Starting Fluid to Start?

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Mar 17, 2010 | 08:48 PM

#16

75Three90

Cargo Master

Joined: Dec 2009

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From: Santa Fe Tx

Its very dangerous if you don't do it right in diesels it can shatter the piston of to much is used. There should be a little nozzle much like a valve stem on a tire push it in if it drizzels then.its the fpr if it shoots out then its not the fpr

Mar 18, 2010 | 10:45 AM

#17

Prozon

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From: Olympia

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicklook2

how can it run rich when it will not start with out starting fluid?

I was hoping you guys could tell me. When it fires with the fluid, then it runs really rich.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75Three90

There should be a little nozzle much like a valve stem on a tire push it in if it drizzels then.its the fpr if it shoots out then its not the fpr

I did not get the gauge yesterday, I had the wrong fitting. The "valve stem" you are referring to is the schrader valve, correct? And it is just a very low drizzle coming out as you stated.

So I have a bad fuel pressure regulator?

Thanks.

Mar 18, 2010 | 02:48 PM

#18

northeaster79

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 899

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From: trenton ns canada

I would first make sure you have good fuel pressure,thats the best place to start you check,if you don't have it then check the regulator.something makes me think they should have between 35 and 45 psi but I'm not totally sure on that its a number that sticks in my head for an HO 302.I have never had any troubles with the regulator in my many fuel injected ford engines,I have had pumps go.have you tried getting someone to cycle the key and listen so see if your pumps are actually workin?
and throw that can of ether as far away from your truck as you can,its not the best thing for any engine,specially a gas one.and the guy using it on the humvees must be lucky,the 6.5 gm diesel thats in them uses glow plugs and that can make for an interesting big bang,I know this from experience.

Mar 18, 2010 | 05:28 PM

#19

jroehl

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Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 6,473

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From: Lafayette, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by snickersandapepsi

is starting fluid bad for a vehicle?

my experiences with this chemical are limited, in the marines we used it to fire up the humvees 94-98. however the other day a buddy of mine said he would never use it on a vehicle (except a tractor) of his and said it was somewhat dangerous.

as mentioned before, we used it in the corps and we just squirted a bit into the fording stacks and they would start on a real cold day. i suppose that because i was paying taxes that they were my humvees just as much as any other taxpayers.

so, just how damaging is using starting fluid?

It's a bad thing to use in modern diesels. If they have glow plugs, the ether can ignite too soon in the compression stroke, causing damage to the piston. If the diesel has a grid heater in the air intake, it can be ignited by that and explode back out and in your face, or damage a turbo.

I'd look into the problem more thoroughly instead of using starting fluid.

Jason

Mar 18, 2010 | 06:28 PM

#20

quicklook2

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 11,289

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From: Lakewood, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prozon

Guess what! I have another problem you guys can help me with.
So after replacing some wiring and what not, I still have an issue.

An '88 F-350 with a fuel injected 460.

So i've been having this not-start problem lately. It cranks over and fires and sounds like it is ALMOST there, but it never fired up. Yesterday I took a squirt of starting fluid and the truck fired up and ran. After a few minutes of running it shut off-- no sputtering, it just turned off. Another squirt of starting fluid fired it back up.. then it ran.. and did the same thing again.

Any suggestions of where to look? What to start with? Any sensor specificly I should mess with? Anything I can do to test it if so?

Thanks in advance!

to bring back this thread back from using or not using ether, or diesel or fuel regulator or whatever this has become.

he has a 460 that started with starting fluid and then stopped running.

he probably needs a fuel pump.

of course he should check fuel pressure.

of course he should not use ether all the time.

so check pressure, check relays and you will probably need to replace the fuel pump on the rail.

i hope that clears up things for everyone.

Mar 18, 2010 | 10:39 PM

#21

bren_tx

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 183

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the last can of starting fluid i had specifically said on the back to NOT use in diesels. Ive also heard some people say not to use it in fuel injected engines but have yet to hear a good explanation why.

Mar 18, 2010 | 10:59 PM

#22

rla2005

Fleet Owner

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 20,786

Likes: 1,751

From: Kentucky

Just to stir the pot I remember a few old Case tractors on the farm had a button you pushed when the weather was cold to aid starting. The button actuated a solenoid that activated a can of ether that was attached to the intake. Yes these tractors used glow plugs. Yes this was installed from the factory. Seems odd that 35 years later everyone is crapping their pants over using ether to start diesel or gas engines.

Personally I do not use the stuff unless I am troubleshooting another issue. But none the less, ether has been used for years in various automotive applications.

Mar 19, 2010 | 11:14 AM

#23

Prozon

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From: Olympia

It's not really important about the ether. I just used a squirt to get it running, we'll see what I come up with.

Just so you know, its not a DD or anything. Its my off-roader. I'm just trying to get the issues figured out. I had the wrong fitting for the schrader valve when I borrowed the gauge, so I need to go back in a few days and get a different one.

There is no sense trying to replace anything until I figure out the fuel pressure. I'll let you guys know what I come up with, and if I get the problem solved. (Oh and yes, you can plainly hear the fuel pump cycle on.) But hell, I need to finish building my trailer and bring home my new project anyways.

Thanks for the information guys.