Coach batteries DIED

[YC1]

Are you sure it is ok to use starting fluid? I have placards on mine that warn against it. My engine does not use glow plugs. It heats the fuel going in using some sort of grid heater. You might get a bad kaboom in the wrong place.

There are plenty of arguments about prefilling filters and my owners manual says not to but I can assure you mine will not start without pre-filling. I don't care how many times the key is cycled.

[twinboat]

Cummins engines say NO starting fluid, because of the grid heater, like YC1 said.


The grid heater, is an "intake air" heater, like a toaster in the manifold. It can cause the starting fluid to go off, before entering the combustion chamber.


Tough on the intake hoses and CAC.


Many use WD40, a less volatile starting aid.

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by YC1

There are plenty of arguments about prefilling filters and my owners manual says not to but I can assure you mine will not start without pre-filling. I don't care how many times the key is cycled.

Manuals are written for the lowest common denominator, and to protect the manufacturer. It's easy to cause problems by pre-filling the filter: by filling it with dirty fuel, for example. But by saying not to do it, they help to absolve themselves of liability if someone does it wrong, because they said not to do it. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the manual comes from the lawyers and only half comes from the engineers.

[deSanford]

Yes it is NOT a good idea to use starting fluid. That said I will only use it with the K&N air filter in place, and just spray a "little" fluid on the exposed end sticking out of the air filter canister. Sanford

[twinboat]

Another great use for starting fluid, is to remove oil from engine parts, like cylinders, piston rings and valve train parts.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by mel s

deSanford
My thought is this:
Allowing 6V flooded lead acid batteries to discharge to 4.6 volts and/or allowing the electrolyte level to drop below the tops of the plates usually results in ruined batteries.
Mel
'96 Safari

In the nine years I had my interstate U-2200 (GC-2 Golf Car) battries they ran down into the "OH CR**! level at least 4 times. The first 2 in the first year.

One of the things that distinguishes a DEEP CYCLE battery from a pretender (MARINE/Deep cycle) is their ability to recover from that kind of event.... Though I would not count on it.. You might survive.

Dry plates however is another issue.. A small fraction of an inch you might be OK, but much more than that and SERIOUS damage happens.