Ever used starting fluid in your truck?

[Whitnel]

On two really cold days when my truck was not able to be plugged up I had to use a shot to get it going. Only those two times, I think the glow plugs were getting pretty old and it would not start.

 

[PoorMansCat]

engines don't actually get "addicted" to ether, but rather the problem that caused the use of ether to begin with continuously progresses... I have personally been called to a location that had 4 1500hp. 12 cylinder Cats that, after discussing the issues with the customer, found that since new, the engines had ALWAYS needed ether to start, cold or hot.!!!!..
These engines were about 5 years old with about 30-35K hours of run time... After about 1 hour of troubleshooting, I made a simple polarity change to some wiring and all engines were able to start easily with no ether... They (the customer) had been purchasing ether by the case every week for 5 years!!..
On the flip side of that, my B.I.L. Ford tractor is SSSOOOOO wore out, it will NOT start without about 1/2 can of "liquid courage"!!. Sometimes we use a gas rag..Tried some propane once, but it wouldnt light off????
Ether can be used safely, but I have seen many head gaskets and spacer plates blown out from under the head with it also.. have also seen many electric starters burnt up using it...

 

[firemanpat2910]

yes I have used it on my 2007 PSD in my F250. I had the little o rings fail (on the oil rails?) and truck would spin like mad but never fire. a 1/2 of a 1/2 of a shot of either and it fired right up. i only did it a few time until I could get truck into the ford place but it did work.

 

[masscity]

I worked in construction in the Detroit area and we used ether on the semi tractors and cranes.

Some would start with a little shot and some would take a half a can using several sprays and tries.

One day the owner was trying to start an old crane and had a guy spray ether and used too much, ether lock.

Later I was using that crane, because mine was in the shop. It had a knock, because of the ether.

I took it easy on the engine, but finally the wrist pin broke and the rod went through both sides of the engine.

 

[slowzuki]

We had an ATV with no compression, had to use ether to start it. Set it on fire once when it backfired and lit the ether in the airbox on fire, burned up an expensive filter too.

Neighbour had a diesel chipper, big perkins in it. Was cold and he didn't know how to use the glow plugs. Sloshed some gas down the intake, fired really hard then hydrolocked or too high of cylinder pressure, broke a rod and knocked the side out of the block. I think it is still parked behind his barn 10 years later.

 

[DAY]

Im a perfect world block heaters and glo plugs start engines in the coldest temps.

In the real world of 30 plus year-old and worn machinery, ether is man's best friend. (Not too different from the "starter fluid" grandpa added to his thermos of coffee at 5AM in the duck blind. . .:laughing::thumbsup

 

[Patches]

I've never used it personally(just lucky, I guess), but one very cold winter night we visited a BYOB dance;this was back in the late 60's, early70's and when the dance ended we were sitting in the parking lot, waiting for traffic to clear a little. This guy ,a few cars down from us,with a big old V8 Oldsmobile couldn't get the engine to fire;got out, took the top off the air cleaner, gave her a dose and put the top back on, got in the car and about the 2nd cylinder to fire, blew the carburator all over the parking lot

 

[PoorMansCat]

We had an ATV with no compression, had to use ether to start it. Set it on fire once when it backfired and lit the ether in the airbox on fire, burned up an expensive filter too.

Neighbour had a diesel chipper, big perkins in it. Was cold and he didn't know how to use the glow plugs. Sloshed some gas down the intake, fired really hard then hydrolocked or too high of cylinder pressure, broke a rod and knocked the side out of the block. I think it is still parked behind his barn 10 years later.

The Perkapillar 3024 and 3054 will puke a head gasket in a heartbeat with a little shot of liquid choke...
I know, i've seen me do it!!!..

 

[slowzuki]

Yup, when I say sloshed, I mean he upended a jerry can into the air filter housing lol.

The Perkapillar 3024 and 3054 will puke a head gasket in a heartbeat with a little shot of liquid choke...
I know, i've seen me do it!!!..

 

[PoorMansCat]

Yup, when I say sloshed, I mean he upended a jerry can into the air filter housing lol.

holy crap... lucky he didnt blow the oil pan off of it.!!..