Can I Use Starter Fluid On A Fuel Injected Engine? The 84 Detailed Answer

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Running out of fuel can be annoying and even embarrassing, but it can also be bad for your car.

And despite our best plans, it happens, so it pays to know what to do and what not to do when you’re stuck with an empty tank.

In this guide we will look at what happens under the hood when you run out of fuel.

What happens to a car when it runs out of gas?

When the tank runs completely empty, the engine starts sucking in air along with the last bit of fuel.

This air could prevent the engine from restarting by throwing the fuel/air mixture needed for combustion out of balance.

Because of this, it’s never a good idea to run your car completely dry, even if you know there’s a gas station nearby or a can of gas in the trunk.

It puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the engine and can cause you to struggle to get going again even after filling up your car, thanks to a build-up of air in the fuel tank and combustion chamber.

What damage can be caused by lack of fuel?

Engine damage is not always guaranteed if you run out of fuel.

In fact, modern engines are built to withstand a lot more than just running dry.

However, the problems start when you drive an older car or when you regularly run out of fuel.

When a car is low on fuel it draws on everything to keep itself going, including the deposits and particulates that collect at the bottom of the fuel tank.

Older cars are particularly prone to debris dragging through, so get in the habit of never letting the fuel level get too low.

If debris from the fuel tank is drawn into the fuel lines and sent to the engine, it can clog the filters, causing the engine to run poorly or not start at all.

The sediment can be difficult to remove once it has settled in the fuel filter, which is why we always recommend adding a dash of Redex to keep the system clean.

drive diesel? You have to be more careful about running out of fuel

If you own a diesel car, you’ve probably heard of the dangers (and potential costs) of running out of fuel.

This is because the powerful injectors in diesel engines start sucking in a lot of air as soon as the tank runs out of fuel, which can have disastrous effects on various components within the system.

If the fuel system becomes completely clogged with air, the injectors and filters will be damaged and it can become incredibly difficult to get the engine running again.

Unlike a petrol engine, which starts with a few taps of the accelerator after filling up, it might take a pro with the right tools to get a diesel running again.

In order for a diesel engine to start again after idling, the fuel system often has to be bled.

This can be an expensive and time consuming process that should be left to the professionals as they will need to remove the filters, clean and blow out all fuel lines and possibly replace the injectors and pump.

When driving a hybrid you still have to think about your fuel because if you ran out of both fuel and power you would be really stuck.

And you can keep your hybrid’s fuel system cleaner with Redex Petrol System Cleaner or Diesel System Cleaner.

How to restart a car after running out of fuel

When you’ve safely refueled your car and need to get the engine running again, there are a few things you can do to ensure the engine fires without putting too much stress on the ignition, starter and battery.

It may take a few tries to get the engine running because the fuel hasn’t circulated through the system, so it’s a good idea not to keep turning the ignition as this will only drain the battery.

Here are a few things you can try to get the engine running:

Press the accelerator pedal to turn on the injectors faster. This circulates the fuel through the engine to help the car start.

Switch the ignition “On” without starting the engine. Doing this a few times will allow the electric fuel injectors to start circulating fuel without making a high demand on the battery.

Make sure the car has had enough time to cool down. When you run out of fuel, the fuel pump can overheat and fail, and it can take a while to get back to a normal operating temperature, even after refueling.

You may think that the chances of running out of fuel are slim. But these things happen, especially when you get stuck in bad traffic for a long time.

The best thing you can do is prepare. So if you go on a long journey or have bad weather, make sure you are fully charged.

We also recommend that you always fill your fuel tank at least a quarter full.

That way, the engine is always drinking only clean fuel and not the dirty stuff at the bottom of your tank.

You should also use Redex petrol and diesel system cleaners regularly to keep the fuel system clean and improve the health of your car engine.

For more information and to browse our full range of innovative fuel additives, visit the Redex homepage today.

Can Carb Cleaner be used as a starting liquid?

Simply put YES, it can be used as a starting fluid or on the throttle body.

Although there is a dedicated engine starting spray, in situations where you are desperate, a carby cleaner can be used.

It is important to note that the spray nozzle and ingredients are different between the two products. It is therefore preferable to use a special engine starter spray.

Carb Cleaner is an extremely powerful cleaning agent designed to remove grease from carburetors and throttle bodies. Together with the strong cleaning agent, it has an extremely high pressure, which is mainly used to clean dirty and clogged nozzles.

When using to jump start an engine, be careful how much product is expelled into the air intake as the pressure in the can is very high and can actually cause flooding.

