fuel leak/no morning start/ help

[regalpainter]

1997 fuel leak , now wont start in the morning, shot in some ether , starts up runs ,after warmed up / shut off/ restarts, was told ether is taboo, have i screwed up my glow plugs? is the leak my start problem? i changed the solenoid on top with a similar one because my part store did not have a diesel one in stock, does that matter? any help apprec. not very mechanical but can follow directions