How to Jump Start a Diesel Engine
A diesel engine runs on diesel fuel, which auto-ignites under the extreme high pressure in the combustion cylinder. The engine uses glow plugs for the initial ignition sequence, and after that, the pressure in the cylinder alone reignites the diesel fuel that has been injected inside. Because of the glow plugs and their high temperature requirements, many diesel engine vehicles have two batteries just for the initial starting procedure alone. This setup plays a key role in determining how to jump-start a diesel engine.
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Instructions
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1
Drive another vehicle up to the front of the diesel engine vehicle that needs to be jumped. Place them front to front, set the parking brake and turn off the ignition. The vehicle that provides the jump is the donor vehicle.
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2
Open the hoods on both vehicles and locate the dual batteries on the diesel vehicle that needs the jump. Inspect the cables on these batteries. Most likely, the cable that runs from the passenger-side battery will be noticeably thicker. This is the battery that will be hooked up to the jumper cables. If there is no difference in the thickness of the battery cables, either of the batteries may be used.
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3
Attach one jumper cable lead to the dead battery at the positive terminal first, and then attach the other end of that cable to the positive terminal on the donor vehicle.
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4
Attach another jumper cable to the donor vehicle's negative battery terminal, and then attach the other end of that cable to a metallic ground on the vehicle to be jumped, like a steel bumper, the alternator bracket or anywhere the cable will clip on to a piece of metal on the engine or the chassis.
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5
Turn the heater blower motor "on" in the vehicle that is about to be jumped. This action will save your electrical system from any sharp voltage surges during the jumping process.
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6
Start the engine on the donor vehicle and rev it slightly at a moderate speed. This will fully activate the alternator to supply extra starting power during the jumping process.
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7
Start the engine of the vehicle that needs to be jumped. As soon as the engine starts, first remove the jumper cable from the metallic ground on the engine or the chassis, then remove the positive side of that cable from the donor vehicle battery. Remove the other cable at the positive side first, and then the negative side.
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Tips & Warnings
For single battery diesel engines, since you won't have to worry about cable thickness, use this procedure as is. Connect the positive on the dead battery to the positive on the donor battery. Then connect the negative on the donor to a negative ground on the engine or chassis. All other steps apply.
References
- Photo Credit diesel storage tank image by Jim Parkin from Fotolia.com