Launch Liquid Substitutes

As discussed, you can use carby (carburetor) spray as an alternative to starting fluid. We recommend a dedicated engine starter spray when available, as the pressure is lower and the nozzle on the can produces more mist. However, on rare occasions when this is not available, Carb Cleaner can help start an engine.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Check out our Wolfchester Carby Cleaner Aerosol

Wolfchester Australia

T: +61 3 9737 2800

4/122 Beresford Road, Lilydale, VIC, 3140, Australia

In small doses and used correctly, starting fluid can help jump start a hard-to-start engine. But is starting fluid bad for diesel or two-stroke engines? And what is starting liquid? We address these questions in this post.

What is starting liquid?

It is a volatile chemical, typically ether, usually packaged in a pressurized aerosol can. It is designed to be sprayed in small amounts into the engine’s air intake to help it start. People often use it in extremely cold weather to start a stubborn engine. But some people also use it to try to start an engine that spins but won’t fire.

Warnings before its use

Ask five gearheads or mechanics for their opinion on the subject and you might get five different answers.

A mechanic I spoke to accused him of ruining the bearings in a two-stroke outboard motor. Its owner, so the story goes, liberally sprayed starting fluid into the intake when the engine would not start. And sprayed. And sprayed.

Ether is a powerful solvent and in this case has scoured the inside of the engine of oil, allowing metal components to come into contact and eventually seize.

Is starting fluid bad for diesel engines?

Diesel engines can also suffer from the effects of starting fluid. Their high compression can cause it to ignite too early, effectively causing pre-ignition that creates all kinds of problems, like catastrophic piston or rod damage. Also, it has no lubricating properties, so it can accelerate piston wear.

With minimal effort, you can find all sorts of cautionary tales on the internet about people blowing up engines after using too much starting fluid.

Starting fluid works (sometimes)

Given the contempt many have for starting fluid, why would anyone use it?

Because it can be effective when used as directed in gasoline engines – especially carbureted engines.

In order for gasoline to burn, it must first be vaporized. The fuel injectors in your car or truck do an excellent job of performing this task.

In carbureted engines, fuel is vaporized as it is forced through the tiny openings or nozzles in the carburetor. But carburetors don’t vaporize fuel as effectively as fuel injectors. Also, gasoline doesn’t vaporize as easily when it’s cold. Anyone who has started a carbureted car or a snow blower on a cold morning knows this all too well. Also, an engine requires more gasoline in the fuel-air mixture to start, making it doubly difficult to start and keep a cold engine running.

Starting fluid, on the other hand, ignites easily in the cold, helping the engine start and generating heat to vaporize the fuel more easily.

But a little goes a long way. Many of the problems mentioned here are due to operator error, not the liquid itself.

In short, if you must use starting fluid, use it sparingly. If a few quick nudges in the intake doesn’t elicit a cough or two from the engine, emptying the can won’t work either.

No amount of starting fluid will revive an engine with a dirty carburetor. Identify the real problem and fix it.

Find out why you need it in the first place

Instead, find out why the engine won’t start at all. There is probably a bigger problem that needs to be fixed. (If your lawn mower won’t start, see this post.)

I was presented with this scenario when my snow blower refused to start. So I grabbed a can of starting fluid and gave it a try. She stuttered a few times and stopped. I repeated the process a few times with the same result.

Eventually I disassembled and cleaned the carburetor. After that, she came alive on the first puff.

In my case, dumping the entire can into the engine would have done nothing except wash the oil out of the cylinder and cause wear. At least it helped me diagnose what the problem wasn’t: no spark or bad compression.

The final result

Starting fluid can help start a stubborn engine, but follow directions and use it sparingly. If a little bit doesn’t work, a lot probably won’t work either. If your engine is consistently difficult to start, find out the reason and fix the root problem.

updated. Originally published: May 22, 2017.

Starting fluid is a volatile, flammable liquid used to assist in starting internal combustion engines, particularly in cold weather or in engines that are difficult to start using conventional starting methods. It is usually available in an aerosol can and can sometimes be used to start direct injection diesel engines or lean-burn gasoline engines that run on alcohol fuel. Some modern feedstock products contain primarily volatile hydrocarbons such as heptane (the main ingredient in natural gasoline) with a small proportion of diethyl ether and carbon dioxide (as a propellant). [1][2] Some formulations contain butane or propane as both propellant and starting fuel. Historically, diethyl ether was used with a small amount of oil, a trace amount of a stabilizer, and a hydrocarbon propellant to help start internal combustion engines because it has an autoignition temperature of 160 °C (320 °F).

