I haven't seen ether since my mining days. Working down at 1800 feet in a cool,damp environment made old diesel engines hard to start, so we used ether. It came in the form of a grape-like pellet and we'd squeeze it into a port made just for ether. Worked like a charm.

The current advice is not to use starting fluid, but use carb cleaner instead.

My only experience with it was in 1942 when I had my tonsils out. The cleaner must be safer,does it work as good as the starter fluid. I have always used the starter fluid on motors(with pull starters),especially ones that have been setting up.(naturally the air cleaner is always installed.)

Ollie" All Premium Grade Starting Fluids are comprised of approx 40-60% Di ethyl Ether . Second component usually Isopropyl . The very good Fluids have lubricity agent added for Diesel Usage. Bay is quite correct in the Carb Cleaner use as Starting Fluid . Very seldom do I use starting fluid usually on my Snowmobile in a inch via the Spark Plug Hole never the Carb Venturi .

Years ago people would ask for ether , we called it both.
You could really ball things up if you didnt use it right,burned very fast and seen carbs and hoods cooked well done.Saved us in the Arctic conditions.

***"cant believe,Mownie didnt bring that to my some what slow attention"***
:^) Hey guys, I have pitched some "corrections" into threads (probably too often), but I now realize that these might seem like I am being vindictive toward, or trying to humiliate a member who posted a trivial error.
I'm certainly not perfect at anything and I must learn how to rein in my impulsive habit of trying to correct misconceptions or mistakes.
I think my tendency to "set things straight" has been nurtured through the years at my job during times when I would be assigned a "protege" as a helper for the purpose of training the individual.
In that venue, I believe it is necessary to "correct" errors or misconceptions as soon as they are discovered lest the trainee retains the misinformation.

Sometimes it's hard to separate yourself from idiosyncratic habits developed in the workplace.

Ether story; my FIL has a Int'l 100Hydro that was his main farming tractor. One cold day he energized the solenoid valve that allowed the ether to shoot into the combustion chambers. Apparently the valve stuck open and before he knew what was happening and shut down the engine, the ether washed the cylinders of all lubrication and the motor seized. An expensive overhaul resulted.

Mownie: No Harm No Foul Bro ! We know Your Intentions are Sound ! Cudo's for the Self Analysis and Sincerely Your Imput is Appreciated . Your Visual Aid and Concise Explanations are 1st Rate . Yes Constructive Criticism can be Mistaken at Times.

Larsol : Should have added Fogging my F-250 Diesel on a Cold Winters Night last December during the last week of Deer Bow Hunting . Dropped A Nice Buck finished the Dirty Processing Work . Carted the Carcase back to the Truck with the Yama Rhino and go to Start the Truck and the Rotella T really did not want the Engine to Spin . Thank God for the Quick Start Fluid . Really did not want to build a small fire under the Oil Pan in the Dark lol .

Note: Recall a Welder Apprentice back in my Trade Days Fogging the Diesel Welder so Bad that it formed a Hydraulic Lock and Damaged the Crank lol . Should have seen the Foreman's Expression !

Mownie,didn't mean it as any kind of put down,as I really enjoy the way you explain things and appreciate you trying to keep us on the right track.

I've used "ether" for yrs to start balky engines. Most has a little lube in it.