Silly question...
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34
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Silly question...
I was wondering if it would be safe to take a small torch to the fuel filter to heat the fuel so it will start in the morning? 87 6.9 IDI. It starts just fine when I plug it in over night but by the time I get off the boat it is too cold to want to start. Also I don't always remember to plug it in. I am trying not to use ether as I hear it is not so good on the engine. Thanks in advance.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 27
From: NJ
Yeah just fix whatever is wrong. New battery cables, if batteries are old replace with new group 31s, if starter is slow either clean and replace brushes or get a Powermaster, and new glow plugs on a manual switch. Mine starts easy down to negative single digits without being plugged in.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2017
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Would like to do my glow plugs but am scared of having to drill and possibly taking heads off. I have no idea when is the last time they've been changed or what they used. I think I found a solution with heat tape. It is cheap enough to try.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2017
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Seems like a quick shot is not quick enough. It makes a helluva racket when I use it. Is this not a bad thing?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
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I have always been a believer in good old either. The horror stories come from the idiots who spray half a can in an intake out of frustration. Mine takes just a wiff and thats all it should need. If it takes a lot to bust it off then you have bigger problems.
I ditched the toaster plugs long ago and have an ether start assist canister. It uses a jet with a limiter in it and everything. It doesn't matter how cold it gets she always busts off with just a bump of the button and zero knock/clatter/anything
I ditched the toaster plugs long ago and have an ether start assist canister. It uses a jet with a limiter in it and everything. It doesn't matter how cold it gets she always busts off with just a bump of the button and zero knock/clatter/anything
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
If youre using enough to make it knock, youre using too much. Try spraying in the filter housing instead of the directly in the intake, or different ether. Mine likes the mac's from napa or the cheaper johnsons
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2017
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I have always been a believer in good old either. The horror stories come from the idiots who spray half a can in an intake out of frustration. Mine takes just a wiff and thats all it should need. If it takes a lot to bust it off then you have bigger problems.
I ditched the toaster plugs long ago and have an ether start assist canister. It uses a jet with a limiter in it and everything. It doesn't matter how cold it gets she always busts off with just a bump of the button and zero knock/clatter/anything
I ditched the toaster plugs long ago and have an ether start assist canister. It uses a jet with a limiter in it and everything. It doesn't matter how cold it gets she always busts off with just a bump of the button and zero knock/clatter/anything
Alright, I've done my research and ether is NOT a bad thing? I live in a very inclamate region.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
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As far as engines getting "ether dependant" or "ether ruined an engine" 100% farce. As i said, its all in how you use it, if you use too much can you break rings or bend rods? you bet you can.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 78
also - just on the ether discussion ..
some brands are easier starting than others ..
though i wouldn't say any is bad ..
pyroil is a very easy starting ether .. this is my main go to can ..
but for frigid cold temps .. i keep that and a harder starting variety also .. on of these 2 usually tractor supply fleet or supertech they are about the same .. they are a different mix and make more clatter and higher rpms on startup ..
the pyroil takes 2 decent hits .. more than the others and starts slower but easy like it was already running ..
the fleet or walmart brands take just one good hit and start reliably but a little more cranky when she wakes up ..
just depends on the weather
some brands are easier starting than others ..
though i wouldn't say any is bad ..
pyroil is a very easy starting ether .. this is my main go to can ..
but for frigid cold temps .. i keep that and a harder starting variety also .. on of these 2 usually tractor supply fleet or supertech they are about the same .. they are a different mix and make more clatter and higher rpms on startup ..
the pyroil takes 2 decent hits .. more than the others and starts slower but easy like it was already running ..
the fleet or walmart brands take just one good hit and start reliably but a little more cranky when she wakes up ..
just depends on the weather
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,036
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Its all in how you use it. You HAVE TO HAVE your glowplugs disabled, otherwise things could get really expensive. Then just dont use too much. If you plan to use it regularly, you should invest in an ether injector. Mine was $20 off a 1456 IH tractor. Couple feet of plastic tubing, couple fittings, drilled and tapped the intake, and wired it up to a momentary toggle switch mounted out of the way in the bottom of my pillar gauges. The injector makes the ether way more user friendly, its easier on the engine (and your hood hinges) and it goes alot farther.
As far as engines getting "ether dependant" or "ether ruined an engine" 100% farce. As i said, its all in how you use it, if you use too much can you break rings or bend rods? you bet you can.
As far as engines getting "ether dependant" or "ether ruined an engine" 100% farce. As i said, its all in how you use it, if you use too much can you break rings or bend rods? you bet you can.
There really needs to be more people jumping on this ether train instead of the scare train
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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It sounds like you are pretty set on using ether, but that is not the route I would go. I would fix the GPs and use ether as an emergency starting aid, not the main one.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,554
Likes: 5,590
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
agreed. because one of these days you will be in the middle of nowhere with an empty can of ether and the truck will not start.
i would rather have working glow plugs and a can of ether behind the seat just in case.
my average glow plug life on my 88 is 200,000 miles. i put the third set in a few years ago
i would rather have working glow plugs and a can of ether behind the seat just in case.
my average glow plug life on my 88 is 200,000 miles. i put the third set in a few years ago
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
When my new engine goes in, its going back to glow plugs hooked to the same switch. Like said above, glowplugs are best overall, and will work better in extreme cold temps than ether will. For instance, when it gets in the negative teens, i have to take my ether can in the house to warm it up before i can get things started. Also, as Tom mentioned, ive been outta ether in the middle of nowhere... not fun, luckily a big rig stopped that happened to have some.
I would repair the glow plugs unless you have a reason not to, current money situation, or physical problem like stuck plugs, or buried controller as it is with mine. Even if you cant get 1 or 2 plugs out, it will still start easily enough on 6 or 7
I would repair the glow plugs unless you have a reason not to, current money situation, or physical problem like stuck plugs, or buried controller as it is with mine. Even if you cant get 1 or 2 plugs out, it will still start easily enough on 6 or 7
