MD11Engineer suggests..." In this case I usually let the chief pilot deal with the ensuing delay, means I will not accept it as maintenance delay"
Perhaps you are the plonker who suggested that I should take a 757 to a snowy Moscow a few winters ago with no APU. I refused, even though it was acceptable in the MEL.
The reason? Deicing at Moscow is carried out after pushback and before engine start. The Ground Power and Air Start were only available on the stand. The idea that we should pushback with a full load of passengers with just the battery bus powered, de-ice and then pull back onto the stand for engine start was totally unacceptable. That would have taken about 25 minutes, would the battery have lasted that long?
It may be in the MEL but in the end of the day it's up to the Captain.