Why is a visit frmo the Ether Bunny a bad thing?

[knorrena]

If one does not use the glow plugs, why is a vist from the Ether Bunny a bad thing? I have to take my BJ70 out on Wed. and the predicted temp at the time I have to use it will be about -30C (see wx.ca ) and I wont be able to plug it in as I will not be near a plugin. It has trouble starting at -14C not being plugged in. It starts then dies after about 2 secs of running. Then I try again and again. Usually on the 4rth try it starts. I think that its the oil pressure switch that needs replacing because I can here the EDIC cycle. Does this sound plausible? As a precaution the Ether Bunny rides behind the drivers seat along with my fuel treatment; however, I always refrain from invoking the Ether Bunny. Is the precaution warranted?

Karl

[crushers]

it can shock load the bearings if you use too much, best to use it while cranking the engine over. since better to install a manual glow and glow it longer...
or drop the coin for a wabasto... if you do this on a regualr basis...

[roscoFJ73]

"Why is a visit frmo the Ether Bunny a bad thing? "

cos santa clauth comes 1st

[UpsideDown]

Oh, man... if you have a starting or glowing problem then fix that first and foremost. A manual glow switch - a la Wilson - is a great addition.

Make sure you're running oil appropriate for your temperatures. A good, light synthetic would be recommended for cold weather.

Whatever you do, don't use ether! It will rattle your engine to death.

My old BJ42 would start quite easily at -30 (manual glow), but took two to three starts to get the oil pressure up enough (10w30) to keep going.

[UpsideDown]

Oh, and I recently saw a head gasket rupture from using a generous dose of ether.

The shop next to me has a forklift engine replacement under way from using ether... talk about expensive!

[yotawheeler]

haha....yea, i have also heard that either in forklifts is a BAD thing.....i have heard negative things about using either to often or being to generous with the dosage.....go for the manual glow plug idea i have heard this is pretty easy to do but havnt done it myself...

[fjbj40]

first and foremost...put some 0w40 in the engine ...this will make cold starts alot easier and your oil px will come up alot faster and be lower when really cold, especially at those temps...then get her to a shop where you or somebody can fix the glow system. job.

Daryl

[lowenbrau]

Its all about how much you use. I'm seriously thinking about installing one of the automatic ether systems and doing away with electric glowplugs/screens altogether.

http://www.koldban.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=2

There's a simple rule with the ether bunny. A can will last the life of the engine.

[dieselcruiserhead]

I used ether very sparingly on a cummins (much heavier duty than the toys IMO) and it blew the head gasket over a period of time.. If you have to use ether, IMO, it is a two person operation. One cranks and the other sprays tiny little bursts.. It is too potent for a diesel IMO. The better option of something milder like WD40 or similar..

[roscoFJ73]

I suspect the ether bunny was let loose for old style truck and tractor diesel engines that may have had a decompression switch to allow some of the pressure to escape when the ether bunny "hopped"

[JohnnyBoy]

knorrena, i also live in calgary and have recently installed a manual glow system and just repaced my glow plugs yesterday. cheep 70 bucks and 12 for a nice switch. i would be will ing to give you a hand with yours, i like beer. the weather is suposed to be getting nice this weekend +11 sunday. let me know.

[BC Cruiser]

Yeh I agree, I always get someone to crank it over while i'll spray little bursts.

[UpsideDown]

With the old Deutz powered forklift that I have access to at the shop next door, we use ether to start it (glow plugs don't work)... the amount is very, very small and a short can lasts for months. A "squirt" would be about a 1/10 of a second worth into the air box...

[knorrena]

I have a manual glow plug switch already. The prob is two fold. First I really dont like the glow plugs I have. I have the 10.5 volt ngk plugs. They take forever to heat up. True, you can hold them on forever without fear of burning them out, but geez, they take a long time to heat up. Second. I think my oil pressure switch is on its way out. The truck starts and runs for about 1 sec then dies and in that time I can hear the edic doing its thing. Because of the run-for-a-second thing I keep a bottle of ether in the truck. I have used it. I gave it a half secondish shot into the intake and waited a few seconds after I made it to the cab. So here is why I am questioning the ether thing. I cant see how it would do any damage to the engine, after all, an explosion is an explosion right? I question the argument that it combusts too soon before tdc becuase if it did the part of the expanding gases would get vented out the valves. If its more volatile, that is creates more expanding gas, then I can begin to understand. Currently I think of ether as a catalyst to the combustion process, it makes the diesel a little more easy to combust. If thats the case then it adds very little to the volume of expanding gas.

Karl

[dieselcruiserhead]

when I blew mine engine still ran great but it was gradual weakening, culminated on a 28 hour road trip. Made it home, luckily Seriously, I stay far far away from ether. It is a shortcut for something that isn't right, usually....

[crushers]

ether is a last badly needed resort.
if your wife is in labour and you have to get to the hospital or the kid popps out at home then use it. if you wife chopped her hand off and is bleeding all over the house then use it. if your PITA teenage kid is finally threatening to move out of the house, then use it. if it si the end of the world and you really want to make it to the top of a mountain to enjoy the view one last time, use it.

other than this stay away from the ether bunny if you love your engine.

[UpsideDown]

Originally Posted by crushers

ether is a last badly needed resort.
if your wife is in labour and you have to get to the hospital or the kid popps out at home then use it. if you wife chopped her hand off and is bleeding all over the house then use it. if your PITA teenage kid is finally threatening to move out of the house, then use it. if it si the end of the world and you really want to make it to the top of a mountain to enjoy the view one last time, use it.

Man, life must be tough around your neck of the woods...

[crushers]

not really, life is relaxing...

[ivanhoe]

Originally Posted by knorrena

Second. I think my oil pressure switch is on its way out. The truck starts and runs for about 1 sec then dies and in that time I can hear the edic doing its thing.

Karl

if you have a upside down oilfilter like my 85bj60, the checkvalve isn't holding the oil in the filter and giving you a longer lower oil pressure. it makes the low oil pressure sender doing its job, kicking out the edic to stop the engine. different filters have different results but it acts up once in awhile with the good ones(whatever that means, ive yet to find one).

[knorrena]

Are there any comments on the glow plugs I am using (ngk 10.5v)?

Karl

[crushers]

takes a long time to glow but should last a long time...

[fieladave]

Apart from the fact that ether DETONATES not cumbust's it also washes the lubricating film off the cylinder walls if used excessively . Listening to your problem's makes me feel better about the 45 deg c day in a pair of overall's hard hat and safety glasses I just did yesterday!

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by knorrena

Are there any comments on the glow plugs I am using (ngk 10.5v)?

Karl

did you take the resistor out?

My thing with ether is to be very sure for guys who don't know your engine well that you do not have a intake glow screen. If you do, then count the explosion to wipe out the intake system. Also maybe kill the person standing right beside it.


I have seen intakes explode, I was cranking the engine at the time..... a co-worker was spraying.

Now on a side not. Glow times if its cold should be between 15-30 seconds on a B engine. Cold being -10,15 below or more. Unplugged in.

My Merceded diesel autoglow system glows at least 30 seconds on -5 mornings.... just the way it is.

If you don't like the 10.5 plugs you could pay 100 bucks a plug for toyota plugs.