Cold starting 696 - found something interesting

[metroplex]

I went back to my notes and saw that waiting 20 seconds after letting the LCD text scroll helped with cold starts, but it still didn't let me fire up the 696 quickly.

This morning it was about 24F and snowing, and I got the 696 to stay idling after 5 cranks. I plugged the evap canister breather hose (since I noticed the engine pulls in some air due to vacuum at this hose) with a pencil, made sure the fast idle lever was fully closed, and kept the throttle closed. The engine fired right up on the first crank but stalled after a few seconds. It did this about 4-5 times before it stayed idling with the fast idle lever fully closed.

I've tried a few different things a few days ago, and it helps that the temperatures are usually in the low 30s / high 20s now. I think deleting the charcoal canister will help with cold starts since the engine is able to pull in fresh air into the intake manifold bypassing the main airbox and leans out that starting mixture. I'll try this procedure again when it gets colder again.

As to why I should wait 20 seconds after the LCD scrolling text is still beyond me. Someone said it was for the fuel injectors to pressurize. However, I have cars that use Siemens Deka injectors and they pressurize almost instantly.

[battlecry]

Gas, like water, is practically incompressible.  The injectors pressurize when the pump kicks in.  After the pump primes the rail, the pressure begins to drop as the fuel leaks.

[metroplex]

I went to start it up again later in the afternoon, still about 27F and snowing - it fired right up first crank with the fast idle lever fully closed. But it stalled. It stayed running when I used my finger to plug that evap canister breather hose.