Diethyl ether is distinct from petroleum ether (a crude oil distillate composed primarily of pentane and other alkanes), which was also used to start engines.

usage [edit]

Four-stroke engines[ edit ]

Starting fluid is sprayed into the engine intake near the air cleaner or into the carburetor bore or a spark plug hole of an engine to quickly add fuel to the combustion cylinder. Using starting fluid to get the engine running faster avoids starter wear and arm fatigue on pull start engines, especially on infrequently used machines. Other applications include cold weather starting, vehicles that are running out of fuel and therefore need extra time to restore fuel pressure, and sometimes in flooded engines. Mechanics sometimes use it to diagnose starting problems by determining if the vehicle’s spark and ignition systems are working; If the ignition spark is adequate but the fuel supply system is not, the engine will run until the starting liquid vapors are exhausted. It is more commonly used on carbureted engines than on fuel injection systems. Caution should be exercised when using starting fluid on diesel engines with intake pre-heating systems or glow plugs installed, as the starting fluid may pre-ignite and cause engine damage.[4][5]

Two-stroke engines[ edit ]

Starting fluid is not recommended for regular use with some 2-stroke engines as it does not have any lubricating properties by itself. Two-stroke engines are lubricated with oil that is either mixed into the fuel by the user or automatically injected into the fuel supply. Engines that require pre-mixed fuel and run on starting fluid only do not get adequate lubrication of their crankcase and cylinder. Engines that have not run recently are particularly susceptible to damage from lack of oil. Starting fluid, a strong solvent, tends to remove residual oil from crankshafts and cylinder walls, further reducing lubrication during the fuel starvation period. WD-40 was previously recommended for use in two-stroke engines because of its lubricating properties,[6] but the formulation with non-flammable CO 2 as the propellant instead of propane no longer has the same flammable nature, making it useless as a starting fluid of any kind Engine.

abuse [edit]

Diethyl ether has a long history as a medical anesthetic; If the starting liquid consisted mainly of ether, a similar effect could be achieved with it. Current direct use as an inhalant involves the effects of petroleum solvents, which are more toxic as an inhalant than diethyl ether.[7][8]

Sometimes referred to as “shirt passing,” the source liquid is sprayed onto a piece of cloth and held in front of the face for inhalation. This trend has gradually increased since the turn of the century as terms like “etherized” and “ethervision” gained popularity. The effects of inhalation vary, but have been known to include drowsiness, loss of coordination, paranoia, and sometimes hallucinations.

Can Carb Cleaner be used as a starting liquid?

Simply put YES, it can be used as a starting fluid or on the throttle body.

Although there is a dedicated engine starting spray, in situations where you are desperate, a carby cleaner can be used.

It is important to note that the spray nozzle and ingredients are different between the two products. It is therefore preferable to use a special engine starter spray.

Carb Cleaner is an extremely powerful cleaning agent designed to remove grease from carburetors and throttle bodies. Together with the strong cleaning agent, it has an extremely high pressure, which is mainly used to clean dirty and clogged nozzles.

When using to jump start an engine, be careful how much product is expelled into the air intake as the pressure in the can is very high and can actually cause flooding.

Launch Liquid Substitutes

As discussed, you can use carby (carburetor) spray as an alternative to starting fluid. We recommend a dedicated engine starter spray when available, as the pressure is lower and the nozzle on the can produces more mist. However, on rare occasions when this is not available, Carb Cleaner can help start an engine.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Check out our Wolfchester Carby Cleaner Aerosol

Wolfchester Australia

T: +61 3 9737 2800

4/122 Beresford Road, Lilydale, VIC, 3140, Australia

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What is starting fluid and does my car need it?

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Starting fluid is an essential product to have on hand during cold winter temperatures

If your vehicle’s engine needs help starting this winter, it might be time to try starting fluid. Here’s what you should know about this product, and when and how to use it.

Seasonal Service: Schedule your car’s winter service appointment

What is it

As the name suggests, starting fluid can help your car start if there is a problem with the ignition system or if the engine is too cold to start due to extremely cold temperatures. This liquid usually comes in an aerosol can and contains a volatile chemical called “ether”.

It’s a good idea to use starting fluid only after you’ve ruled out other engine problems, as confirmed by Blain’s Farm and Fleet blogger Andrew Gardner. That’s because it can mask more serious mechanical problems. Gardner recommends checking your alternator, starter motor, and battery. In many cases, a frozen or dead battery is a common reason for a car not to start.

A few caveats

Before using starting fluid it is important that you only use a small amount with your vehicle. It’s also a good idea to consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual to calculate how much starting fluid is best to use for your particular model.

