I have always used a "liquid fire" type product on my diesels w/ glow plugs in the winter. I recently read the fine print, and it states : Caution, not for use with diesels equiped with glow plugs.

Am I doing something I shouldn't do?

Is it harmfull to the engine?

Am I risking personal harm? lol...

 

The glowplugs can fire the ether too early. You risk broken piston rings. If all glowplugs are working properly you should not need ether.
If you feel you must use it then disconnect the glowplugs first.

 

Do you mean aerosol type starting fluid? Yes, bad things can happen. The spray can ignite on contact with the glow plug, causing premature ignition in the cylinder and trashing the motor.

 

unplug your controller and you will be fine. Ive been using either for over a year now and my truck starts way easier then with glow plugs takes less time especially when its cold out

 

unless you have problems with air in the fuel lines or bad glow plugs, ether is not needed, they'll fire right up. if you have one of those problems, fix it, don't keep putting it off

 

x2 on what josh is saying...GP's are a major system that almost any diesel engine that I can think of in pickups of today....

 

Thanks everyone.
No more using that stuff.
I hate to mention it, but the problem wasn't w/ my Ford, but an old 2.8 Nissan diesel in my 85 Land Rover Defender.
I dont use the stuff very often, but I just moved the Rover here to CO from a warmer climate w/out winterized diesel, and had a bad gelling problem.
When I have used it, i only spray near the intake and then waft just a bit toward it with my hand, but no more. Dont want to damage the Rover or myself...
Got the thing started today w/out the fluid anyway! Anti-gel additive in the filter and tank did the trick.

P.S. My Ford 6.9 has always started w/ just the glow plugs, so never used the fluid on it.

 

lol the short answer is Kaboom. you can use it, buy you MUST disable the GP system before you do. eather isnt a sin, you just need to make sure you use it right, and dont use too much

 

i blew my headgasket with ether one time on my old 6.9, had the gp controller disables but used a hair to much, wow you shoulda seen how big the upper radiator hose blew up when it started! looked like a balloon!

 

The old diesel does NOT have automatic glow plugs,they're manual, meaning I have to hold down a switch until they are up to temp, then switch them off after start.
So can I safely use ether as long as I dont manualy use the the glow plug switch?

 

Yep. I have an old diesel farm tractor with manually operated glow plugs. Just use it sparingly.

 

There was a pic here a little while back of some popped out pre-chambers, attributed to the use of ether.
Not worth it IMO.

 

Eight new glow plugs and return o-rings are cheaper than headgaskets. Last night was -10 degrees, 20 second wts light but fired right up. This IDI starts better than any diesel I've seen in the cold.

 

i havent had any trouble starting my 88 after 8 to 10 hours in the lot while im at work, its been down th the low single digits here. i just usually ler it run a little bit before i drive it

 

i agree the idi starts better then a powerstroke thats forsure, not sure about a cummins tho since i never owned one.