observation this morning

[05mxdiesel]

I went out to start my truck and wait on my wife to come out and move her car. It was 19 degress, truck was plugged in all night. I fire it up and it goes to high idle. I'm noticing the grid heaters cycling when I notice my fuel pressure guage lose pressure everytime the grids cycle. It fluctuated almost a whole psi and then went back to normal when the grids shut off. It just goes to show how much juice they use. This was before the alternator cycled and got up to normal voltage.

 

[BHolm]

You plug it in for that temp? Heck, it was 4 above last night here, truck outside because it doen't fit in the garage. Starts right up, activate the brake and it is warm in 5 minutes or less. I don't even have the plug fished out through the bumper... . -32 at the girlfriends a week ago, no plug in, starts right up, again it warms up quick with the exhaust brake. I haven't plugged in a truck since I moved from Minnesota 4 years ago. It really isn't necessary unless you are going to get to -40 or so. Just my 2 cents.

 

[05mxdiesel]

I hear ya, but it is nice to have heat in a mile or two. I'm sure you'll flame me for having a winter cold front and a 250 watt magnetic stick on heater for my transmission too. The 5600 is pretty tight and notchy in the cold.

 

[RRees]

I plug mine in also, and it's in a garage.

And I only live in Iowa.



And sometimes I cheat and park in the heated garage.



But it is nice to know that it will start when it's really cold out.



I might have a cold drive from work, but at least it's relatively warm on the way to work.



Note: I believe that the grid heaters use 100amps. Fortunately they don't have to run for that long.

 

[BHolm]

I hear ya, but it is nice to have heat in a mile or two. I'm sure you'll flame me for having a winter cold front and a 250 watt magnetic stick on heater for my transmission too. The 5600 is pretty tight and notchy in the cold.

Naw, to each his own. How can you blame a guy for wanting heat in his truck in the winter The cold front I would never do myself, it shuts off airflow to the intercooler. I also found that the Cummins seems to warm up at the same rate anyway. I have started from the house at -30 and at 0, it is fully warm by the same point in my commute even with a big outside temp difference.



The transmission I believe you on. Even my G56 catches a tooth now and then when cold.

 

[pwr2tow]

My 06 actually starts better not being plugged in. If I plug it in for 2-3 hours at -20 it turns over nice but will crank for along time before it fires. Sometimes even have to stop cranking and then start cranking again before it fires. If the trucks plugged in all night then she fires without problems. If I don't plug in the truck she will fire up within a couple revolutions way past -20*F. I had the temp rationality reflash but it didn't help. I use 5-40 oil and don't worry about it anymore.

 

[pwknapp]

I plug mine in whenever it is below 20*. I switch between it and the 04. 5 company truck depending on which one I have to use. Yes these trucks are amazing for their ability to start at extreme temps. The old 96 dually may sit for a month or so at below zero and with all it's hp add ons and way to high timing it to will fire if I cycle it 2-3 times. That being said I would much rather cycle warm oil through the motor at start up than oil which may be -35*.

JM. 02

 

[BHolm]

That sounds good but think about it for a minute. How much warmer, sitting in the bottom of a thin sheetmetal pan, is the oil? If the oil pump can move it, what is the difference? Then, what are you saving by doing so? Do you honestly think the engine is going to live substantially longer because you plug it in? The engine, in almost every case, is going to outlast the truck it is installed in. So you are using a bunch of electricity, those heaters are what 1100 watts, and you don't gain anything but heat a minute sooner. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[pwknapp]

I guess I need to check the oil temp difference between plugged and unplugged at cold temps. We have over 40 big trucks @ work and 50+ pcs. of diesel equipment. When the temp drops to minus double digits the plugging in of diesel engines determines whether they will start without jumping and air heaters. An engine starting with minus 20-35* oil is like listening to nails on a blackboard. Am I wrong to believe that most engine wear occurs at start-up? Do cold starts also create extra wear on starters etc. ? Yes I do use lighter wt synthetic motor oil in the winter to help in this process. I will gladly spend the extra $1. 00/day in electricity to lengthen engine life not because the truck is warmer a few minutes sooner. I did have to replace a motor on the '96 dually after 420k of hard 400hp hotshotting and I hope the new one will last just as long. Just one of the ways I try to improve longevity.



Paul

 

[MickeyMiller]

2 winters in Billings, MT. plugged and not plugged, it started better plugged. Besides, the heater started working MUCH quicker!

 

[MMeier]

Heck, if I need to get into one of mine early in the morning. I'll plug in @ 40*! :-laf

 

[jgillott]

Naw, to each his own. How can you blame a guy for wanting heat in his truck in the winter The cold front I would never do myself, it shuts off airflow to the intercooler. I also found that the Cummins seems to warm up at the same rate anyway. I have started from the house at -30 and at 0, it is fully warm by the same point in my commute even with a big outside temp difference.



The transmission I believe you on. Even my G56 catches a tooth now and then when cold.

My G56 is terrible when it is cold out. It just about refuses to go in to 2nd gear (that seems to be the worst one) until it gets a little heat in it.

 

[Jaysyl]

Heck, if I need to get into one of mine early in the morning. I'll plug in @ 40*! :-laf

YUP, What he said:-laf:-laf

 

[BHolm]

I guess I need to check the oil temp difference between plugged and unplugged at cold temps. We have over 40 big trucks @ work and 50+ pcs. of diesel equipment. When the temp drops to minus double digits the plugging in of diesel engines determines whether they will start without jumping and air heaters. An engine starting with minus 20-35* oil is like listening to nails on a blackboard. Am I wrong to believe that most engine wear occurs at start-up? Do cold starts also create extra wear on starters etc. ? Yes I do use lighter wt synthetic motor oil in the winter to help in this process. I will gladly spend the extra $1. 00/day in electricity to lengthen engine life not because the truck is warmer a few minutes sooner. I did have to replace a motor on the '96 dually after 420k of hard 400hp hotshotting and I hope the new one will last just as long. Just one of the ways I try to improve longevity.



Paul

When I had big trucks, those did get plugged in anything below 0. They do not have the heater grid and would be a tough start without plugging them in. I'm not suggesting no engine needs to be plugged in, just that our little trucks do fine without it.



Yes the cold start is where most engine wear occurs. Is it harder on starters? Maybe, when was the last time you wore one out on a Dodge Cummins? Paul, it sounds like you have a legitimate need many times to plug them in. The ones that crack me up are the Vegas guys plugging in at 40*:-laf

 

[Jaysyl]

When I had big trucks, those did get plugged in anything below 0. They do not have the heater grid and would be a tough start without plugging them in. I'm not suggesting no engine needs to be plugged in, just that our little trucks do fine without it.



Yes the cold start is where most engine wear occurs. Is it harder on starters? Maybe, when was the last time you wore one out on a Dodge Cummins? Paul, it sounds like you have a legitimate need many times to plug them in. The ones that crack me up are the Vegas guys plugging in at 40*:-laf

You Know 15 years ago when I left Colorado I would have thought the same thing. The first 5 years in Vegas I wore shorts year round. Now if it gets below 65 I am looking for a coat

 

[MMeier]

The first 5 years in Vegas I wore shorts year round. Now if it gets below 65 I am looking for a coat

You too??!!:-laf Blood is so thin after 28 years here, I'm almost afraid to go to Colorado to visit my buddy and his wife anytime soon.