Starting fluid

[RoyS]

Hair Dryer most certainly helps diesel starting. Once your engine fires with help from the warm air that cylinder is now warmer and the engine RPM has jumped up.

 

[Maine Sail]

I hear you, but I'd be shocked if it really made a difference. Once that thing starts cranking, and breathing gallons and gallons of air, how does the little bit of warm air in the manifold to start make a difference, and how would a hair dryer keep up with warming the air that this engine is breathing? I call B.S. on this.

A glow plug is an entirely different matter.

You may want to ask Cat, Cummins & Yanmar (on large engines)..all of which use intake pre-heaters for cold starting. The Ford Power Stroke diesel on our F550 also uses an intake pre-heater..

 

[jviss]

Well, there you go, I learned something. I just can't imagine it would make a difference, but I've learned it does. Thanks.

 

[jviss]

It doesn't heat the engine block, it heats the air. The warmer air helps the fuel vaporize which makes it easier to start. It is also unlikely that @Tally Ho is trying to start his engine in subzero temps, so a little heat might well make a big difference in starting.

BTW, some Yanmar's are cast aluminum.

Sorry! I've learned something. It may be useful some day!

 

[All U Get]

In a nutshell, we should all spend next winter in Maine with the boats in the water waiting for the morning with the (-) sign. Then crank the engines with each alternative to see if they start. I’ll be waiting in the Exuma’s for the results, third coconut tree from the right.

 

[jviss]

With my Universal M25 on my Catalina 36, I needed glow plugs every time I started it from cold, but always "summertime" in Massachusetts. With my Westerbeke 38B-Four I never need glow. So, I don't think I'll ever need a hair dryer.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Just a little twist on this story.

What is the issue with not using engine block heaters?

 

[DArcy]

What is the issue with not using engine block heaters?

They need to be plugged in.

How about an oil fired heater rigged into the coolant lines? Some trucks use these to warm up on cold days but never heard of them being used to warm up an engine on a boat, only heard of them used for cabin heaters.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

They need to be plugged in.

I guess I am lucky to have shore power. I was also thinking it would eliminate the need for winterizing the engine.

 

[Tom J]

This made me chuckle. How does a hair dryer have any affect on an engine that's a couple of hundred pounds of cold cast iron?

It works for aircraft.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I was also thinking it would eliminate the need for winterizing the engine

Winterizing the engine, at least for fresh water cooled engines, generally means displacing the water from the seacock, strainer, water pump, heat exchanger, muffler, and all the hoses connecting those parts. A block heater is unlikely to keep any of those peripherals above freezing.

 

[Tally Ho]

There's no throttle on a diesel engine, only a speed control, which is connected to the governor speed control, that many people call a throttle.

So, how does what you say do anything?

Ok, how about “don’t give it any fuel”.

Stroke the pistons a few times to build up some compression heat before adding fuel.

Greg

 

[jviss]

It works for aircraft.

So, you know an aircraft engine that is a diesel and a couple of hundred pounds of cast iron?

 

[Tally Ho]

This made me chuckle. How does a hair dryer have any affect on an engine that's a couple of hundred pounds of cold cast iron?

You are not trying to warm the block…just give the fuel /air mixture a bit of a head start.

Greg

 

[jviss]

Ok, how about “don’t give it any fuel”.

Stroke the pistons a few times to build up some compression heat before adding fuel.

Greg

How would that work?

 

[Tally Ho]

Don’t know for sure…but try it.

It works for me…just like the hairdryer

Greg

 

[jviss]

Don’t know for sure…but try it.

It works for me…just like the hairdryer

Greg

What engine do you have?

 

[Tally Ho]

What engine do you have?

Yanmar 2GM20F

 

[Rick Webb]

It works for aircraft.

A cart start will get your blood pumping every time. These Kids with their built-in APUs don't know what they are missing.

 

[Tom J]

So, you know an aircraft engine that is a diesel and a couple of hundred pounds of cast iron?

Yes.