Just one of those curiousity things...


My blazer is hard to start, I'm guessing it will get worse as it gets colder but I'm working on a few things to aid that. Anyways, what I'm curious about is, PO installed a manual glow plug controller, would it be bad if I held the controller for 5 seconds (as usual) and continued to hold it when I cranked the engine over? Intiutively it seems like that would make the truck easier to start but I'm just curious.





Also, if I don't use the glow plugs, and don't overdo it, are there any negative effects of using ether to get the truck started faster? Any chemicals (aside from some stuff I got from the gas station to help avoid gelling at low temps) that make diesels easier to start?


Truck is an '83 K5, 6.2 Diesel, 700r4.

botboy, you might try posting this in the 6.5/6.2 area where it is likely to get a better response from some of the experts down there. I dont have any useful knowledge to add on this.

Don't use ether starting fluid with glowplugs.

I have been starting my 93 Ford 7.3L N/A on ether for 3 years now because glow plugs & controller fried and haven't fixed them and not one problem besides ethers cheaper. I have started that truck at -18 C on ether without being plug in over night. If you have your glow plugs on a manual switch and dont use them then ether will work very good but DON'T spay alot. A 1 second burst into your intake and that will do.

How long you should energize the glow plugs depends on a few things. The biggest question is, what brand and part number are they?

plugs are 11G AC delcos on a manual switch (PO disabled auto controller and put a button on the dash)

I would say replace all 8 plugs and soder yourself together a new harness to tie them to the controller, a lot of these trucks when they get this old have poor contacts especially on the glowplugs. Use about 8 gauge wire and just put blade connectors on the glowplug end and tie 2 sets of 4 to an eye connector on the controller end. This will lower resistance to the plugs from poor wiring and connections and you will know they are all getting hot for sure. If you still have start issues, you might want to play around with your timing and check to see if you Cold Advance Solenoid is working. A set of injectors wouldn't hurt anything either.


Ether should be saved for emergencies, last resort, not first choice.Edited by: Texas Diesel Guy