Can anyone help me identify this? See attached picture
Either canister
Mike
Looks like an old ether injector.
Is this something I need?
Yes, Ether for starting the engine in extreme cold conditions. Not used by most, and then only with extreme caution. If inoperable, I personally would not spend $2 on it unless I lived in Alaska, Montana, etc and used the coach in the winter.
Your mechanical C8.3 should have a block heater. Much safer than using ether. Assuming it is working, it is very effective at pre-warming the engine before a cold start. Look for a red toggle switch at the foot of the bed base, near the floor. Turning this switch on (red light on) activates a duplex 120V outlet in the engine compartment. The block heater is plugged into this outlet. You can check its operation very easily. With the engine cold, feel the metal area around the block heater with your hand (or use a non contact infrared temp gun). Turn on the heater. After a couple hours, check the block again. Should show much hotter temp if heater is working.
I have one as well, but following the hoses I thought it was an automatic motor fire extinguisher, but what do I know? ..... Nuttin !! 😳
Ya, activate that on a fire and BOOM.
I used mine a few times when it was colder than 12 F and I hadn't turned on the Aqua-hot engine heat or block heater. The M11
starts good until I get down to that temperature.
The Ether injection system was installed for a reason and is a safer way to use starting ether than sitting at the air intake counting one chimpanzee two chimpanzee. Granted it is easier on the engine to pre-warm it with some form of block heater but IF we ever must stay in temperatures that cold again I want back-up. While my single burner camping stove sufficed for my Belgian made Saab, I strongly doubt that it would make a dent in the 5.9 Cummins.
On engines with a heated wire screen, you can't use ether upstream or risk an explosion when the ether hits the hot wire. On a 2 cycle Detroit, it can be used. But never on any diesel that is warm or you can bend a rod, break piston rings, etc. I have used it on indirect injection diesels without a problem. (Powertec generators, MBZ, Nissan, Ford 7.3) But again, only on cold engines and not after fuel filter changes when the engine won't re-start.
I have seen some owners use a blowtorch like for burning weeds in the intake as the engine was cranked. Couple of good examples on old large diesels on Youtube.
I had a 190D with a bad glow plug that would not start even with ether in Santa Fe in winter. I had the tow truck pull me and bump started the automatic at about 30 mph. Later automatics don't have the extra pump. Any 300SD owners with the 5 cylinder( OM617), you can bump start your car. Neutral to 30 mph, pull back into L.
Pierce