manifold heater- does it work?

[Monster Man]

how do I know it's working? I had a hell of a time starting the deuce this morning, it was about 9 degrees out and took like 10 tries with the heater supposedly on.
What exactly does it do and how can I tell if its working?

 

[Longhunter7]

MM!

The manifold heater uses diesel fuel, that is run through a filter, and ignited by a spark plug!

There should be a toggle switch on the dash, that has to be held on while cranking the engine!

All of the components are under a cover that is on top of the engine, right above the dip stick!

If you need a new fuel filter for the manifold heater, let me know! I have a brand new one in the wrapper for sale! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_cool.gif" alt="Cool">

 

[Pappa-G]

The easiest way to tell if its working is to feel the intake manifold after firing it off. Or you can disconnect the low air buzzer(in cab on fire wall) turn on the assry switch. You will hear the in tank pump humming, next hit the preheat switch you should be able to hear it pump and light off (a woof kind of sound)then start it cranking without delay!!
I was near lake superior with mine a couple of weeks ago and the preheat works but it still takes a lot of cranking. I just shoot some starting fluid into the mushroom and it starts right up. Less ware and tare on the starter and batteries. If your truck has not ran for a while,(a couple of weeks or more) I would reccommend cranking it with the "stop" pulled till you get oil pressure, then hit it w/start fluid. <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve"> Best of Luck!!- Pappa-G

Oh I allmost forgot -DO NOT run the preheater if you just shot starting fluid in the intake!! (That would be bad, yah bad definitely bad)<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nuts.gif" alt="Nuts"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nuts.gif" alt="Nuts">

 

[Longhunter7]

<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!"> Monster Man! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!">

I would not recommend using ether starting fluid! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!">

Too many good engines have been ruined by using ether! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!">

Too much, and BOOM, no more engine! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_help.gif" alt="Help">

If the manifold heater is working properly, you won't need ether! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nono.gif" alt="No-no">

 

[Monster Man]

alrighty, cool. that answers three of my questions- I didn't know if I needed to hold it on (I did hold it, thought maybe it was broken), the accessory switch needs to be on, and it's only operating when cranking. I thought maybe it was like some electric heater that heated the fuel going in and din't know if you needed to hold it on for a while before firing it. thanks guys, I'll disconnect the buzzer next time and hear if its working, and I may need that fuel filter, send me a PM about it, thanks!

 

[firemarshallbill]

so, does the fire heat up the intake from the outside, or is there fire inside the manifold like where the air flows through into the engine
? if thats the case than your actually trying to start the truck w/ hot exhaust gasses. that doesnt make much sense. if the products of combustion are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, than your trying to start your truck w that. i didnt think that engines would run w co and co2 instead of oxygen. co is not a supporter of combustion ie co2 fire extinguisher.

 

[stefos]

There is fire inside the manifold. But the volume of air the engine sucks in while cranked is good enough to burn the injected diesel. We dont need the perfect contitions here. We just want to rise the compresed air tempreture above 650C to ignite the diesel. On a cold start there is to much unburned fuel anyway, so the black smoke.
I also hate ether starting. When I dont have any other options I keep a burned rag close to the air intake while the engine is cranked. It works fine.(Old Indian trick, sorry Greek trick)

 

[Monster Man]

Originally posted by stefos

There is fire inside the manifold. But the volume of air the engine sucks in while cranked is good enough to burn the injected diesel. We dont need the perfect contitions here. We just want to rise the compresed air tempreture above 650C to ignite the diesel. On a cold start there is to much unburned fuel anyway, so the black smoke.
I also hate ether starting. When I dont have any other options I keep a burned rag close to the air intake while the engine is cranked. It works fine.(Old Indian trick, sorry Greek trick)

could you explain that some more? What does the burned rag serve to do? <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_shrug.gif" alt="Shrug"> I'm confused

 

[Longhunter7]

MM!

The purpose of the manifold heater and the burning rag idea <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_question.gif" alt="Question">, is that it heats the air coming into the engine!

If you hold the switch on the dash while cranking the engine, it should start without too many revs!

My Deuce has always been easy to start, even in cold weather! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_cool.gif" alt="Cool">

Check your PM's for a message!

 

[Monster Man]

hey Longhunter- I don't see any PM? <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_shrug.gif" alt="Shrug">

anyhow, I'll need that filter at the least. I tested the cold start again this morning, took off the buzzer, accessory on, holding the switch I couldn't hear any "poof" noise. How noticeable is it? I also didn't notice any poof noise while cranking. I'm convinced there something not right with it so when it gets above freezing I'll take a look at it <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_rotfl.gif" alt="ROTFL">

at this point I won't be driving it until nightly lows stay above 20, she's a pain to start in the single digits, every other time she fires up first crank, go figure

 

[Longhunter7]

MM!

I resent the PM! Your complete user name doesn't appear at the top, when sending a PM!

I didn't notice the problem when I sent the first PM! I had to add the missing info to get it to you!

I'll have to see why this is happening! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_shrug.gif" alt="Shrug">

 

[Loose Deuce]

Hey I have a question about that pre heat start stuff. My Deuce dont have one, but it has some kind of toggle switch for maybe when it use to have one. The engine was changed out in 92, BUT there are two small stainless steel bracket assemblys, mounted on fire wall for something. I thought it may be for something like shooting a charge of something into the manifold for starting. one of the brackets has a very small black plastic line going to the manifold. Do any of you guys know about these things? may be a civilian add on gismo.<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve">

 

[Longhunter7]

LD!

What you have is the ether start conversion!

You can buy the canister at over the road truck parts dealers!

I've heard that the motor pool quit putting in the missing canister, cuz the grunts were using too much ether! They were blowing up the engines! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!">

If you need the cold start feature, be very careful how you use it! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_warn.gif" alt="Warning!">

Be safe and have fun! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up"><img src="speech/icon_speech_ok.gif" border="0">

 

[Loose Deuce]

I have seen WD-40 used to start diesel engines, would that be safer???<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif" alt="Big Smile">

 

[Longhunter7]

LD!

No, the new formula WD-40 won't work as an engine start fluid! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nono.gif" alt="No-no"><img src="speech/icon_speech_no.gif" border="0">

They changed the formula to comply with the stupid emissions standards! Only the old formula will work! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumbs_dwn.gif" alt="Thumb Down">

In Mississippi, I wouldn't think that you will need cold start assistance!

My Deuce will start at +10 degrees F without the manifold heater! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_cool.gif" alt="Cool">

 

[Loose Deuce]

Yea, Your probably right<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif" alt="Big Smile">

 

[Pappa-G]

[quoteI couldn't hear any "poof" noise. How noticeable is it? I also didn't notice any poof noise while cranking. I'm convinced there something not right with it
</DIV></DIV></QUOTE></DIV>
try removing the igniter plug and have someone hit the preheat, you should see a bright blue spark and hear the preheat pump. I was able to test mine while the engine was removed by using the 14volt battery pack from a cordless drill, I just jumpered two wires to the two pins and bada bing, nice bright spark and shot of fuel.
Starting fluid wont hurt the engine if you dont go nuts with it. It beats walking out of the woods!!<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif" alt="Big Smile">And the burning ragg will help keep your hands warm<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nuts.gif" alt="Nuts"><img src="emoticons/icon_smile_nuts.gif" alt="Nuts">