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Substitute for ether
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Without the glows, ether is safe to use if you don't use too much, just a quick snort(half a second at most) in the air intake should be plenty to get it fired up. If you need more than that, you have problems other than just not having working glow plugs...
I'd MUCH rather use ether than a rag soaked in gas... But, that's just me....
I'd MUCH rather use ether than a rag soaked in gas... But, that's just me....
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 2
From: New London, Mo
wd40 will work on any diesel ive used it many times on my old cummins in my cabover kenworth, if your gonna use either after you tern the key on and the glowplugs cycle dont shut the key back off leave it on so the wont cycle again
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Kent WA
Personally, I'd just rather stay away from ether for my IDI. Too risky IMO. That is why I started this thread in the first place.
I can't help but notice that Dave, Spectramac, farmnfly, cookie88, PLC7.3, KJLYPW, and a few others I'd like to hear from on this topic haven't chimed in yet
So, if you had to use something in a pinch, what would it be guys?
WD40? Ether? Carb cleaner? Gasoline? Or something else?
I can't help but notice that Dave, Spectramac, farmnfly, cookie88, PLC7.3, KJLYPW, and a few others I'd like to hear from on this topic haven't chimed in yet
So, if you had to use something in a pinch, what would it be guys?
WD40? Ether? Carb cleaner? Gasoline? Or something else?
Last edited by CheaperJeeper; Nov 23, 2006 at 03:46 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
A few years ago aresols had butane for propellant. Makes a good blowtorch in a pinch. Also starts diesels.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
If I had a reason to use a starting aid other than glow plugs, I would use ether.
Since my glow plugs are manual I could eliminate the worst problem with using ether by not pushing the button.
If the engine is in proper operating condition, you should have no need for any starting aid.
I have cranked mine up at temps well below zero when it was not plugged in by cycling the glow plugs twice before I cranked the engine. Started just like it was 70 degrees outside.
So I guess my position on this is if the truck is kept in a well maintained condition, you should never need to use any of the other starting aids.
Remember, I am an old school truck driver and farmer. Back in the 60's and 70's before glow plugs were common that is what you used to start diesels in low temperatures.
Since my glow plugs are manual I could eliminate the worst problem with using ether by not pushing the button.
If the engine is in proper operating condition, you should have no need for any starting aid.
I have cranked mine up at temps well below zero when it was not plugged in by cycling the glow plugs twice before I cranked the engine. Started just like it was 70 degrees outside.
So I guess my position on this is if the truck is kept in a well maintained condition, you should never need to use any of the other starting aids.
Remember, I am an old school truck driver and farmer. Back in the 60's and 70's before glow plugs were common that is what you used to start diesels in low temperatures.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
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i have a small mulch company in central florida, the john deere tractors (wheel loaders) i have been replacing have had cold start issues since new. the tractors that are the oldest are so low on compression that when the are shut off for whatever reason they will not restart!!! the gas soaked rag works every time!!! you get a little gear oil quart bottle that is empty (the kind with the nipple on the end for "squirting") and fill it with gas, then you have the bottle to reuse all the time, a few drops is all it takes. i have done this for years and have never had a tractor not start that way. that never causes the high rev that ether causes when the engine starts, i have however had an ether fired john deere break on start up, due mostly to it being worn out, but the fact that the ether start caused the dry engine to fire at redline for 5-6 seconds didnt help.
hope this helps
hope this helps
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Kent WA
Originally Posted by bigbubba87
if you got a block heater use it and you wont have to use either of wd40 to start your truck
I'm looking for an answer as to what's the best thing to use when something goes wrong and it doesn't want to start. It will happen, eventually. That's a given. When it does, I'll address and fix whatever is wrong. BUT, in the event that I need to get it started, and don't have time to fix it on the spot, if ether is bad, which is a better substitute, WD40 or carb cleaner?
I'm thinking carb cleaner - for the reasons I've stated previously in this thread - two or three times.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
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Cheaper, 
Enee, Meenee, Minnee, Moe....I really don't think your going to really get a concrete answer on this one.
And according to Dave,
you shoudn't ever have to!
I'd stick with your carb cleaner, but if you want your IDI to smell nice and look good then I'd go with the hair spray
Enee, Meenee, Minnee, Moe....I really don't think your going to really get a concrete answer on this one.
And according to Dave,
you shoudn't ever have to!I'd stick with your carb cleaner, but if you want your IDI to smell nice and look good then I'd go with the hair spray
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,175
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From: Kent WA
Originally Posted by bc6.9
Cheaper,
Enee, Meenee, Minnee, Moe....I really don't think your going to really get a concrete answer on this one.
And according to Dave, you shoudn't ever have to!
I'd stick with your carb cleaner, but if you want your IDI to smell nice and look good then I'd go with the hair spray
Enee, Meenee, Minnee, Moe....I really don't think your going to really get a concrete answer on this one.
And according to Dave,
you shoudn't ever have to!I'd stick with your carb cleaner, but if you want your IDI to smell nice and look good then I'd go with the hair spray
So, unless someone can give me a good reason NOT to use it, I guess its carb cleaner for emergency starting for me.....
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,438
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From: Monroe, WA
Too much reading Cheeper! 
I finally got bored enough to check this one out.
Yeah, take yer pic. If it's an emergency, use whatever you can find. I like the idea of WD-40, but always end up using either (sparingly from a warm can).
I finally got bored enough to check this one out.
Yeah, take yer pic. If it's an emergency, use whatever you can find. I like the idea of WD-40, but always end up using either (sparingly from a warm can).