Starting Fluid Capsules

[Scott Crosby]

I never knew what they looked like or how they were packaged, but my manual discuses the cold weather starting procedure and inserting a starting fluid capsule into the little cup on the intake.  I found some on ebay, that shows the can they came in and the actual capsules.  I thought it was interesting to see.

These look like dried cranberries but old things get wrinkly

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVRON-STARTING-FLUID-CAPSULES-IN-A-CAN-/200952074031?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec9ad4f2f

[Bill Gerrie]

Scott
We used to use capsules like these at Gray Coach but later went to an automatic ether injecting set up. I use the automatic set up on my bus when it gets down to 40 degrees or so. The ether comes in a cylinder exactly like a small propane torch cylinder.
Bill 

[Scott Crosby]

Not starting fluid related but In the us we have stupid gas cans that the EPA mandated and they suck. One of their many problems is they don't have a vent so they gurgle and suck air and take 5x as long to empty.  They are supposed to be spill proof except I spill more with these than I ever did with a simple can.  Anyway today I put bicycle tire valves in with the Schrader valves removed as vents.  Just remove the cap and now I have a vent. 

[babell2]

Those old starting capsules probably won't work any more. Being gell the ether has evaporated rite through the walls.  They should be round and full.

Sent from my C5155 using Tapatalk 2

[Scott Crosby]

Clearly they are not good... I'm not buying them But they were neat to see.   Never would have guessed they came in a quart sized paint type can.

[lostagain]

Many a cold, dark morning at -20 or 30 in Banff and Jasper, had to take my gloves off to find one rolling around on the dash, or at the bottom of my bag, and press it in to that little cup on the air horn. And starting fluid is cold on the finger tips! Then you get to breathe diesel fumes for a few minutes while doing your pre-trip with 4 or 5 other buses next to you running cold. Then you drive a cold bus to the first pickup hopefully in time to get a coffee...

Those starting capsules do not bring back the best memories of bus driving, LOL.

JC

[Scott Crosby]

I can see kids thinking they were candy too and somehow not being allowed today.. 

[TomC]

If you put a spray nozzle like what's on WD40 with the extension, you can just spray ether into the center of the ether cup. Good Luck, TomC

[Scott Crosby]

 Just to be clear...  I know how to spray starting fluid in... I just never saw the capsules ever... Never ever never have I seen capsules of starting fluid, it is a dead technology, I guess it's been extinct for about as long as I have been alive! I just thought it was neat to see the fossils of what they used to be.  I'm not going to use them, not going to buy them,  not going to try and inject my own gummy bears to squeeze into the cup, I just thought it was intresting to see how they looked and how they came in a can.  It looks like a pain in the butt to deal with, but it does get the dosage right and might have keept a few hill jacks from spraying a pint in at a time and damaging a Diesel engine with too much fluid by thinking more is always better. 

[lensilva]

Any time you need starting aids, it means there is something wrong with your bus;  it is too far north.

[wg4t]

Years ago, I used either on hard starting engines too, today I no longer use it, use carburetor cleaner for a good start with out the abuse of either, meaning a softer  explosion.  Once you have been around a DDC that requires starting fluid when it is over 150 f to get it to start, you figure it had been weened to death on either. Most folks know every time you us either, you are reducing the temper of the compression ring(s) making it provide less compression making little harder to start.  Give it a thought.
This ain't book learning, just fact.

[pd41044039]

Scott, you are Da Man!
I have fought with those cursed EPA fuel jugs for years, growling every time I had to hold 40 lbs. of fuel up chest high & spill it as I let more air into the can.  I will be doing all of mine ASAP with the valve stems.

How much air do you put in them???  LOL.

[Scott Crosby]

Make sure it's empty and no fumes... Drill a 1/2" hole. Air drill is no sparks if you have one.   The. Fish a wire through the hole and out the filler.  Run the wire through the valve and bend it to hook the valve then pull if into position and pull it tightly into place. Pull wire out and you are good to go.  If you don't have the valve tool a small standard screwdriver will insert and screwing the air valve. 

[luvrbus]

I have a qt of Chevron capsules they look new the price is on the lid $1.19 in 1958 wow,my granddad never used those he thought the price was outrageous for capsules when you could buy 100% either from a drug store for $.49 a 1/2 pint at that time

 I would be afraid to even try and buy either from a drug store nowadays the feds would probably have you before one could make it to the front door,fwiw there is not enough either in the starting fluids of today that would hurt a engine IMO 

[Scott Crosby]

Speaking of drugstores, I don't know if every state is like this, but due to Meth drug makers, buying a box of cold medicine here in Indiana makes you feel like your buying crack or something... You have to fill out paperwork, they copy your ID and I was afraid to ask for a second box just to keep one at home and one at work.  Buying a simple over the counter medication is a real pain in the butt and you go on a watch list to make sure your not buying from multiple locations.  I sure hope it's reduced meth drug usage because it's a crazy process.  When I picked up my kids Vicodin prescription when they had thier wisdom teeth pulled, I didn't feel even 1/10 as much like a pill popping drug user than I did buying a single box of over the counter cold medicine.