Starting fluid
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Starting fluid is a mixture of diethyl ether, volatile hydrocarbons(heptane, butane and propane), dimethyl ether (as a propellant), and carbon dioxide. Often useful when starting direct injected diesel engines or lean burn spark engines running on alcohol fuel. Starting fluid works due to the low autoignition temperature of diethyl ether, 360F (182C).
Starting fluid comes in a regular or premium grade. The regular grade contains 21-35% diethyl ether. Premium grade starting fluids have 40-60% diethyl ether content. The rest of the volume is commonly taken by Heptane.
Other uses with either gasoline or diesel engines is if the motor isn't used very often. Using starting fluid to get the engine running faster avoids wear on the engine. Mechanics sometimes use it to diagnose starting problems, especially amateur mechanics that lack diagnostic machines. If sprayed into the air intake on a car, it can be used to determine whether the spark and ignition system of the car is functioning, since the car engine will run on the starting fluid vapors briefly. It is used more often with carbureted engines, than with fuel injection systems. It is especially useful for starting diesel engines in colder weather, which do not run efficiently until the engine block warms up to a certain degree.
Starter fluid is sometimes used as an inhalant, often with disastrous results.
[edit] External links
- http://www.ddservis.hr/e_kbihow.htm
- Product information for different types of ether starting fluid provided by a manufacturer, Spray Products Corp.
- MSDS for a 50% ether fluid
- MSDS for 11% ether fluid
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