8.2 Detroit starting hard

[Birdhouse]

Hi all.
This bird used to start easy.
Like tap the starter and it was running, easy. One second or less crank time. Even when it was really cold. Even with zero glow plugs.

Now it's taken to hitching and humping and I have to drag it along with the starter for 30 seconds or more. Routinely.

The fact the battery keeps coming up dead isn't helping matters I'm sure. Could it just be a weak crank not firing it off?

Ran it 2 days ago and when I tried last night it was half flat again

Or is the start issue entirely unrelated?


Runs like a top once it warms up.
When it's cold. It hitches pretty good.
Has always done that though, at least since I've known it

Definitely has fuel
Put in 28 gallons a few days ago
I've never ran it dry

Oh.... red diesel....

I've been keeping it parked, running generator and furnaces from the bus tanks. Running the red ****. Is this liable to be causing the rough start?

Thanks

[s2mikon]

If your cranking speed is low it will be hard to start. The heat needed to start compression ignition of the fuel is dependent upon cylinder pressure at the top of the compression stroke. If you were to test the compression with low batteries you would get readings that were in error indicating a well worn engine. So make sure that the batteries and the starter are in good shape first. The red diesel won't cause hard starting. In the rare event they were to test your fuel while on the road that could be a problem. But you have to get it started and running first.