ether used to start
- Thread starter mickmaag
- Start date
85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Ether is such bad news for a diesel engine : if glow plugs are used the ether will ignite BEFORE is needs too, causing the engine spin or move in a direction before the time that it needs too.
here some pics to show what too much can do !
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?45880-This-is-why-you-dont-use-ether-on-diesels!!
then again I watched ol timers all the time hit with ether .......I have use it on gas engines , but dare not on diesels
Last edited:
Daren Todd
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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
If your suspecting a fuel issue, then drain the fuel. Clean fuel tank, replace fuel filters. Then bleed the fuel system and go from there 
Here is what can happen with ether.
Right fom ott help.
A hole in one.
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2009/02/trouble-starting-your-kubota-skip-the-starting-fluid/
Right fom ott help.
A hole in one.
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/2009/02/trouble-starting-your-kubota-skip-the-starting-fluid/
Kubota motors (and most asian diesels) do not react well to ether. They were not designed for it. Older american diesels, like the ac's that I was raised on had a different design and thicker piston tops. Ether use was OK on them, if you used it sparingly.
Problem mostly is ignorance, educate yourself, and you don't need the ether for about 90% of diesels. You can always crack open a propane torch, and hold it up to the air cleaner, and the propane is much less explosive and a better starting aid.
Problem mostly is ignorance, educate yourself, and you don't need the ether for about 90% of diesels. You can always crack open a propane torch, and hold it up to the air cleaner, and the propane is much less explosive and a better starting aid.
Why would you activate the glow plugs if you were going to hit it with ether? It's like this - if you use ether to start ANY engine it should always be used VERY sparingly. Any time I do it I have the can 1 1/2 feet away from the air filter and just give a whisp of ether. After all - you're not trying to blow the head off the thing, you're trying to ssstart it!!!!
EEEEEEEasy man, EEEEEasy!!!!! And when it sounds like it's gonna hydraulic the engine STOP!!!!
EEEEEEEasy man, EEEEEasy!!!!! And when it sounds like it's gonna hydraulic the engine STOP!!!!
Bet it's more engine related than fuel related. Broken rings, ring lands, etc. Pretty common among Kubota's combined with starting fluid. I used to see it a few times a year, right around February usually as that's the coldest part of the year here.
Gut I know couldn't get his '95 powerstroke diesel started. Bad IPR, but he was trying to start it thinking that maybe the IPR would start working. Sprayed with ether, engine makes noises. Hmm...not enough either. Another big shot, crank, boom. Exploded part of the turbocharger, shrapnel all over, burned some hair off his face, etc. Engine never did run to my knowledge, with a bad IPR it couldn't.
Gut I know couldn't get his '95 powerstroke diesel started. Bad IPR, but he was trying to start it thinking that maybe the IPR would start working. Sprayed with ether, engine makes noises. Hmm...not enough either. Another big shot, crank, boom. Exploded part of the turbocharger, shrapnel all over, burned some hair off his face, etc. Engine never did run to my knowledge, with a bad IPR it couldn't.
mickmagg
Welcome to OTT. It's too late now but a test of the engines compression should have been performed before cyl head was removed. Normally broken rings or ring lands on pistons can not be seen without removing pistons from engine block. I detest ether & only use it as a "very last resort"
Welcome to OTT. It's too late now but a test of the engines compression should have been performed before cyl head was removed. Normally broken rings or ring lands on pistons can not be seen without removing pistons from engine block. I detest ether & only use it as a "very last resort"
I don't think Mickmagg is concerned with anyone's offers for help. It was his first post a year and half ago.
Someone jumped in to make a comment about starting fluids and probably didn't realize the original poster is long gone, and the conversation started over!
Good points for someone searching the threads, but he's not here to glean from them.
Someone jumped in to make a comment about starting fluids and probably didn't realize the original poster is long gone, and the conversation started over!
Good points for someone searching the threads, but he's not here to glean from them.