Only enough to start the engine. If the engine revs on ether, a few things can happen: 1) It can run at high rpm with virtually no oil pressure (ie bearing damage) 2) It can easily over rev and tear itself apart. 3) The rings can seize to the sleeves or block due to lack of lube (usually in combination with a staved fuel condition like plugged filters). Worst part is that you don't know if you've given it to much ether until you here it catch and start. If it catches and sounds normal (revs to the throttle control) then no damage has occurred. If it catches and screams beyond any RPM you've seen or heard, call a priest for the last rights. You've just killed it. And the difference between the two is like an extra second or two burst of ether from the can. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Also, as mentioned before, never start a diesel with ether when it has an active start aid like glow plugs or grid heaters. Disastrous results will occur.

With all the doom and gloom out of the way, a positive is that we've been starting our older diesels (without glow plugs or grids) for years and years without damage. Some of the old Macks have run every day, started by ether, and have hundreds of thousands of miles, and still run great.