either/starter fluid

[welderman85 53]

is it safe to use on our tractors

[roscoemi 245]

Very sparingly. It will shuck the oil off the rings and may detonate and knock the rod bearings out. Very little, very careful!

[Kelly 1,033]

I don't use it, I use brake cleaner, or carb cleaner much more friendly on small engines, I can run a engine with out a carb even bolted on with just the right mist of brake cleaner, in the intake port, done it many times.

[zeedubbya 18]

Was warned by a wise old JD collector (hmmmm..) one time to use carb cleaner. If starting fluid is the only option use very very sparingly for the exact reasons roscoemi said above.

[specialwheelhorse 174]

I have rebuilt many engines in my liftime and you couldn't pay me enough to use

SF If an engine is set up right and won't run on a fine mist of the fuel it is designed

for there is something drasticly wrong.

[MalMac 1,332]

I personally would not do it. I have seen big diesels get damaged from it let alone putting an actual spark to it. It's really a good way to get hurt or damage an engine in my opinion.

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,266]

So educate me guys....what is starting fluid actually supposed to be for?

   Mike..............

[roscoemi 245]

Blowin stuff up !!!  It can be used, but be careful. Other than that, cleanining old grease off parts.

[MalMac 1,332]

It is to aid in starting Diesel engines. Even then it has to be used correctly or damage can occur. Diesels that have glow-plugs in them is a big no no. Either is so flammable and explosive that when contained in a small confined area like the cylinder of a small gas engine and you put a spark to it you can get a really big bang! Diesel because of no spark and lot thicker heads and cylinder walls can sustain the ignition of either if used right. Not much more I can say under the best circumstances it can be dangerous. I have used it a lot on big equipment in the dead of winter and have seen the benefits and the down side of it.

[wallfish 18,204]

I had a full can puncture in the back of my van while on the highway. By the time I realized what was going on, opened the windows and pulled over, I was dizzy enough to fail a sobriety test. Kind of funny now but it wasn't at the time. 

I used it for old crappy pull start push mowers. We used to spray it into our gas for mopeds when we were kids to try and give them a boost.

[MalMac 1,332]

Wallfish sounds familiar, I was driving a semi coming out of Chicago on a very rough part of the hi-way when a can of starting fluid got loose and was rolling around. I could not reach down and grab it. It roll right under the air ride seat and all the up and down motion it finale got caught and the top got smashed off it buy one of the large bounce I took. Time I got the truck pulled over I was in another world. Like you said funny now but lucky I did not pass out or blow up. Learned my lesson. Put that can in the tool box not in the cab.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Use carb cleaner. SF will work, but I would not recommend it.

[otrelwood 32]

i use wd40 its flammable plus oily enough to lubricate the cylinder

Edited February 19, 2013 by otrelwood

[oldredrider 2,553]

I use it on my 10hp Tecumseh. Have for years.

I hate that motor and it just won't die!

[can whlvr 994]

blew the entire front end off of my 1997 f 450 cubevan,even destroyed the grill,we were lucky to not get hurt using starter fluid