Question about using starter fluid on a cold Detroit 60 series

I always thought a quick shot of ether was fine for starting a cold 14 liter. A older guy at the shop showed me glow plugs warm up the intake air enough that you don't need it, and I toasted a glow plug relay last winter trying anyway. Anyone else stop using starter fluid after seeing what it does to the preheat system?

3 comments

3 Comments

henryr455d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way myself... melted a glow plug controller one winter.

rowanw915d ago

Friend of mine did the same thing with a block heater cord. Left it plugged in too long and the whole thing just started smoking out of the hood. Had to replace the whole harness.

shanes665d ago

Yeah @rowanw91 that block heater smoking story is rough, I've been there with a fried glow plug relay myself.