My GP system has went south on me. New Berus too, so it must be electrical. Its too cold for me to go messing with wires and small screws so I've resorted to Ether. Actually she starts quicker on the ether. This engine is being swapped out in a couple of months anyway but I was curios what your views are on ether starting. I was partially raised on a farm where ether was used to start our old Massey Ferguson Diesel tractors.

 

I've used ether on mine and I'm still alive. Just use common sense and you'll be fine (In other words, don't empty a bottle for one start and be surprised when your head gasket blows...)

 

I only use a quick 2 second burst. It starts and stalls. But I don't retreat I just crank again and it starts. I just repaired a leaky return cap so its probably holding good prime which helps.

 

if i were you i would go ahead and remove and tape the power line to the GP relay at least.... thats where the either start danger is... spray it in and the GP's decide to work just that one time and bam engine damage.... if the GP's are disconnected from power then their is no chance they will come on... i did that on mine i bought all new GP's and the controller took a dump on me so i just unhooked and taped the power wire off until i got a new controller..... better to be on the safe side.

 

I'm on a manual push button so there's no chance they are going to start working unless I physically push the button. Which I definitely wont do when using Ether!!

 

I don't use ether/starting fluid on my truck, and I hope I never have to.

 

you shouldnt need it unless its really cold out and you didnt plug in your block heater. on the 1st gen psd's thats another story. but for the idi its easy enough to fix the issue and get it firing up right.

 

Cant use my block heater as the block is cracked there. Current temps are averaging 10-15F.

 

Starting fluid won't hurt anything if used right. It can break pistons rings if used wrong. The best is have the motor cranking when it is shot in the intake.

 

I used it on my 86 before I replaced the plugs, was on a push button as well. All I ever gave it was a quick press and release and it always fired right up. I have new MC plugs now though so 10 seconds on the button and it fires right up.

 

ive used either on old tractors and trucks, but i wouldent recomend it. most of the bigger equipment has either injection on it, you just gotta becareful

 

Ether won't hurt anything if used correctlly.

Heres how I always used it.

Have someone crank the engine while you spray a tiny shot at the end of the air breather assembly (NOT directlly in the air cleaner) and it should fire right up, if it doesn't, try another little shot, if it still doesn't fire, leave it alone!

 

for a lil while i had a couple dead plugs and the GPs would only come on for about 2 seconds and start clicking. I jus let the plugs do their things and wait a couple minutes til after before i gave her a shot of ether. Only did that for a little while before I fixed the dead plugs.

 

I have to ether start mine also. Even with block heater and the glow plug light staying on for 10 sec. wont start if it is been more then 4 or 5 hours with out ether

 

all the way down to 14F i havent needed ether. If you do need to, then it is broken or not working right, just fix it. Having said that, money is a mans priority and if the fix is just too much, do what you gotta do. I vote never need to use it unless you are in a serious emergency and your ride isnt starting, me....i dont find myself in that spot very often and free road side assistance is cheaper than a can of ether.