"Special cases" like an HPCR engine with a no start condition from gas in the system or possibly bad injectors?

Like anything if abused its gonna cost. Used correctly there is absolutely nothing wrong with using ether or something else to get a fire lit in a diesel. I would hazard a guess its been done safely and frequently on more diesels than you have had a chance to see, drive, or work on.

You can SAY you have seen this damage and that damage and ether will do this and do that. However, proving it is another story because you quite likely were not and were definitely not in the cylinder when it happened. There are many other things that can cause the same damage on a diesel engine that has never had a whiff of ether.

Scare mongering ether is as irresponsible as you claim reccomending using it is. With the added weight of you CANNOT prove ether caused said damage.

At this point everybody is poo-pooing the mechanic and making totally outrageous and ridiculous claims based on nothing more than independent likes and dislikes. The truck could very well be sitting at Floor It diesel for all anyone knows at this point. Would everyone feel a little stupid then, huh?

How about a little constructive help for the OP like:

Yes, gas could still be in the lines if the mechanic didn't disconnect and blow them out. Yes, it may not start correctly but it sounds like they got it to fire when the cracked #1 injector but it won't stay running.

A little shot of ether, just enough to fire NOT a steady diet, may get the pump and diesel thru the system and flush the gas. At an idle its not going to hurt anymore than what has already been done.

If hard starts persist after that, well, unless one has been living under a ROCK its hard to avoid the conclusion about injector sensitivity and damage.

Or, they may have it running just fine now with or without ether and there is no damage and all is good.

 

If I read his post right, he said him and mechanic cracked a line, if a lisenced mechanic is ok with cracking a line on a CR engine, I would run far away because they don't know ANYTHING. There is NEVER EVER EVER a reason to crack a injector on a CR, it is stupid and completely unsafe as said.

There is no reason for ether 99% of the time. Yea maybe a sniff if it's cold out to help a engine start that has no grid heater/intake heaters but that's it. Even then I don't like it. I would never ever let anyone near my CR with ether, NO matter WHAT.

Like said, if YOU shut it down gas didn't get into the engine, because it would of died, and if you didn't know obviously it was running fine. It's not good for your pumps but it won't kill them instantly. You did good, all I would do is let it keep priming itself for quite sometime. As said even taking a bit of fuel out when doing the fuel filter it takes quite a bit of priming.

Never pumped it wrong, but I did have the enjoyment of taking 20 gallons of diesel out of a gas truck. So not fun especially when it was someone elses screw up. Atleast this way isn't as bad....

 

If the CP3 "can" create 30k psi -it needs something to push against to create that pressure. If the lines are open to atomosphere, and are unable to generate any backpressure-there is no chance of 30 000 psi of pressure. No difference than putting your finger over a garden hose.

All they need to make sure of is that the fluid coming out of the lines does not become restricted.and to make sure that the fluid stream does not contact softer materials-like wires & connectors.

 

A CR will only generate roughly the same pressure as a 12V or 24V jerk pump on cranking. There is no difference between cracking and injector line on a 12V and cracking a feed line on a CR.

Same as using ether or another accelerant to fire a diesel. Understanding the situation and consequences is what experience and competency is all about.

The testing procedures a competent mechanic uses are due to the fact he understands the situation, the equipment, and the consequences. The urban myths about using ether and cracking CR injection lines are hilarious to said individuals.

 

Get all of your gas that you can pump out or siphon and go get Gal of cooking oil put it in then fill it with diesel start and let it idle till you see that it has got rid of the gas.The next time put Oz of outboard motor oil per gal and do it for 2 tanks full this will help save your fuel pump.

 

I did this on one of my D-Max trucks a few years back. I was pulling a gooseneck trailer loaded down with tractors. It ran about 10 miles and started running rough. Pulled over, figured out what I'd done, drained the tank, filled it with diesel and a quart of ATF, cracked the water separator and cycled the fuel pump until clean diesel came out, started the truck, and drove it 240 miles home. Never saw any residual damage and it ran fine. I didn't even change the fuel filter.