Hmm, well octane is the fuels resistance to pre ignite under compression. Gasoline engines need this resistance to pre ignition or you will get pinging or a knock, diesels dont have an ignition system that ignites the fuel, Diesels on the other hand ignite under compression.

Welcome to the club. So would it be Diesel #1 if you are using Diesel #2?
I remember when my family had a 1982 Olds Custom Cruiser with the 350 diesel. Damn, did I hate having to be the one who had to go and sit in it while the engine warmed up on the cold winter days. Still had to warm it up in the summer. And yes, it'* totally hilarious to be sitting in the way back seat facing rear-wards at a stop light and when you're 18 yo brother kicks it down just to totally smoke out the people in the convertable behind you -that is priceless.

P.*. How do you like having to buy 2 batteries?

Yea, most older vehicles have glow plugs to warm up the engine before starting but some modern vehicles dont even use glow plugs because they are extreme efficient. Ive learned alot about diesels from my uncle because for some reason he only buys deisel trucks ?!?! Maybe it coule be because his 7.3 turbo dissel makes 550 ft/lbs of torque at 1800 rpms??!?!

Yup, well his 93 F-250 is awesome, thats what me and my cousin always use when we need to haul parts or whatever.

They time their ignition with the injection. When the cylinder is at the right place (depending on the engine, this may be several degrees before or after TDC) diesel fuel is injected directly or indirectly into the cylinder, and this begins the combustion stroke. For this reason, diesels have to be injected, they cannot be carbuerated, I do not believe even the earliest diesels had anything but some type of injection system.
You got it. I think it would be fair to say most smaller diesels use glo plugs to aid in starting, some systems are designed with an "after glow" as it is referred to to help eliminate white smoke supposedly. The cummins when in (what year models I don't know) dodge pickups uses an intake heater though. In other applications I don't know. Bigger diesels may use nothing at all.
I used to have a 1980 regency 98 with a 350 diesel. Nice car, wish I still had it :( . Shouldn't have needed to warm it up though at all, might have had some bad glo plugs. My bonneville does, got the problem you describe, little rough starting it on cold days in winter. Runs on like 5 cylinders for about the first 3 or 4 seconds I, too, enjoy the black smoke availability. Drops the mileage pretty quick though. Never checked myself, but the friend I bought it from got like 38 mpg! And two batteries aren't so bad. I can leave my lights on for 9 hours and it will still start
Hmmm... That would be an IDI engine similar to what'* in my truck (not a powerstroke though). Is he a member of The Diesel Stop?
Enjoy
James

When I was down in Ft Knox on deployment they ran all theirground vehicles with a diesel fuel that was called JP-8. It what they use for the turbine engines in the Abrahms tanks too. I think it smells richer that the typical pump diesel. Thought you might want to know.
KK