Hi all,

I've got one of these car battery booster things...

Are they safe to use on diesel engines? I know you are not supposed to bump start diesels but all this is doing is supplying juice, so I assume it should be fine...

Can't see why there should be any problem whatsoever - after all, it's only providing the same electricity your car's battery would.

The problem is that you're quite likely to suffer a flat battery away from home (our BMW died on a ferry to Bilbao when we left the cool box running for 36 hours - very embarrassing). So are you going to carry it round with you all the time? I seem to have seen ads for much smaller gadgets that plug into the cigar lighter socket and do the same job - can anyone provide a link?

Why would you want one?

I have used these to keep a fleet of diesel minibuses going. IMHO, if a vehicle needs a new battery, new glowplugs or a starter, then its a better investtment to get the repair done!

I have something similar and had to use it once on my PD140 to good effect - leave it connected for 5-10 mins before trying to start the engine, my battery was flattish from the fabled Brake Light Switch fault and only had enough power to open the doors but would not turn the engine.

Why would you want one?

I have used these to keep a fleet of diesel minibuses going. IMHO, if a vehicle needs a new battery, new glowplugs or a starter, then its a better investtment to get the repair done!

But (see above) one can flatten a battery inadvertently. And I've heard that on some modern cars - especially B*Ws - the fancy electronics can drain it over a 2-week stay in an airport car park.

But (see above) one can flatten a battery inadvertently. And I've heard that on some modern cars - especially B*Ws - the fancy electronics can drain it over a 2-week stay in an airport car park.

As an extra safeguard, it is fine, it has got me out of trouble many times at work.

It will only work if its flat, not if the battery is dead.

Hi all,

I know you are not supposed to bump start diesels ...

why!!!.............i've done this all my life, although with tractor, Landrovers etc. Never heard that you shouldn't bump a diesel and can't see what problems it would cause.:confused:

You can bump start a diesel, just not the dsg gearbox? I think.

I don't think that specific one would have enough balls to start a decent sized derv engine in the cold.

I do know that you can get them that do, but it doesn't exactly seem full of juice.

Of course you could leave it on the battery to charge yours up again, I just mean in terms of using this to start the car straight off it.