Can you push start a Diesel?

[rjrkihap]

I was just curious if it is possible to push start a Diesel engine (with a stick) like you can with a gasser. I know you would have to push much faster with the higher compression, but would the computer and fuel pump get enough juice to inject fuel?



Just a thought?

 

[swamp rat]

Don't take this for being a GENERIC YES, but once on a HS field trip the school bus we were using had dead or semi dead batteries and/or charging system. Several times during the field trip we had to push start the thing. Fortunately, there were about 15 of us footbal players on the trip, and one of our coaches happened to be the bus driver.



I've also been able to push start a FedEx Iveco Z-van with the Deutz 5 cyl. air cooled a time or two.



I've also used a Toyota 4Runner to pull start a Ford L-8000 single screw tractor w/loaded trailer and an International Straight truck a time or two as well.



How much damage could or would be done doing this, I haven't a clue but it did work in the above cases. One caveat, you can't use low gear in the stalled vehicle especially when pushing by hand. 2nd maybe, 3rd probably.

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

Do it every Friday & Saturday night

At the end of our main drag in town there is a line of abondon buildings with a huge parking lot that we stop to talk to each other in. Usually we back up to the buildings and set and watch women drive bye Tryied to start it rolling off of the slope but had to have the clutch pushed in to make it fire. So when the clutch saftey switch finally came unhooked I could do this in second gear high range w/4. 11 gears. The lot slopes probabally 6 feet in 100 yards or one foot every 75 feet.



So yeah its possible

 

[dmurdock]

don't use reverse!!

My friend is a diesel mechanic for a local beer distributor, and one of his drivers tried to pushstart the truck down a hill, unfortunately it was in reverse... truck started, but ran horribly. Wish i could've seen that. . (it was some truck from the 70's they only use in emergencies, I think an international, not sure though)

 

[rich m]

toothless Detroit

a patron of the same feed store where I fuel up was in a Detroit-ed KW. His starter would spin, but not engage, just like happens to any starter, from time to time,,,bad bendix/flywheel tooth gone, etc. Was able to attach tow cable, tug him forward and he clutch-dumped the engine... made a bit of a snap-shock at my end, but his started, saving his company a big $ service call.

 

[jarsong]

I would like to know if anyone has tried this with a 24 valve engine. Since the lift pump/Injection Pump and ECM require voltage to work this is a tough call. If the PCM requires voltage to tell the altenator to "Start Generating" it could get interesting. I actually tried this once with a 300ZX F/I and it wouldn't work because I'm guessing the reasons above. We tested push starting for the heck of it with a charged battery and it worked great. I know it works in the older diesels because of the simple nature of the electronics... Your thoughts? If I only had more people to push... .

Jarrett

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by jarsong

I would like to know if anyone has tried this with a 24 valve engine. Since the lift pump/Injection Pump and ECM require voltage to work this is a tough call. ...

Simple call, really. If there is enough juice in the batteries to raise a field on the alternator,

then the alternator should create enough

voltage/current to run the electrical stuff during

the shove-start procedure.



If the batteries are too dead, then push-starting

won't work.



Hmmm. I wonder if a standard 9V battery would

raise enough of a field long enough to push-start

the 24V? Might be something to add to the boonie-

box.



Fest3er

 

[WCrovo]

With VW diesels we learned that push starting them could break the crank. Might not be true for the CTD, hope I never have to find out.

 

[Partyat33]

I did it

I just let out the clutch and she started no problem. Just like a gasser (as if gassers are the standard to be measured against).



Dennis

 

[Archive]

Yes, you can do it with the new ones. Whether it's hard on them or not, I don't know.

 

[mikel]

Running backwards

dmurdock,





The old two-stroke Detroit Diesel engines would do this. We used to have an old Ford L-9000 with a 6-71 DD in it and occasionally we'd get it going backwards. Usually looked pretty funny with all the smoke coming out the side of the hood from the air breather...



Later,

Mike

 

[David Oxland]

I bump start my 99 rolling down a hill without much difficulty. Believe it or not, I have bump started a 4000 HP marine engine. It was up to operating temperature though.

 

[Champane Flight]

Old timers

On the old Cummins BBC Before,Big,Cams,if you lost electrics you had a screw in the back of the pump. When screwed in it basicaly turned into a manual pump. A little shove in 3-4th gear(on a 13 speed Fuller) and V-room. Of course it would not shut down unless you killed it by dumping the clutch or getting out and unscrewing the pump. They also had a compression release for those low battery starts. Just pull the compression release and hit the starter,get the engine spinning good and ease out the release. Sometimes the old stuff is a damn site better than the new. To answer,Yes a diesel will start if pushed.

 

[R.E. Miller]

I used to "pull" start my 7. 3l ford, with a friend's powerstroke, had a bad starter. Worked fine, never broke anything. Then I bought two dodges...