Redneck diesel starting aid

Hendrik

Member
One cold morning I had to start my Volkswagen Camper van (2.5 liter, 5 cylinder, naturally aspirated diesel) to take it to the repair shop to have the glow plugs replaced (four out of five were not working).
And no, she would not start. My hot air gun to the rescue. I disconnected the hose, connecting the air filter housing to the intake manifold, and stuck the spout in the cast aluminum intake manifold. Let it run for, say, three minutes and then proceeded to start the engine, while the gun was still blowing. I was very surprised and relieved at how easy the engine started.
Not saying it will always substitute a properly working glow plug system, but in a pinch and having electric power, it may just do the trick. LOL

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That trick has been around for years.Anytime you heat the intake air. It will help in starting a diesel. Better than using starting fluid.
 

I use the same method on my DB990. Just pull the plug where the manifold heater was supposed to go and she'll start right up.
 
When you get your snow clothes on and ready to move snow and find the block heater unplugged, the heat gun is your friend.
 
... and when you are done, do not forget to attach the hose again.

Note: Although it does not matter, 2.5 liter should read 2.4 liter.
 
Wonder how that idea would work on a Ford 2N tractor with a gasoline engine that does not like to start in the cold. Used a Halogen work light directed on the carb and intake maifold this past winter and it worked pretty good.
 
My 544 gasser starts kinda hard in the winter -- I have an oil pan heater(magnet) and I put it on the manifold just above the carb. starts right up -- Roy
 

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