Starting Fluid

[DesertRose]

Does anybody use starting fluid (ether) to start their diesel tractor? I hate the stuff but have used it when it was necessary to start a diesel engine in well below zero F weather. I wouldn't use it to start my own equipment but have used it at work when we HAD to start a diesel engine.

Tom

 

[KennyV]

Tom,
Sure , a LOT of older over the road trucks and heavy equipment came WITH ether injection built right in to the machine I used it regularly on my own cat yellow iron Have never used it on Kubota, glow plugs work good and I don稚 think the piston rings would take the punishment KennyV
PS if you feel a need to use ether, use WD40 instead works just as good

 

[DesertRose]

Tom,
Sure , a LOT of older over the road trucks and heavy equipment came WITH ether injection built right in to the machine I used it regularly on my own cat yellow iron Have never used it on Kubota, glow plugs work good and I don稚 think the piston rings would take the punishment KennyV
PS if you feel a need to use ether, use WD40 instead works just as good

Kenny V
A lot of Ag tractors also came with ether injectors. You screwed a can into the injector bracket and as you cranked the engine it injected a very small amount of ether into the intake. But I have seen many people take a can of starting fluid and spray a huge amount of ether in the intake in an attempt to start a diesel engine.

I honestly believe that in some situations starting fluids can be used without doing damage to an engine or the glow plugs. I have used WD-40 or similar products as a starting aid for many years as an alternative to using either.

But, at work, I saw situations where people used ether to start diesel engines almost as an alternative to glow plugs or block heaters. In most cases, the frequent use of ether to start a diesel engine burned out the glow plugs and made the engine an "ether junkie". After becoming hooked on either, the engine would not start even in warm weather without a shot of either.

Since I just bought a new tractor, I plan on doing whatever is necessary to start the engine in cold weather short of using any starting fluid.

Tom

 

[KennyV]

Since I just bought a new tractor, I plan on doing whatever is necessary to start the engine in cold weather short of using any starting fluid.

Tom

That is always a good idea.... KennyV

 

[Volfandt]

I used to work on alot of very old diesel powered eqt and they all had ether injectors. They used those small ether capsules like whats found in those CO2 BB/pellet guns. Course they had to work in the most extreme conditions this old world had to offer and to a "T" these engines were what we called "wind broke", i.e. ether junkies etc. They ran but needed constant maintenance.
Ether junkies is a good label as once these engines got used to ether you couldn't start 'em without it, not even on a hot day.......

The newer eqt came with glow plugs and no ether injectors.

Personally, I wouldn't use ether on a modern diesel engine. There shouldn't be any need for it.
Ether strips the micro thin layer of lubrication on the cylinder wall causing premature cylinder/piston/rings wear and if applied at the wrong time it can bend a rod. I've heard engines bang and clang away whlist getting squirted full of ether.
If glow plugs won't start the engine (or an intake preheater) I'd put very serious thought to a block heater.
Course if the engine is already "hooked" it ain't gonna start without it's fix unfortunately......

 

[Egon]

Either works fine as long as you don't own the equipment! Course the owner may not appreciate it!

 

[allen in texas]

No purpose for this post other than to tell an ether horror story.

Use to work in the oilfield, had an old 1000 hp stationary v12 twin turbo cat engine running a fluid pump. Starting ritual involved 4 (yes four) cans of either and 3 guys.

One to crank the engine and two to spray ether in each of the intakes to the turbo's, one can in each hand. Always started with a thunderous clatter and clouds and clouds of dense black smoke. The engine would not start without the ether and lots of it.

Great fun and the old motor was still percolating when I left that sorry job.

My equipment????
ether you say? What's that?

 

[Bob_Young]

I hafta use it on the old Ford 4000 once temps fall below freezing. Just the smallest amount from the spray can gets her goin'. Otherwise you crank and crank before it takes off...if it ever does. No electric where it's stored so can't use a block heater....and it doesn't have glow plugs. When temps are above 50, it starts fine. Once weather turns cold, the old girl slumbers at the back of the barn, so it's only started with ether a few times a year.

Gonna try the WD40 trick. Have always hated using ether. Heard that the older WD40 was much more flammable than what's sold now.

The Kubotas have glow plugs and have yet to show the first sign of starting problems.
Bob

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Kubota uses indirect injection on most small tractors and direct injection on some of the larger tractors. Both use starting aids - the small engines use glow plugs and the larger use heaters in the intake.

Don't use ether in Kubota engines as it can and will damage the engine. Bent rods, broken piston lands, broken rings, blown head gaskets - you name it - as the combustion pressures go very high very fast.

Keep your batteries in good shape, contacts clean on electrical components and good fuel in the system. If it gets cold where you live, buy a block heater and keep it warm so the battery does not have to deep cycle to spin it over.

If your tractor won't start with a little heat, find out why. The glow plugs can be checked for voltage at the connecter buss - should read battery voltage. Same on the intake heater on the bigger tractors.

Ether is bad bad bad in Kubota engines and it will cost you a lot for a quick start.

 

[Harry c]

As an alternate to ether we use to wrap a rag wet with gasoline around the air intake. The knocks weren't nearly as severe. This was primarily with Cat equipment several years ago. No glow plugs.