Ether + Glow Plugs
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Senior User
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Ether + Glow Plugs
I know this is a no-no, but why exactly?
Is it because of the potential of early detonation in a cylinder that isn't supposed to be firing, or because the extreme heat will wipe out the plugs.
I'm trying to diagnose a plug-eating problem at the same time as a fuel-delivery issue. As a last resort, I've had to use ether a bunch of times to get it running. I'm having trouble keeping track of both issues, and think I may have actually repaired the glow plug issue, but wiped out the new plugs with ether while trying to fix the air in fuel problem.
Is it because of the potential of early detonation in a cylinder that isn't supposed to be firing, or because the extreme heat will wipe out the plugs.
I'm trying to diagnose a plug-eating problem at the same time as a fuel-delivery issue. As a last resort, I've had to use ether a bunch of times to get it running. I'm having trouble keeping track of both issues, and think I may have actually repaired the glow plug issue, but wiped out the new plugs with ether while trying to fix the air in fuel problem.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 247
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From: KY
A buddy of mine about burnt his truck to the ground using ether. I told him it was a bad idea. He laughed and said, people tell you that just to scare you, well this time the ether ignited and caught his intake on fire, mellting all the plastic and burning up the whole air filter assembly before he could get it out.
His glow plugs worked great but his batteries were about dead so he would just shoot it with either and then crank it as soon as he turned the key on. Well the either puddled in the intake and when it popped back through, it caught everything on fire.
His glow plugs worked great but his batteries were about dead so he would just shoot it with either and then crank it as soon as he turned the key on. Well the either puddled in the intake and when it popped back through, it caught everything on fire.
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Delco plugs in a '94 7.3 IDI.
I've bypassed the glow plug controller and am using a momentary switch. I'm afraid I may have burned a plug or two with ether, then gradually cooked the rest of them because unlike the original controller, my thumb cannot sense resistance and 10 seconds with a couple plugs dead probably killed the rest.
The controller was somehow passing voltage to the plugs even with the relay open, I think that is what killed the first set. I guess I need to get a working controller, a new set of plugs, and lay off the juice.
I've bypassed the glow plug controller and am using a momentary switch. I'm afraid I may have burned a plug or two with ether, then gradually cooked the rest of them because unlike the original controller, my thumb cannot sense resistance and 10 seconds with a couple plugs dead probably killed the rest.
The controller was somehow passing voltage to the plugs even with the relay open, I think that is what killed the first set. I guess I need to get a working controller, a new set of plugs, and lay off the juice.
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Or rings, or rods, or ...
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
A rag soaked with gas is also supposed to work. Personally, I've used a heat gun and it worked every time (VERY well, actually).
The most likely damage that will happen from using starting fluid on a diesel is a cracked upper compression ring. The flame speed of either is way higher than diesel, and the rings can't cope. The engine will still ring with only one working compression ring (for a while at least), but it will only get harder to start as time goes on.
I have never used starting fluid on any of our diesels and never will. I've heard that you can get away with a small shot of the stuff if the glow plugs are disabled. I would only do that if it were a life and death situation. So far it hasn't happend and I've been able to keep our engines running resorting to such desperate measures. All of our diesels fire within the first full turn.
The most likely damage that will happen from using starting fluid on a diesel is a cracked upper compression ring. The flame speed of either is way higher than diesel, and the rings can't cope. The engine will still ring with only one working compression ring (for a while at least), but it will only get harder to start as time goes on.
I have never used starting fluid on any of our diesels and never will. I've heard that you can get away with a small shot of the stuff if the glow plugs are disabled. I would only do that if it were a life and death situation. So far it hasn't happend and I've been able to keep our engines running resorting to such desperate measures. All of our diesels fire within the first full turn.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Kremlin, Ok
mine won't fire off of ether, either. i don't use it at all, except to shoot fire at a buddy, or put some in a pop bottle with the cap on in the bonfire. gas soaked rag over the intake works good. hair dryer works allright if you heat the intake up too. of course mine has 371000 miles on it, uses a gallon of oil every 400 miles, and probably doesn't have much compression left.
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From: Kent WA
Over the last 9 months I used ether to cold-start mine a couple of dozen times. No glowplugs though - 7 out of 8 were burned out. The starter was getting pretty tired too. Doesn't seem to have hurt it any.
I hooked up a remote starter switch to the starter solenoid, and would start it cranking then give it a 1/4-1/2 second blast of ether. Seemed to work OK, but I never liked the initial clatter of the first few cylinders firing off.
I'm happy to say that now that I've replaced both the starter and the glowplugsI've retired my can of ether
I hooked up a remote starter switch to the starter solenoid, and would start it cranking then give it a 1/4-1/2 second blast of ether. Seemed to work OK, but I never liked the initial clatter of the first few cylinders firing off.
I'm happy to say that now that I've replaced both the starter and the glowplugsI've retired my can of ether
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From: Californicator
If you use ether on a cold engine, Just MIST it across the air intake
at the hood (where the air enters the intake hose). But VERY little is
all thats needed. I just put enough in to smell it. but dont shoot it into
the intake. Just a tiny hint is all you need.
at the hood (where the air enters the intake hose). But VERY little is
all thats needed. I just put enough in to smell it. but dont shoot it into
the intake. Just a tiny hint is all you need.
