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starting ether and cold weather starting

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nevets

nevets

Jedi Knight
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Is it harmful (to the engine) to spray a shot of starting ether into the air filters to help with cold weather starts?
 
HI nevets, I do not think so if you do not over do it.However, it usually must be very cold for the normal choke start not to work in a reasonable time.--Fwiw---Keoke
 
Hi nevets, have to agree with Keoke here. If the engine just keeps cranking and not firing it sounds as though there are other problems like not enough spark. If you are not originality minded a good electronic ignition solves the problem and even some of the latest types are hidden from view. Regards, BUNDYRUM.
 
Thanks for ther reply. Actually, the car starts very willingly except when the temp dips below 45 or so. There may in fact be a choke issue, because to get the car to start, I need to pull the knob out as far as possible. Perhaps it's just a cable or linkage adjustment issue...another item to add to my growing list of winter fixes. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't risking engine damage by using ether.
 
I think one of the reasons that ether works so well is that it is so "low" octane that it compression ignites with practically NO spark. If you use TOO much, likely the only problem would be a blown gasket or two.
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oh, just a blown gasket or two, and I was worried it might harm my car. hmmm, think I'll use that stuff sparingly, if at all.
 
One of the tricks for a cold start is to "pump" the choke. Pull the choke in and out three times. This puts a good shot of fuel into the manifold for the initial start. Try it, you'll be surprised at how effective this is....
 
I have a D-4 Cat bulldozer and I won`t use starting fluid on that so you can be sure I won`t use it on my Healey, you will end up with a broken piston or a blown head gasket
 
Hi Nevets, ThomP's suggestion to pump the choke is a good one.Similarly, if you want a nice winter project you might consider BUNDYRUM's ignition upgrade-using a Pertronix unit and a Lucas sport coil. The Healey will think its summer all year long.----Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Yep Skip,The Healey don't even know its winter time!---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I started mine the other day somewhat easily pumping the choke twice and it was 28 degrees in the garage I store it in. I think Healeys love the cold.
 
The received advice for diesel engines is try to avoid ether. The extra-forceful explosion on starting apparently can easily damage the top compression ring and the lands of piston surrounding it. It seems that it is possible for a diesel engine to become 'addicted' to ether in that having caused the mechanical damage the engine will no longer start without the ether!

Started this investigation when in sub zero temps I was trying to start my big 100kva generator set which is powered by a Ford 6 pot 6 litre turbo diesel with no heater plugs (2704ET engine if anyone has any data on it)

Since finding out the above I never used the ether I bought !!!!!!!
 
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OK, I'll bite. How does "pumping the choke" put more fuel into the manifold?
D

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Wondering that myself as there are not accelerator pumps on these carbs. No fuels moves with out the engine spinning.

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I think I get just a little more movement out of the choke cable. Starts easier so I just do it. Hardly ever need the choke most of the year. Been doing it for years cause it wont running if I just pull it once.
 
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OK, I'll bite. How does "pumping the choke" put more fuel into the manifold?
D

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HI Dave, Each time the choke is pulled a bit of fuel is placed in the manifold kinda like having an accellerator pump.---Keoke
 
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The received advice for diesel engines is try to avoid ether. The extra-forceful explosion on starting apparently can easily damage the top compression ring and the lands of piston surrounding it.

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Andrew--

The explanation that I received as to why starting ether is potentially damaging is that whereas combustion is supposed to occur at a specific point in time/position relative to a piston's being at TDC, with ether it can occur at any point, with resultant damage to connecting rods/bearings. Apparently this is more likely to happen with diesels due to compression ignition.
 
Andrew as for starting the generator what you might want to try is a dipstick oil heater. I use it on my airplanes in cold weather and it works great. I won`t start them up with cold thick oil. I put it in the dipstick hole and in about 2 hours the oil is around 160 degrees F. I would suspect that if you put one in a diesel engine for a few hours it would warm the engine to the point you could start it without ether. Skip
 
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OK, I'll bite. How does "pumping the choke" put more fuel into the manifold?
D

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HI Dave, Each time the choke is pulled a bit of fuel is placed in the manifold kinda like having an acelerator pump.---Keoke

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I already gathered that much from the previous discussions. My question is - exactly what in the carb causes fuel to be pumped when operating the choke & how does it do this "pumping"?
D
 
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