Some vehicles are not compatible with starter fluid. If this is the case with your vehicle, you might be able to try an alternative product like carburetor cleaner, auto technician Tom Eisenberg tells wikiHow.

how to use it

If you are new to starting fluid, here are some additional tips to help you use it safely and effectively. First, locate your vehicle’s air intake. Although an air intake is always attached to the engine, its exact location differs slightly by make and model. Consult the owner’s manual for help locating the inlet on your vehicle.

Next it’s time to spray the starting liquid into the air intake. Eisenberg says you may also need to remove the filter covering the air intake before doing this. Hold the spray can upright and the nozzle about 30 cm from the air inlet. Spray a stream for two seconds, then try to start the engine. If it doesn’t start, repeat this step.

If your vehicle’s engine won’t start after you’ve tried applying starting fluid a few times, it’s time to call the professionals. Take your car to a certified dealer if there is a more serious problem with your engine that you could have overlooked.

For more winter car care tips, check out our article on determining the age of your car battery. Then learn about engine block heaters, another useful tool that will help your vehicle’s engine run smoothly in cold temperatures.

Get a grip: find new tires for winter

In small doses and used correctly, starting fluid can help jump start a hard-to-start engine. But is starting fluid bad for diesel or two-stroke engines? And what is starting liquid? We address these questions in this post.

What is starting liquid?

It is a volatile chemical, typically ether, usually packaged in a pressurized aerosol can. It is designed to be sprayed in small amounts into the engine’s air intake to help it start. People often use it in extremely cold weather to start a stubborn engine. But some people also use it to try to start an engine that spins but won’t fire.

Warnings before its use

Ask five gearheads or mechanics for their opinion on the subject and you might get five different answers.

A mechanic I spoke to accused him of ruining the bearings in a two-stroke outboard motor. Its owner, so the story goes, liberally sprayed starting fluid into the intake when the engine would not start. And sprayed. And sprayed.

Ether is a powerful solvent and in this case has scoured the inside of the engine of oil, allowing metal components to come into contact and eventually seize.

Is starting fluid bad for diesel engines?

Diesel engines can also suffer from the effects of starting fluid. Their high compression can cause it to ignite too early, effectively causing pre-ignition that creates all kinds of problems, like catastrophic piston or rod damage. Also, it has no lubricating properties, so it can accelerate piston wear.

With minimal effort, you can find all sorts of cautionary tales on the internet about people blowing up engines after using too much starting fluid.

Starting fluid works (sometimes)

Given the contempt many have for starting fluid, why would anyone use it?

Because it can be effective when used as directed in gasoline engines – especially carbureted engines.

In order for gasoline to burn, it must first be vaporized. The fuel injectors in your car or truck do an excellent job of performing this task.

In carbureted engines, fuel is vaporized as it is forced through the tiny openings or nozzles in the carburetor. But carburetors don’t vaporize fuel as effectively as fuel injectors. Also, gasoline doesn’t vaporize as easily when it’s cold. Anyone who has started a carbureted car or a snow blower on a cold morning knows this all too well. Also, an engine requires more gasoline in the fuel-air mixture to start, making it doubly difficult to start and keep a cold engine running.

Starting fluid, on the other hand, ignites easily in the cold, helping the engine start and generating heat to vaporize the fuel more easily.

But a little goes a long way. Many of the problems mentioned here are due to operator error, not the liquid itself.

In short, if you must use starting fluid, use it sparingly. If a few quick nudges in the intake doesn’t elicit a cough or two from the engine, emptying the can won’t work either.

No amount of starting fluid will revive an engine with a dirty carburetor. Identify the real problem and fix it.

Find out why you need it in the first place

Instead, find out why the engine won’t start at all. There is probably a bigger problem that needs to be fixed. (If your lawn mower won’t start, see this post.)

I was presented with this scenario when my snow blower refused to start. So I grabbed a can of starting fluid and gave it a try. She stuttered a few times and stopped. I repeated the process a few times with the same result.

Eventually I disassembled and cleaned the carburetor. After that, she came alive on the first puff.

In my case, dumping the entire can into the engine would have done nothing except wash the oil out of the cylinder and cause wear. At least it helped me diagnose what the problem wasn’t: no spark or bad compression.

The final result

Starting fluid can help start a stubborn engine, but follow directions and use it sparingly. If a little bit doesn’t work, a lot probably won’t work either. If your engine is consistently difficult to start, find out the reason and fix the root problem.

updated. Originally published: May 22, 2017.