What Impact Does Starting Fluid Have on an Engine?
2 Answers
Short-term use of starting fluid will not affect the engine, but long-term use can lead to increased engine wear. Starting fluid is primarily composed of flammable and volatile alkanes, such as ether, which is sprayed into the intake tract. Due to its low flash point, it causes detonation, igniting the diesel fuel. The use of starting fluid makes diesel engines operate roughly, accelerates wear, and further deteriorates their performance. Over time, this can lead to difficulties in starting the diesel engine even in summer and an overall decline in engine performance. Here are some common tips for using starting fluid: 1. Before each use of starting fluid, the engine should be preheated appropriately using hot water or other methods to raise the temperature at startup. For trucks, the engine crankshaft should also be turned several times with a crank handle to allow the oil to reach all friction surfaces first. 2. Do not directly spray cold-starting fluid. Although this can start the engine, because the engine is cold, the temperature of its components is too low, and the oil viscosity is too high. Starting the engine hastily under such conditions can lead to poor lubrication and increased wear on engine parts. 3. While using the starter to crank the engine, spray 2-3ml of cold-starting fluid into the intake pipe or air filter. Do not use excessive amounts, especially avoid spraying excessive starting fluid directly into the combustion chamber, as this can cause detonation and severe damage to the engine.
I remember one winter when I was on a business trip to Northeast China. On a -25°C morning, my car absolutely refused to start, so I tried using starting fluid. The engine coughed twice and fired up after spraying it in, but I later realized the cost was quite high. When the mechanic opened it up, there were several new scratches on the cylinder walls. The starting fluid burned too violently and too quickly—the piston rings rattled from the impact force, temperatures spiked instantly, and the lubricating oil film was completely burned away. My neighbor’s old diesel engine fared even worse; the connecting rod actually bent, costing over 8,000 yuan in major repairs. Now I’ve switched to 0W oil and remotely warm up the car five minutes in advance—never touched that stuff again. It’s fine for emergencies, but long-term use just destroys the engine.
