One way to get an engine started on a cold morning

[tpost]

Laugh at me,disagree,say its not a good idea but it works for me. On cold mornings when I have had trouble starting a small engine IE: An 8 hp engine on a log splitter when it is 20 degrees or colder out the rope pulls slow and hard because it is so cold out,the tractor won't start.I will fill up 4 to 5 buckets of hot water( it may take less) and pour across the engine slowly and then pull the rope or turn the key,depending how cold it is you may need more water, but it heats things up enough where things move easier and I know it has helped me start these engines on a cold morning. Just my 2 cents worth I can understand people being apprehensive about doing this..but it has worked for me more than once.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

At the risk of appearing to question your results, anytime I've involved water and small engines, I've regretted the outcome. (Usually soaked ignition parts) HOT water, being closely akin to steam, gets into places that it shouldn't. Nothing like yanking on a starter rope for an hour when the ignition is dead.

I'm more inclined to try "tarp and space heater" techniques when trying to start a small engine in extreme cold. (That, or take it in my heated shop for a while) (Or wait until spring.............. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

 

[Boondox]

I've always had good luck with a tarp and a low wattage work light left on overnight.

Pete

 

[RalphVa]

Starting fluid (ether) works pretty good, too, and synthetic oil in the crankcase.

Ralph

 

[turnkey4099]

I had a 59 or 62 (don't recall which now) Volvo in germany for 3 years. Had the twin SU carbs and would not start in very cold weather. Real odd for a vehicle built in Sweden. I too found that pouring hot water over the manifold would do the trick every time. Was O.K. leaving the house but a problem at the other end when parked for 8 hours.

Harry K

 

[cowboydoc]

It's also a good way to crack a block or a head. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[beenthere]

I won't laugh at you or disagree with you.
But I won't do it that way either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I don't know at what temps you are doing this, but my 8hp wood splitter engine has started in 0°F (yes it pulls hard, but still starts when the gas fires) and my Deere 4300 diesel at colder temps than that.
Not only would I not want the water freezing on the engine at those temps, I seriously doubt enough heat will warm up the cold oil to help any. And I won't try it just because of the icy mess it would create all around my storage area from the frozen water.
But happy for you that it works for you.

I recall as a lad that I would take a teakettle of boiling water out to the outside faucet and pour it on to thaw the faucet, so I could carry 5-10 buckets (5 gal buckets) of water to the horses and cows. The barn was about 100 yards from the house. That was my job every morning before breakfast and night before milking and supper. My brother milked (by hand) the one Jersey cow in the morning. Me at night. Never poured hot water on an engine. That would be a new experience.

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Hey, if it works for you I guess we can't argue too much. Lots of years ago I had a roommate with a Triumph TR-4 that didn't like cold weather. He used to gather sticks from the pine trees near our apartment and build a fire under the oil pan. It always worked. Compared to that, pouring hot water over a log splitter engine sounds like a safe and sane idea to me. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Tom

 

[tpost]

<font color="blue"> I seriously doubt enough heat will warm up the cold oil to help any. </font>
I am not heating the oil,it heats the area up around the injectors/fuel pump/head the tractor rolls easier on the woodsplitter it actually pulls much easier

Never cracked a head or caused any problems for me, ...it is an unorthodox/uncommon way I know but it works ..the problem with the log splitter..you cannot pull the rope fast enough to get it to fire when it is real cold out.

 

[Mike_Lipke]

I'm not sure how a head would crack. The hot water is a lot cooler than flames from internal combustion racing though internal passages of the head and manifold.