Cold engine starting procedure

[doneill127]

Just curious. My Max has an MHI SL3 diesel with Bosch Denso Injection. The Mahindra manual says the starting procedure is to put speed control at idle, hit the glow plugs (10 sec), then start the engine, cold or hot. The Mitsubishi SL3 Operation/Maitenance manual says the cold engine start procedure is to put the speed control at full hit the glow plugs and start. Also says to give it a 5-10 min. warm up at idle which also differs from Mahindra's manual.

I've never had a problem following the Mahindra procedure but found it interesting that it contradicts the engine OEM's manual. Was wondering what others are doing and if there's and benefit or harm in opening the throttle to full when starting the engine.

 

[duffer]

If you look at other owners of diesel equipment, such as road contractors, excavators, truck drivers, etc. ALL of them start their engines at idle and let them fully warm up before putting the engines under load. Starting a diesel at full throttle scares the bijeebers out of me.

I put the throttle at idle, and depending on the ambient temperature will use the "glow plug" (which is actually a heater) for 5-60 seconds before cranking.

 

[jbrumberg]

If you look at other owners of diesel equipment, such as road contractors, excavators, truck drivers, etc. ALL of them start their engines at idle and let them fully warm up before putting the engines under load. Starting a diesel at full throttle scares the bijeebers out of me.

I put the throttle at idle, and depending on the ambient temperature will use the "glow plug" (which is actually a heater) for 5-60 seconds before cranking.

I plug in my engine block and hydraulic fuel filter heaters and let the tractor warm up before starting procedures; a little prayer seems to help as well.

 

[Reb954]

On a cold engine I set the throttle at idle, hit the glow plugs then start it. Once started I let it idle for a minute or so then run it up to around 1,000 rpm for 5 minutes or so.

If the temps are sub zero, I usually plug in the tractor the night before starting it, then follow the above for starting it. If I don't have a chance to plug in the tractor first I will use the above procedure but after the 5 minute warm up I will only run the tractor at low rpms. Once I see the temp gauge start rising I will go ahead and run at full rpm.

No way I would start the engine at full throttle. That is not only hard on the engine but it is hard on the hydraulics.

 

[doneill127]

I start mine the same way, throttle at idle, hit the glow plugs, bump it up a little and warm it up. Has worked well even cold weather.. Just curious if anyone cranks the the throttle up to start it. duffer, it does say to bring it back to idle after it starts. Attached is the section from the Mitsubishi manual.

 

[RoyJackson]

Best way, IMHO, is to get a block heater (probably something you can buy from your dealer) plug it for an hour or so (more if below 0 degrees) and you probably won't even need you glow plugs.
Like the others wrote, I start at idle.
You're in Connecticut...doesn't get as cold as it does in Vermont, but it does get cold...

 

[doneill127]

Thanks Roy, not having any problems starting even when it gets to the occasional -10F around here. As my previous post, just curious. It's odd to me because the MHI manual is so detailed in every aspect of operation maintenance and service. Contains every spec for fuel, oil, coolant, torque, wear limits, blah blah blah. I mean to take it to the extreme, one of the steps in the starting sections is: "Before starting the engine, check to make sure no one is near the engine and that tools are not left on or near the
engine.In a loud voice, notify people in the area when starting the engine."

 

[jbrumberg]

Doneill- There could be a breakdown in the Changlish translation/transcription of the manual. I think there are over a dozen regional dialects in China.

 

[doneill127]

Did a little more digging and found that it’s not uncommon on older diesels (mechanical injection) to recommend cold starts at full throttle. Saw a couple of Yanmar Diesel engine manuals for marine and tractors that recommend it for cold starts which one of them defined as below 50F. Some posters on other forums said it changes the injector timing for easier starting. Might give it a shot.

 

[AchingBack]

Doneill- There could be a breakdown in the Changlish translation/transcription of the manual. I think there are over a dozen regional dialects in China.

The tractor is made in Japan.