You older diesel truck drivers should get this

[98valk]

In "The Day the Earth Stood Still," (1951) the alien Klaatu demonstrates his power by neutralizing all electrical devices on Earth. This includes stopping all vehicles,

What is the flaw in this scene of all the vehicles stopped in a traffic jam?
 

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Mechanical injection pump and compression ignition. No electricity needed once it's running.

[old2soon]

Mechanical injection pump and compression ignition. No electricity needed once it's running.

    ALL TRUE! With a rather Large BUT!    With NO electrical power of any sort available restarting a non running engine would be a cause of concern! When I first started drivin big truck the key just turned on the electrics and you had a sesperate starter button. Turnin off the key DID NOT shut the diesel engine down/off. You were Required to pull the fuel shut off hanfle to shut the engine down. Some even had a compression release handle fer cols starting. Pull up compression release handle turn on key push starter button git engine turning-hopefully-then slam the compression release handle closed and HOPE at least 2 cylinders decided to light off!    Heard the other 4 cylinders kick in 1 at a time with Much smoke from the cold startup. And YES have used ether on diesel cold starts. RIDE SAFE.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Yes sir! That's why I added the "once it's running" part. I wouldn't care to pull-start all but the smallest of Diesel engines. 

[98valk]

Mechanical injection pump and compression ignition. No electricity needed once it's running.

correct. The movie shows all the diesel buses and trucks not running.

[Challenger]

The diesel delivery truck I drove in the early 70s had an air powered starter. Annoyingly  loud but affective.

[old2soon]

The diesel delivery truck I drove in the early 70s had an air powered starter. Annoyingly  loud but affective.

    Back in the mid-late 70s I drove for Holly Farms of Texas outa Center Texas. Those old Kenworth cab overs we had then had 440 Detroits with air starters and all of hose air starters well the mufflers were long since departed before I drove for them. Picture downtown L A on a sunny afternoon weelday bout lunch time. Losa purty gals using the crosswalk in front of me where I stopped fer my red light. Cot off the ignition cut it back on and landed on the air start buttton! Lotsa screamin and cursin goin on as I'd scared the bejusus outa lota them gals!    Me and my codriver were tryin without success I might add of not lauhjong too much!  And YUPPERS did that way more than once!    RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

Maybe back in the days when old2soon was driving - you could run a diesel without electric. Not anymore - they are as computerized as the gas vehicles, and for the same reason - reduce the emissions.

[old2soon]

Maybe back in the days when old2soon was driving - you could run a diesel without electric. Not anymore - they are as computerized as the gas vehicles, and for the same reason - reduce the emissions.

    Emissions and the insurance companies and GAG politicians!    RIDE SAFE.