Ether

All my life I've been hearing about how ether harms an engine.

I've been in farming, I've worked in some huge garages, I've worked on highway rigs, and I’ve worked with diesel engines in tractors, trucks, cars, pickups and boats. I've worked in areas where the normal winter lows are minus thirty degrees for months on end.

I've seen diesels eat broken off glow plugs and spit 'em out like a Saturday night cowboy spits out teeth. But, I've never seen an engine that was "damaged" by ether. Ever.

I've seen engines plugged so tight with ether that they were hydro locked and the starter couldn't turn 'em, but they would then turn okay after the ether evaporated.

John Deere had factory ether on their low-pressure diesel pump units for years and years and International even had factory ether on a lot of their high-pressure units.

Has anyone ever seen an engine that was damaged from the use of ether, or is this just another one of those silly "old lady" stories?

A diesel engine getting hooked on ether? Comon' now, let's step back and take a deep breath here; sounds like a simple case of wrong pump timing or a tired old worn out engine to me.

I'm not saying it can't happen & that the potential is probably there; Further, I’m really not trying to start an argument nor am I trying to be the "Mouth of the South", but I'm just wondering. Has anyone ever actually seen this happen?

Thanks,

Allan

If you've got a 2 stroke KEEP AWAY FROM THE STARTING FLUID! There ain't no dang lubrication in that stuff.
I've seen guys start a snowmobile on ether and keep it running by shooting little bursts into the carb until the fuel pump caught up. I've seen snowmobile engine sieze right up doing that...
Now this is not to say I haven't done it myself, some of those old single cylinder machines will rip your arm right off and a little ether makes the job alot easier but the first thing I do is shoot in a little PB blaster to lubricate things. The better way to do it is to get a can of premix and shoot that in so everything gets lubricated properly.

I saw your post, and thought i might add a little from what i have observed and been taught.

First, let me say that I must agree with the fact that Deere has and still does intend for use ether for their engines. In fact, most of the machines that came into the JD dealer where I worked were ordered this way.

Now, let me say that ether use does shorten engine life. The problem lies in the fact ether "burns" so quickly and hot that it removes the oil film on the cly. wall, therefore causing excessive wear-especially if cranked for an extended time before starting. Another side-effect of "fast burn time" of ether can result in cracked/broken piston rings. These are reasons engines get "hooked", and require ether to be started later on.

Another problem is the use of ether with glow plugs. This can result (as others have said)is cyl. heads being blown off of the block. This is due to the fact that the glow plugs may possibly ignite the ether at the wrong time in several cyls. at the same time. This would be most likely in the later model V-8 IH engines (power stroke-with direct injection and glow plugs) In the older IH V-8's(6.9's and 7.3's) and the GM 6.2 and 6.5's that used pre-combustion chambers, the ether would be more likely to actually blow the head apart opposed to off due to the location of igition being inside the head(pre-combustion chamber).

The Cummins and some Kubotas (probably more brands) that use an intake heater would be less likely to have a "head exploding" situation, but more likely result in an engine fire, if the heater was not disabled.

Do I think ether is evil-No Should it be used sparingly and as a last resort-Yes.

I would rather suggest an electric block heater (water or oil), most tractors can be parked close to electric power source when finished for the day anyway, this will reduce wear in other places(bearings, rings, cly. wall) as well as aiding in faster starts. Like you said earlier, timing plays a huge role! If the engine is too worn, rebuild it! It probably is not very efficient if it has to have ether every time it is started any way.

Hope this helps with any questions.

I have had several diesel engines that I have used ether on and have one that the engine is tired and needs ether almost every time to start it. I know the rings are cracked and the engine is down on compression, but did the ether cause it?? Really no way to know, but it didnt help it any.

My opinion is that ether doesnt cause any immidate damage to an engine, but in does increase the wear on the rings and main / rod bearings and will shorten an engines life with frequent or over use.

Just my 2 cents.

• Shep's World

Thanks for the comeback.

Yes, I've heard that "blown the head off" story also (many, many times), and I'm certainly not doubting your brother-in-law's story.

It is just that nobody has ever been able to produce or show me the damaged "iron", as it were. :>)

I wish some of these IH or John Deere Mechs would jump in here on this thread.

All I've ever heard of is "the potential" or the "possibility" of damage.

Allan

I can't say the ether hurt it!

Lee

Lee